Godolphin stalwart Hartnell has been selected to join his stablemate Alizee in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington.
The James Cummings-trained gelding and the Australian Guineas one-two, Mystic Journey and Hawkshot, gained the final three wild cards for the inaugural running of the 1600m race on March 16.
A field of 14, 10 decided by popular vote, will run along with the four wild cards chosen by Racing Victoria.
The top four prize money earners from the original nomination list that didn’t gain a run will be the emergencies when the final field, with barriers, is finalised on March 12.
RV executive general manager – racing, Greg Carpenter, said Mystic Journey made a compelling case for inclusion in the world’s richest mile race with her Australian Guineas success on Saturday.
He said four-time Group One winner Hartnell had shown he had not lost any of his ability with his third in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield won by Alizee.
While Hawkshot was not among the original nominations, Carpenter said his inclusion came under the terms and conditions with the panel entitled to select a horse outside the list.
“He was a breathtakingly brilliant winner of the Autumn Stakes and then ran bravely when leading in the Australian Guineas from the outside gate to beat all bar Mystic Journey,” Carpenter said.
“With his Lindsay Park stablemate Amphitrite already voted into the field, the first three runners home in the Australian Guineas, our signature three-year-old race of the autumn, will now contest the race and represent the next generation of equine stars.”
Field for All-Star Mile:
Happy Clapper (Trainer: Pat Webster)
Hartnell (James Cummings)
Material Man (Justin Warwick)
Grunt (Mick Price)
Moss ‘N’ Dale (Peter Gelagotis)
Foundry (Terry Kelly)
Man Of His Word (Dean Krongold)
Balf’s Choice (Ryan Balfour)
Mr Money Bags (Robbie Griffiths)
Urban Ruler (Chris Munce)
Alizee (James Cummings)
Hawkshot (David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig)
Mystic Journey (Adam Trinder)
Amphitrite (David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig)
