One tap enough for Mystic Journey to zoom

STAR filly Mystic Journey confirmed her status as the state’s best sprinter-miler when she powered home from last to score a decisive win over champion Hellova Street in the $100,000 Listed Thomas Lyons over 1400m at Elwick yesterday.

Mystic Journey ($1.55) was facing her toughest assignment, but punters rallied for the Adam Trinder-trained filly to send her around the $1.55 favourite while Hellova Street drifted slightly to $3.10.

Jockey Anthony Darmanin allowed Mystic Journey to settle at the rear of the sevenhorse field while rank outsider Weekend Whisky ($101) set a solid pace, with Hellova Street cruising in second place to the home turn.

When Hellova Street, with Jason Maskiell aboard, kicked two lengths clear on straightening, Mystic Journey was eight lengths away but starting to lengthen stride.

But when Darmanin gave his filly one tap on the rump, she responded and collared Hellova Street in the shadows of the post and went on to defeat him by a half-length and was eased up on the line.

Interstate invader Chamois Road was third but only just in advance of Blaze Forth.

It was Mystic Journey’s toughest test but she handled the assignment with ease.

“The race was billed as a match race between my filly and Hellova Street, and that is what eventuated,” Trinder said after the win.

“I thought it was going to be the best race we’ve seen in Tasmania in a long time and it was just that and thankfully Mystic Journey was able to do the job. She keeps improving with every start and to give Hellova Street that big a start and run him down on his home turf was quite an amazing effort, especially as it was on unsuitable ground today.”

Mystic Journey will head to the Group 1 Australian Guineas over 1600m at Flemington on March 2 and Trinder is confident she has what it takes to win the race.

“Her main mission this prep- aration has always been the Australian Guineas and, after what she did today, I’m even more confident she’ll make her presence felt in that race.”

Mystic Journey also is a candidate to run in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 16 but, because it is a popularity race with 10 of the 14 final starters decided by votes from the public, she will be relying on Tasmanians to get behind her and vote her into the race.