Crystal Mile
The Crystal Mile is a Group 2 weight-for-age race held each year at Moonee Valley racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival in October. The race is run over a distance of 1600 metres and worth $300,000 in prize money. The 2019 Crystal Mile was won by Chief Ironside from Cliff's Edge with Best Of Days third.
Formerly an open handicap event, the Crystal Mile changed to a weight-for-age race in 2012 to enable a WFA race to be held over 1600m between the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October and the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington in November.
This race is held on the same day as the Moonee Valley Racing Club's most prestigious race, the Group 1 WS Cox Plate.
Crystal Mile info
| Date: | Saturday 23rd October 2021 |
| Track: | Moonee Valley racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1600 metres |
| Race Type: | Weight-for-age |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
| 2019 Winner: | Chief Ironside |
The Crystal Mile is the prominent mile race of the spring for the Moonee Valley Racing Club and usually attracts above average horses to make a hotly contested race. The race suits strong milers who can run a solid 1600m, and those horses with good track & distance form around the tight Moonee Valley track have a decided advantage over any interstate horses racing at the track for the first time.
The Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield provides provides the ideal lead up to this event and horses contesting this race might consider making their way to the Group 1 Emirates Stakes on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. Turn Me Loose (2015) was the last galloper to take out the Crystal Mile & Emirates Stakes double.
Now that the Crystal Mile is a weight-for-age event the better horses engaged are destined to figure in the finish most of the time. Generally the winner of this race will simply be a more than handy miler best suited in Group 2 races or lower, but occasionally the winner may be capable of winning a Group 1 event later in the spring.
Chief Ironside (2019) finished unplaced in the Toorak Handicap over 1600m at Caulfield before storming home to win this event in outstanding style for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.
Recent Crystal Mile winners include Cliff's Edge (2018) and Lucky Hussler (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
The Murray Baker trained Turn Me Loose (2015) claimed the Emirates Stakes at Flemington after winning this race and Speediness (2nd in 2013) ran third in the Emirates Stakes following his second in the Crystal Mile. Rain Drum (4th in 2013) ran second in the Gr3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
He's Remarkable (3rd in 2011) finished runner-up in the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot in Perth after running third in this race, while Gathering (6th in 2010) managed to win Railway Stakes after finishing unplaced here.
All American (3rd in 2009) went on to win the Emirates Stakes during the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington while Sea Battle (2nd 2008) managed to finish runner-up in the 2008 Emirates Stakes.
Orange County (2nd in 2007) won the 2008 Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes the following spring while Tears I Cry (3rd in 2007) took out the Emirates Stake the following month.
2019 Crystal Mile result
1. $26.00 Chief Ironside 59.0 Jamie Spencer
2. $10.00 Cliff's Edge 59.0 John Allen
3. $7.00 Best Of Days 59.0 Hugh Bowman
then followed
4. $8.00 Pacodali 59.0 Dean Yendall
5. $4.00 Dreamforce 59.0 Nash Rawiller
6. $6.50 Sikandarabad 59.0 Mark Zahra
7. $31.00 Debt Agent 59.0 Michael Rodd
8. $6.00 Madison County 58.5 Damian Lane
9. $11.00 Gailo Chop 59.0 Damien Oliver
10. $61.00 Pounamu 59.0 Craig Williams
11. $17.00 Dream Castle 59.0 Patrick Cosgrave
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.1 len
Time: 1:35.46
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Crystal Mile winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2019 | Chief Ironside | Cliff's Edge | Best Of Days | 1:35.4 |
| 2018 | Cliff's Edge | Prized Icon | Duca Valentinois | 1:35.9 |
| 2017 | Lucky Hussler | Religify | It's Somewhat | 1:34.5 |
| 2016 | The United States | Lidari | Ulmann | 1:39.7 |
| 2015 | Turn Me Loose | Bow Creek | Lucky Hussler | 1:35.0 |
| 2014 | Hooked | Bull Point | Desert Jeuney | 1:34.9 |
| 2013 | Toydini | Speediness | Sacred Falls | 1:36.0 |
| 2012 | Silent Achiever | Rangirangdoo | Solzhenitsyn | 1:35.6 |
| 2011 | Testa My Patience | Hawks Bay | He's Remarkable | 1:36.7 |
| 2010 | Sound Journey | Trader | Drumbeats | 1:36.7 |
| 2009 | Rangirangdoo | Sound Of Nature | All American | 1:34.9 |
| 2008 | Sea Battle | Conquering | Orange County | 1:36.3 |
| 2007 | Sonic Quest | Orange County | Tears I Cry | 1.35.9 |
| 2006 | Flash Trick | New Edge | Rockford Bay | 1:37.2 |
| 2005 | Niconero | Cargo Cult | Miss Potential | 1:39.4 |
| 2004 | Lad Of The Manor | Lord Mick | Sir Dex | 1:37.0 |
| 2003 | Rosina Lad | Walk On Air | Archave | 1:38.3 |
| 2002 | Royal Code | Weasel Will | Excellerator | 1:36.5 |
| 2001 | Weasel Will | Le Zagaletta | Typhoon | 1:37.3 |
| 2000 | Weasel Will | Le Zagaletta | Czar Hero | 1:38.7 |
| 1999 | Le Zagaletta | Daicos | Bebetto | 1:36.6 |
| 1998 | Rustic Dream | Corporate James | Irish Air | 1:36.0 |
| 1997 | Holy Roller | Miss Tessla | Mighty Way | 1:36.2 |
| 1996 | Lochrae | Scenic Royale | Buzzoff | 1:36.6 |
| 1995 | Juggler | State Taj | Sportsbeat | 1:36.7 |
| 1994 | State Taj | Play Or Pay | Innocent King | 1:35.1 |
| 1993 | Carsons Cash | Station Hand | Mr Untouchable | 1:34.3 |
| 1992 | Solvit | Vows | Instrumental | 1:33.8 |
| 1991 | Fire Commander | Brunchtime | Gamine/Cheval C'lier | 1:35.2 |
| 1990 | Ark Regal | Comrade | Brilliant Invasion | 1:33.2 |
| 1989 | Fendalton | High Baliff | Acid Print | 1:34.6 |
| 1988 | True Dreams | Tierra Rist | Eastern Classic | 1:36.9 |
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