Mystical Pursuit panning for Gold
UNBEATEN t wo- year- old Mystical Pursuit has the chance to go one better than stablemate and more famous three-quarter sister Mystic Journey if she can win the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes over 1200m in Launceston tonight.
Mystic Journey could only finish fourth behind Tiesto in last year’s Gold Sovereign, though there were legitimate excuses for that result.
Mystical Pursuit (Needs Further-Oh So Gold) might be closely related to Mystic Journey (Needs Further-White Gold), but they are completely different types with one thing in common — their will to win.
Mystical Pursuit won on debut in Launceston and followed up with an emphatic win in the Alfa Bowl at the same venue before venturing to Hobart to win the $100,000 Elwick Stakes (1100m).
The Adam Trinder-trained filly gets to the 1200m for the first time, but the way she is learning to relax in her races she should handle the rise in distance with ease.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with how this filly has progressed and having done extremely well since her Elwick Stakes win I would expect her to be very competitive [tonight],” Trinder said.
Stable apprentice Chris Graham has been aboard the filly at every start so he has a great relationship with the daughter of Needs Further.
“This filly might look like she’s foolproof but she is quite quirky and Chris [Graham] has a great understanding of her manners, so having him on top is very reassuring.”
Deroche was backed as if unbeatable on debut in the Alfa Bowl in which she led but was overpowered by Mystical Pursuit and Gee Gees Darl in the closing stages. However, the Barry Campbell-trained filly responded with an impressive maiden win two weeks ago in Launceston over 1100m, winning as she liked by more than four lengths and in good time so she looms as the danger to Trinder’s fully.
Mystical Pursuit and Deroche look to have all the other Tasmanian-trained and owned youngsters covered, but the three interstate invaders are an unknown quantity.
Sayumi, trained at Mornington by Matt Laurie, has had only one start for a game third at Moonee Valley 12 days ago in which she settled just off the speed and worked home well for third over 1000m.
Trip hails from the John Price stable at Cranbourne and she also has had only one start for a fair third at Sale over 1105m with Damien Thornton aboard and he will make the journey to take the ride tonight. The Peter Gelagotistrained Audacious Beau (Brazen Beau-Flute of Bubbly) is impeccably bred and comes off a third at her only start at Warrnambool over 1000m in which she settled fourth in a field of five and ran on fairly.
If Trinder’s filly can hold her recent form she should emerge from the race with her unbeaten record intact.