Tasracing

Talented five-year-old Mandela Effect proved he is on track to earn a berth in next month’s $5 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield with a brilliant win in the $100,000 weight-for-age Thomas Lyons over 1400m in Hobart on Sunday.

Star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey won the inaugural running of the All-Star Mile at Flemington last year but with her dispatched to the spelling paddock it opens the door for Mandela Effect to fill the void.

Mandela Effect ($1.80 favourite) settled midfield and was always travelling comfortably and rider Craig Newitt aimed him between runners turning for home where he burst clear and went on to defeat stablemate Hellova Street ($2.80) by a length with three-time Newmarket Handicap winner I’m Wesley ($13.00) a half-length astern.

Mandela Effect was heavily backed, firming from $2.35 to start the $1.80 favourite and with Craig Newitt onboard the gelding delivered the goods, much to the pleasure of his trainer Scott Brunton.

“I hope everyone gets behind this horse and votes for him to get into the All-Star Mile because it he makes it into the race he is going to be very competitive,” Brunton said.

The All-Star Mile is the richest race over 1600m in the world and it is a popularity race with the 10 nominees with the most number of public votes to make it into the field of 15.

It is the only event in Australia that derives two thirds of its field from votes cast by the public.

While Brunton was thrilled to have won the race with his All-Star Mile candidate, it also was a bitter-sweet result because his star sprinter Hellova Street had to settle for second.

“It is very difficult for me when these two horses clash because Hellova Street has been such a great horse to me personally and the stable, so I don’t like seeing him beaten.

“But in the end Mandela Effect is a star in the making and hopefully he gets the chance to prove that by earning a berth in the All-Star Mile.”

Watch Mandela Effect win the Thomas Lyons at Elwick yesterday.