RIGHT FOR ROSE

TRAINER Adam Trinder says his stable star Mystic Journey could not be in better condition to tackle to Group 1 $ 1m Empire Rose at Flemington on Saturday and a perfect barrier ( 5) has sealed the deal.

Mystic Journey is favourite ($ 4.20) to take out the weight- for- age classic over 1600 metres after she demolished a top field in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley four weeks ago.

“Drawing a good barrier is a great start. Everything has come together nicely with the mare and I can’t fault her,” Trinder said yesterday. “We obviously expected improvement in her after her Stocks Stakes win and that is definitely the case.

“I took her to Launceston two weeks ago for a solo gallop and she loved it. She really enjoys the going- to- the- races experience and it did her the world of good.

“Last week she had a strong gallop with a mate at home ( Spreyton) and that topped her off nicely for Saturday’s assignment.”

Mystic Journey, a winner if 12 of her 21 starts for more than $ 3.8m in stakes, failed at her first two attempts at Caulfield this time in, but Trinder puts that down to her not handling being away from her normal stable environment.

“I think we learned something with the experiment of sending her away without me or our regular stable staff due to COVID- 19 travelling restrictions. I brought her home after the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield in which she finished near the rear and decided to prepare her at home for any future interstate assignments.”

Trinder said the Empire Rose would be her grand final this preparation.

“I’ve set her for the Empire Rose, and she will definitely take a break after the race.”

But the best news for Tasmanian race fans is Trinder’s plans for the summer.

“I’m really looking forward to her being back racing in Tasmania over the summer carnival to tackle probably the Thomas Lyons at Elwick and the Vamos Stakes in Launceston.” The last time Mystic Journey stepped out at Elwick was in the Thomas Lyons in February last year which she won, defeating the ill- fated Hellova Street.

The Vamos Stakes is a weight- for- age race for fillies and mares, contested over 1400m.

Mystic Journey travels to Melbourne on the Spirit of Tasmania on Thursday night and will be stabled with Tony McEvoy at his Flemington stables, which is the mare’s normal routine.

She is favourite ahead of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr- trained three- yearold filly Odeum ($ 4.60) that comes off an impressive win in the Thousand Guineas ( 1600m) at Caulfield three weeks ago.

DRAWING A GOOD BARRIER IS A GREAT START. EVERYTHING HAS COME TOGETHER NICELY WITH THE MARE AND I CAN’T FAULT HER. MYSTIC JOURNEY’S TRAINER ADAM TRINDER