Journey continues for Mystic ‘freak’
SHE has won the hearts of racing fans around Australia and she breaks the hearts of her opposition — that’s the story of sensational three-year-old filly Mystic Journey, who delivered another heroic performance to win a $100,000 Listed race at Elwick on Sunday.
Mystic Journey keeps raising the bar as she progresses towards her ultimate goal this preparation, which is the Group 1 Australian Guineas over 1600 metres at Flemington on March 02.
Tasmanian horses have had great success this past decade, with the ill-fated Banca Mo scoring Group wins, and in more recent times his stablemate Hellova Street has been winning the hearts of fans with his courage in Group events across the water.
Not since Alfa has a Tasmanian-bred horse captured the imagination of the racing public like Mystic Journey.
Alfa, undefeated as a twoyear-old in Tasmania and the next season, was transferred to the late Bart Cummings, who prepared him to win a Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) as well as other Group and Listed races as a three-year-old.
His equal second to Portland Player in the Group VRC Derby is considered the one that got away.
Mystic Journey’s win in Launceston at her first start back from a spell was incredible — coming from what looked a hopeless position turning for home to win the Lady Lynette (1100m) by a comfortable margin.
On Sunday at Elwick, she tackled the weight-for-age Thomas Lyons over 1400 metres against older and way more experienced opposition that included Hellova Street, who has been Tasmania’s horse of the year for that past two seasons.
The Thomas Lyons was billed as a match-race between the star three-year-old and the established champ, and racegoers who wanted to see a clash of the Titans finish were not disappointed.
When Hellova Street turned for home and put two lengths on his nearest rivals, Mystic Journey was still at least eight lengths astern.
But, like she did in Launceston at her previous outing, the Adam Trinder-trained filly set sail after the leader and not only ran him down in the shadows of the post but she eased up to win by a half-length.
Her jockey, Anthony Darmanin, has affectionately dubbed her “The Freak”.
It was no mean feat to do what she did on Sunday and when all the dust settles from the latest victory, connections should be looking forward to her main goal which is the Australian Guineas that will boast a field of some of the best three-year-old milers (1600m) in Australia.
Mystic Journey means so much more to Tasmanian racing than anyone could imagine.
She has arrived at a time when trainers and industry bodies are looking for ways to encourage more owners into the industry and Mystic Journey ticks all the boxes.
She was purchased by Wayne Roser for $11,000 and so far she has earned $407,000, which is an amazing return on investment.
But the filly has the potential to take her earnings well beyond $1 million before the season ends and she has rocketed into favouritism ($4.20) with corporate bookmakers to win the Australian Guineas.
If she wins the Australian Guineas and gets into the AllStar Mile and wins, her earnings will be greater than any other Tasmanian thoroughbred and her residual value as a broodmare will have studs around Australia talking six or maybe seven-figure amounts to acquire the daughter of Needs Further-White Gold.