Mr Brightside is tipped to become history’s first dual The All-Star Mile champion when Team Hayes‘ cult galloper lines-up in the now Group 1 feature race at Flemington on Saturday.

Super Saturday at Headquarters features a double shot of elite autumn racing action with the sprinters facing off down the straight in the Newmarket Handicap while the milers will go head-to-head in the first official Group 1 edition of the $2.5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) which has drawn just seven final acceptors.

Mr Brightside won this event, which was then a public vote race held at rotating Melbourne tracks, in 2023 at Moonee Valley.

Saturday marks the brilliant Bullbars seven-year-old’s fourth The All-Star Mile appearance after he also ran fourth in 2022 at Flemington behind Zaaki and second last year at Caulfield behind Pride Of Jenni.

He comes off his official ninth Group 1 victory having defended his Futurity Stakes title second-up on Blue Diamond Stakes Day and presents fit now third-up and ready to fire again up to the 1600m.

A 12-time winner from 20 previous runs at a mile, his record at this track and trip is imposing (9:4-1-1), and with earning’s just shy of $17 million he certainly presents as the class horse in this year’s The All-Star Mile field.

Current The All-Star Mile odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on the small but elite field have Mr Brightside at $2.50 to salute from barrier five with Craig Williams continuing associations.

Ben, Will & JD Hayes launch a double-pronged attack on The All-Star Mile field also represented in the event this year by the ultra-consistent Almanzor four-year-old Rise At Dawn ($15).

He comes off a win fresh at Flemington, his fourth consecutive, with a lovely strike-rate at the track now (5:3-2-0) and a genuine miler with outstanding 1600m form in easier grade (6:4-2-0).

The danger occupying the second line of All-Star Mile betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is Another Wil who beat Mr Brightside home fresh in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) in a narrow thriller first-up on February 8.

Ciaron Maher‘s still lightly raced Street Boss five-year-old has his 15th career start on the weekend and is getting plenty of support to beat home Mr B again.

He is two-from-two at Headquarters, boasts a 50% winning strike-rate over the 1600m distance from six runs, and the smart chestnut looks to have plenty of upside.

Maher chases back-to-back The All-Star Mile trophies after his good win by star mare Pride Of Jenni last year, and the money is coming for Another Wil to hand it to him.

After opening at $3.20 in the markets, Another Wil has firmed notably challenging for favouritism into $2.80 making him the early The All-Star Mile market mover.

Maher also saddles-up his Fast Company six-year-old Light Infantryman, a Group 1 winner in the Northerly Stakes over 1800m in WA last summer, at $14 from gate six with Ethan Brown to ride.

James Cummings‘ consistent Harry Angel four-year-old Tom Kitten meanwhile is the other single figure The All-Star Mile contender at $5 to improve on his photo-finish second to Mr Brightside in the Futurity Stakes.

He looks a chance to challenge again up in distance with winning form up to 2000m on his CV which includes a Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes victory in Sydney as a three-year-old.

Tom Kitten was highly competitive at the top-level last prep also with good runs in events including the Group 1 Epsom and King Charles III Stakes finishing second and fourth respectively over the Randwick mile behind Ceolwulf before his Golden Eagle third only a half-length beaten last November.

Chris Waller‘s Group 1 winning mare Atishu ($10) and the race’s $101 outsider Flying Trapeze for Gary Portelli round out the field.

The 2025 The All-Star Mile is scheduled to run as Flemington Race 7 at 3:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card.

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