Journey to resume

ADAM Trinder has described Mystic Journey’s leg infection as “a hiccup”, but expects her to be back into the swing of things next week and then it will be full steam ahead to the All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 14.

The infection though is likely to end any chance of the four-year-old mare stepping out in Tasmania to kick off her campaign.

Trinder said the infection in a soft tissue in her left front leg had cleared up with the use of antibiotics and she would be back walking for the rest of this week. Trinder said he had now had to adjust her All Star Mile lead-in and she would most likely run in only the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on February 22.

“It’s a hiccup. I was going to trial her next Tuesday but won’t now. It’s taken a race out of her campaign,” Trinder said.

That race was going to be either the Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 8 or the Thomas Lyons Stakes at Elwick on Sunday, February 9.

Voting opened for the All-Star Mile yesterday and there was a lot of movement on the leader board.

For the first time New Zealanders could vote and they pushed their champion mare Melody Belle to the top of the leader board in the early stages.

Queensland three-yearold colt Alligator Blood then replaced her as the early leader, but then the 800 owners who race Star Missile with Shelley Hancox Syndications stepped in and sent him to the top of the leaderboard.

Last year the same syndicate managed to get Star Missile’s half brother Urban Ruler into the inaugural All-Star Mile.

The surprise packets on the opening day were the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Heart of Puissance and First Light Racing’s 2018 VRC Oaks winner Aristia, who were prominent. Mystic Journey was just outside the top 10.