Mystic Journey honoured
STAR mare Mystic Journey is as close as you get to equine royalty so it is fitting that she will line up in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington today the owner of two crowns.
The Adam Trinder-trained four-year-old was voted Tasmania’s best galloper for season 2018-19 at a gala awards dinner at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston last night, where she was named Horse of the Year and she also took the top 3YO award.
Mystic Journey’s threequarter sister Mystical Pursuit gave Trinder and owner Wayne Roser the trifecta when the filly was named two-yearold of the year.
It is believed to be the first time in the history of the annual awards that horses associated with the same owner and trainer have taken out all three categories.
Roser is Trinder’s biggest client in terms of horse numbers. He has been aligned to the stable since Trinder first started training. Roser also was named Tasmania’s leading owner for season 2018-19.
Mystic Journey only started twice in Tasmania for wins in the Lady Lynette (1100m) in Launceston and the weightfor-age Thomas Lyons Stakes over 1400m in Hobart in February. But it was her Group 1 Australian Guineas win and victory in the $5 million AllStar Mile at Flemington in March that made her favourite to win the state’s top award.
In any other year Eastender’s clean sweep of the state’s three major cups would have earned him the title. Mystical Pursuit won four from as many starts winning a maiden and the Alfa Bowl before taking out the state’s only two Listed juvenile events, the $100,000 Elwick Stakes in Hobart and the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes in Launceston.
Mystic Journey’s sire Needs Further, which stands at Armidale Stud at Carrick, was named leading Tasmanianbased sire and leading Tasmanian-based juvenile sire.
Mystic Journey’s dam White Gold was named Tasmania’s leading broodmare, which is based on prizemoney won by progeny.
Special industry participant awards were handed out and Rhonda Hall won the Medical Edge Welfare Award, while Jessie Bazan, who is second in charge at leading trainer Scott Brunton’s stable, received the Tasracing Industry Appreciation Award.
Alex Patis was the state’s leading apprentice and Teagan Voorham was the Dux of the Tasmanian Apprentice School for the second straight year.
Scott Brunton received his award for leading trainer and Craig Newitt was the state’s premier rider for the second time since returning to ride in the state.
Star Tasmanian jockeytrainer Siggy Carr received the Tasracing Media Award for how she presented during interviews on Tasracing TV and Sky during the season.
The Hall of Fame is an integral part of annual awards night and last night some stars of the past delivered many highlights.
Longford trainer Bill Ryan was inducted for his service to the industry, with many of his horses having achieved at the highest level, and a trainer from the late-1800s William “Billy” Clare was another worthy inductee. Clare consistently achieved results at the highest level during his training career of 48 years and he had the distinction of training nine Launceston and six Hobart cup winners.
A former jockey, trainer and club administrator Ron Riley was inducted as an associate along with former chief steward Bruce Fullerton, who was regarded as one of the best to ever head up probity unit.
Riley rode until he fell victim to weight issues, but he was equally proficient as a trainer before retiring to take up a role in administration at the Tasmanian Turf Club. the code’s
Jockey Pat Allan earned his induction courtesy of a career that spanned 20 years, during which time he excelled as an apprentice and senior rider.
Former champion jockey Bev Buckingham was upgraded to Legend status.