Setback for star gelding

TASMANIAN galloper The Inevitable has returned home after a failed first-up attempt in the $1.25 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington last Saturday.

The Scott Brunton-trained gelding was attempting to become only the third to win a Newmarket first-up from a spell and while he presented in top order, delving in the shadows was a virus that prevented him from performing at his optimum level.

“Everything looked perfect on the day, but it wasn’t until the gates opened that I realised that all wasn’t right with the little fella,” Brunton said. “The jockey said he wasn’t able to accelerate and that’s so out of character for this horse.”

It was only a minor setback with plans put in motion to take the horse north to Queensland with the Stradbroke Handicap an option.

While there are no concrete plans in place for The Inevitable, the connections of last year’s All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey have eyes focused on the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley next Friday night.

Mystic Journey hasn’t started since her fifth in last Year’s Cox Plate, but her fastfinishing second in a 900m trial at Elwick last week suggested she is not away from being ready for a first-up tilt in the William Reid.

“The mare will have a gallop next Tuesday and that will determine whether she goes to Moonee Valley next Friday,” Trinder said.

Mystic Journey won the hearts of the nation at this time last season when she won the Group 1 Australian

Guineas over 1600m and a week later she stepped out and claimed the inaugural All-Star Mile (1600m).

Plans were to return and defend the All-Star Mile crown but a subcutaneous infection from a vet’s injection interrupted her campaign and forced her to miss defending the All-Star Mile crown.

CHAMPION Tassie sprintermiler Hellova Street will line up in a quality handicap (race 6) at Caulfield tomorrow in which he will carry top weight of 59kg.

The Brunton-trained nineyear-old won the Ladbrokes Stakes (1200m) three starts back before finishing second to his stablemate Mandela Effect in weight-for-age races over 1400m and 1600m with the latest over 1600m in Launceston. Hellova Street has won $1.13 million in stakes.

THE Angela Brakey-trained White Yard also lines up at Caulfield tomorrow in a benchmark 80 handicap over 2400m.

White Hawk comes off a ninth of 14 in the Group 3 Launceston Cup, beaten almost nine lengths.