We’ll be treated to one the Melbourne Autumn Carnival’s strongest programs at Flemington this Saturday.
Headlined by the All-Star Mile and the Newmarket Handicap, some of the best horses and biggest stables in Australia will chases riches and positions in the history books.
I’ve run the rule over all ten races, and you can find my complete 2026 All-Star Mile Day tips below.
MILITARY TYCOON is third up into a nice race to kick off All-Star Mile Day.
He’s yet to win in his two runs since resuming, but after only just missing over this route when fresh, he was last seen finishing seventh, beaten four lengths by Tentyris in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning.
This is obviously a substantial drop in class and I’m confident he’ll be hard to beat.
| 4. Military Tycoon (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse 54.5kg 96×27 T: Ciaron Maher |
SHE’S AN ARTIST takes winning from and improvement into this contest.
The Trapeze Artist mare has won half of her six career starts to date, placing a further two times and finding form around some classy horses in the process.
Having done enough to get up on the Caulfield Heath fresh last month, I’m expecting improved fitness this week, while the booking of Jamie Melham also doesn’t hinder her chances.
| 3. She’s An Artist (7) J: Jamie Melham 57.5kg x43x1 T: Ciaron Maher |
REBEL TUESDAY chases a hat-trick when she takes her place in the Ottawa Stakes field.
Rebel Tuesday returned a winner over 1050m at Morphettville last month and franked that performance with an eye-catching effort to strike again in the Listed Cinderella Stakes last time out.
This is another rise in class but she’s open to further improvement, and so long as she handles racing down the straight, I can’t find any other reason why she won’t be right in the thick of things again.
| 1. Rebel Tuesday (7) J: Lachlan Neindorf 56kg 32×11 T: Phillip Stokes |
PERSIAN SPIRIT strikes a nice race on All-Star Mile Day.
The Cable Bay gelding has been a consistent performer through his 20 career starts so far but has also undoubtedly continued to improve with each campaign.
Having won a lucrative VBOIS race back in December, he returned to action a fortnight ago to finish a credible sixth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, and with natural improvement and dropping in class, I think he’s going to take a power of beating here.
| 3. Persian Spirit (7) J: Harry Coffey 54.5kg 12136 T: Symon Wilde |
Some classy fillies will contest this year’s Kewney Stakes included SALTY PEARL, who I have put on top.
Salty Pearl is yet to strike in two runs back this time, but there was plenty of merit in both performances, and they saw her place in both the Manfred Stakes and the Angus Armanasco; the latter behind the impressive Sheza Alibi.
Fitter third-up and out to a mile, this looks a perfect feature race for her.
| 1. Salty Pearl (6) J: Ben Allen 56kg 41×32 T: Ciaron Maher |
ZAMBALES is ready to break his maiden when he steps out in the VRC Sires’ Produce field.
The talented son of Pinatubo was only just denied over 1000m at Randwick on debut in January and took plenty of improvement into a credible second behind an impressive Hard Kick in the Talindert Stakes here at Flemington.
Having since finished fourth, beaten just over a length in a Group 1 Blue Diamond, the form certainly looks like stacking up this week, even without having yet recorded a race win.
| 1. Zambales (2) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 224 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
Some of the best milers in the country are engaged in the 2026 All-Star Mile field, including many former winners at the highest level and some of the most progressive horses Australia has to offer.
With a case to be made for almost the entire list, one that I thought represented great value at double-figure All-Star Mile odds is EVAPORATE ($11 at publish).
While yet to win at the highest level, Evaporate is a horse that has always displayed above-average ability, and he has picked off some nice races through 20 appearances.
Having dusted off the cobwebs when fourth, beaten less than a length in the Group 1 Futurity last month, he’s a horse that tends to enjoy sharp second up improvement, and getting out to a mile on the big Flemington track should see him afforded every opportunity.
| 4. Evaporate (7) J: Luke Currie 59kg 233×4 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
PHILIA is a horse that I am expecting we’ll see big improvement from second up at Flemington on All-Star Mile Day.
The classy Queenslander enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence during the autumn and winter of 2025, while she returned from a lengthy break to finish midfield in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes here last month.
She’s been sent back to the trials since that race and is another one that will relish getting further out in trip this week.
| 3. Philia (4) J: Jamie Mott 58kg 118×6 T: David Vandyke |
TENTYRIS is the one to beat in the 2026 Newmarket Handicap.
He was outstanding throughout 2025 and deservedly capped his year by winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, but Tentyris really did stamp himself as the best sprinter in the land when returning to action in the Black Caviar Lightning last month.
Having settled at the tail of the field, he mustered an outstanding turn of speed to swallow up his rivals, in what was his first Group 1 race amongst open company.
While he does rise in the weights this week, he’s open to further improvement and can take another step towards star status by winning.
| 2. Tentyris (11) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 311×1 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
I’m going to give IMMEDIACY another chance third up in the last on All-Star Mile Day.
Immediacy hit the line to only just miss in the Carlyon Cup when returning from a spell, but it is fair to say he was a little flat in the Victoria Cup last time out.
I’m happy to forgive that run, and I think that getting back to HQ this week with improved fitness and a drop in the weights will see the best of him.
| 4. Immediacy (8) J: Jamie Mott 56kg 10×26 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |