Filly blitzes on her debut

WELL- BRED two- year- old Mystic Journey emerged as a potential star when she delivered a stellar effort on debut yesterday to win the Alexandra Plate over 1000m at Elwick.

Mystic Journey (Needs Further-White Gold) started brilliantly to land in front with the odds-on favourite Gee Gee Secondover ($1.20) within striking distance to the home straight.

But when jockey Anthony Darmanin called on the $7.20 chance for the big effort, the Adam Trinder-trained filly refused to wilt, forging clear at the business end of the race to defeat the favourite convincingly.

At his only other start Gee Gee Secondover scored an emphatic win in Hobart and warranted support from punters who backed him in from $1.50.

“We were quite bullish about her chances today because she has been very professional in every respect in her lead-up to her debut performance,” Trinder said.

“She has always shown speed and led in all of her jump-outs and in her trial, and to be honest she has just taken everything in her stride like a horse that has been here in a previous life.

“To see her do what she did today is extremely encouraging and I’m sure she will take a lot of improvement from the outing so it’s onwards and upwards towards the feature two-year-old races during the carnival.”

Mystic Journey was bought at the 2017 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $11,000 by Wayne Roser, who is one of Trinder’s most loyal owners.

Trinder also prepares the third placegetter Magic Whaler, who showed tenacity in the home straight.

“I’m sure Magic Whaler will take a lot of benefit from this run and don’t be surprised if he’s very competitive in some of the better two-year-old races,” Roser said. STAR four-year-old mare Gee Gee Double Dee proved she is a serious contender to tackle the Group 3 Bow Mistress in Hobart next month with a resounding win in the Winzenberg Handicap over 1100m.

Gee Gee Double Dee ($3.10) was settled in fourth by rider Troy Baker while Teriki ($10.40) led with Gee Gee Red Prince close-up to the home turn. When Baker called on the four-year-old mare to extend she grabbed the bit and charged past the leaders and had enough in reserve to stave off a late bid by the favourite Lord Da Vinci ($2.90) with Gee Gee Red Prince third.

Trainer Leon Wells said the mare would line up in the Sky Racing Stakes over 1200m in Launceston later this month before heading to the Bow Mistress in Hobart on February 9.