Mystic in lap of weather gods

MELBOURNE’S weather and the draining capacity of Caulfield’s course proper will decide if Cox Plate favourite Mystic Journey contests the $160,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Trainer Adam Trinder is hopeful conditions at Caulfield — where the track is currently rated a slow 5 — will improve by Saturday.

But Trinder faces the logistical challenge of having to make a decision today before committing to ship the star filly to Melbourne tomorrow night aboard the Spirit Of Tasmania.

If he scuttles plans to run this weekend, Mystic Journey’s preparation will be delayed by three weeks.

“She is due to travel over on Thursday, but I would like to have some kind of understanding by Wednesday as to whether we are pushing ahead or not,” Trinder said. “It is possible it could all fall over.”

If so, the Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile winner will probably resume in the PB Lawrence (1400m) on August 17 as part of a fourrace preparation for the $5 million Cox Plate.

Depending on whether Mystic Journey starts on Saturday or not, other races on her horizon include Group 1 contests the Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 31 and the Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 29.

Another race under consideration is the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 5.

Mystic Journey, a trial winner over 800m at Devonport on July 9, will be ridden by regular jockey Anthony Darmanin whenever she resumes.

Mystic Journey has won 10 of her 13 starts, including her past six.