MIGHTY MARE PRIMED FOR ROSE

STAR Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey goes into Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington in peak condition — and trainer Adam Trinder says everything has gone to plan for this latest assignment.

STAR Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey goes into Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington in peak condition and trainer Adam Trinder says everything has gone to plan for this latest assignment.

Mystic Journey travelled across Bass Strait on Thursday and Trinder says she has settled in well at Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Caulfield stables. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Trinder was unable to travel with the mare.

“The mare travelled well on the boat and from all reports she is settled in well after the trip,” Trinder said.

Kerrin McEvoy rides Mystic Journey for the first time and the multiple Group 1-winning rider is excited to be aboard the mare.

Mystic Journey returned to her best last start with an emphatic win in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley four weeks ago. Despite going into this race at her top, it might not be enough for the mare to emerge triumphant.

Trinder says highly promising three-year-old filly Odeum from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable could be the one to beat.

“I keep looking at Odeum’s form as a three-year-old filly and it’s almost the same as Mystic Journey’s form two years ago,” Trinder said.

“They both finished fifth in the Atlantic Jewel and then won the Jim Maloney Stakes.

“My mare then went on to win the Moonee Valley Classic while Odeum won the Thousand Guineas.

“I think it would have been a scary proposition to take on Mystic Journey two years ago carrying only 49kg and now we’ve got to give 8kg to a horse that has the same form, which concerns me a bit.”

Price and Kent are hoping the weight advantage will be enough to see the filly home against an in-form Mystic Journey and even though Trinder is wary of the filly, he is adamant Mystic Journey will line up at her peak.

“I could not be happier with how she presents going into this race on Saturday,” he said.

It is a big day for Tasmanian bred gallopers at Flemington with Extra Time engaged in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, while Kemalpasa and Bold Star run in the Group 2 TAB Stakes. Junipal is an emergency in the Group 1 Cantala.