‘Betty’ is back on home soil
Trinder warns that Mystic Journey will be vulnerable first-up
IT has been almost two years since Mystic Journey raced in Tasmania, but in Launceston on Wednesday night, the Adam Trinder-trained mare makes her long-awaited return to home soil.
Mystic Journey will line up in the $50,000 Ladbrokes Stakes, a weight-for-age event over 1200m. It will be the first time she has contested a local event since she won the $100,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes at Elwick in February 2019 as a three-year-old.
The champion mare went on to win the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington and ended her campaign with victory in the inaugural $5m All-Star Mile over 1600m at the same venue.
Mystic Journey contested the Cox Plate the following season and all her racing since the that event has been in Victoria. Trinder said the mare would appreciate racing in her own state leading up to her first main mission – this year’s All-Star Mile. But getting into that race, which is based on a popularity voting system, would most likely depend on what she did on the track at her first two starts this preparation.
“The mare is in really good order as she heads to the Ladbrokes Stakes and I’m sure she will appreciate having to travel only an hour to the races to race instead of having to go through the ordeal of travelling interstate,” Trinder said. “The best part about racing in Launceston is that she is back home in her box in just over an hour after she races, and she enjoys being in her comfort zone.”
Mystic Journey, affectionately known as Betty, has not started since late October when she finished seventh in the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington at the end of October. That followed a win in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley over her pet distance of 1600 in late September.
Trinder said Betty would be vulnerable first-up. “We have had this race in mind for a while,” he said. “I am mindful that she is vulnerable because she doesn’t have a good record over 1200m first-up, but it is a good starting point, and we are hoping she can build off it.”
Mystic Journey has had 22 starts for 12 wins and one minor placing for $3.89m in stakes, so strolling around in a $50,000 race in Launceston clearly has nothing to do with prizemoney.
“She is a Tasmanian racehorse, and we are proud Tasmanians, so hopefully there will be a good crowd to see her race on Wednesday night,” Trinder said.