Dettori’s Cup booking

FRANKIE Dettori, the world’s most mercurial jockey, will return to Flemington next month in search of drought-breaking Melbourne Cup success on Joseph O’Brien’s Master Of Reality.

Dettori, 48, has ridden in 16 Cups for two seconds aboard Central Park (1999) and Max Dynamite in 2015, when he was suspended and fined $20,000 for causing severe interference. Panned for his 2017 Cup ride on Almandin, Dettori remains one of the greatest riders on the international scene and was overnight chasing a third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on champion Enable.

Master Of Reality, third in last year’s Ascot Gold Cup behind staying superstar Stradivarius, is one of three O’Brien-trained runners for recordbreaking Cup owner Lloyd Williams.

Williams and Dettori have been friends for years.

Williams, chasing a seventh Cup, could have at least four runners — Master Of Reality, Latrobe, Twilight Payment and Yucatan.

O’Brien, who won the 2017 Cup for Williams with Rekindling, has pounced on top Sydney rider James McDonald for Irish Derby winner and Mackinnon Stakes runner-up Latrobe. Wayne Lorden will partner Twilight Payment while a rider is yet to be arranged for Herbert Power Stakes winner Yucatan.

WHEN Adam Trinder was preparing a group of two-yearolds two years ago, he was quietly confident Magic Waler would win more races than his filly Mystic Journey.

The astute trainer admits he got that horribly wrong, with Mystic Journey going on to great heights while Magic Waler had to be content with being a late bloomer.

Mystic Journey heads to the Cox Plate in three weeks while Magic Waler is still toiling on his home track in Devonport.

But yesterday Magic Waler showed great improvement from his first-up effort to score a convincing win in a benchmark 74 handicap over 1150m.

“Magic Waler did well at his previous preparation, winning his last two outings before having a short break,” Trinder said. “His first-up run over an unsuitable journey [1009m] was good, but he did take a lot of benefit from that run and today’s race looked ideal. We came here with reasonable enthusiasm today and he’s gone on and done the job for us.

“We trust he can go on and improve from here because he is an uncomplicated little horse that obviously isn’t going to go on and reach the heights of Mystic Journey, but I’m very sure there are more wins in store for this horse.”

On Mystic Journey’s fifth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last Saturday, Trinder was delighted with the mare’s effort.

“Of course, it would have been nicer had she won, but to finish the race off like she did from where she was positioned in the race, I am well pleased.

“If she comes through this race in good order, as I expect she will, then we progress to the Cox Plate in three weeks.”

Corporate bookmakers reacted to Mystic Journey missing a place in the Turnbull by easing her price to win the Cox Plate from $5 to $7. But any serious punter would have seen what an exceptional effort she produced at her first try over 2000m. The mare ran home her last 200m quicker than internationally acclaimed sprinter Santa Ana Lane, which was second to Sunlight in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m).

“I was very pleased with Mystic Journey’s effort over the concluding stages,” Trinder said. “I now have no doubts she can run a strong 2000m.” TRAINER John Blacker will look to target weight-for-age races as a pathway to the Devonport Cup for his talented middle-distance performers Zatacla and Beaufort Lad.

Zatacla was beaten by Beaufort Lad in Devonport three weeks ago but yesterday Zatacla turned the tables on his stablemate to win a benchmark 82 handicap over 1650m.

“Both of these horses have too high a rating to prepare for the Devonport Cup through benchmark handicap races, so we’ve got no option but to follow the weight-for-age pathway,” Blacker said.

“They have both earned their ratings because Beaufort Lad has won 11 and that was Zatacla’s ninth win.

“They will both have a little freshen up and the Conquering over 1400m could be where they next appear.”

The Conquering is run in Launceston in early December.