Journey back to summit as Currie goes extra distance on mare

JOCKEY Luke Currie heads to Launceston on Wednesday to ride Mystic Journey and kickstart her attempt to return to the top of the mountain in the All-Star Mile in March.

Mystic Journey won the inaugural All-Star Mile in 2019, a week after winning the Group 1 2019 Australian Guineas.

But the Tasmanian star has won only two of her eight starts, both at Group 2 level, since that triumphant autumn.

Currie steered Mystic Journey to victory at his only ride on the Adam Trinder-trained mare in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at the Valley in the spring.

A commitment elsewhere prevented him riding Mystic Journey in her unplaced run in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Victoria Derby day.

Currie has committed to riding the five-year-old in three runs during the Tasmanian summer carnival.

Mystic Journey is a $1.10 favourite to resume with a win over five rivals in Wednesday’s $50,000 Ladbrokes Stakes (1200m) at Launceston.

“It’s a good race, a weightfor-age 1200m race, for her to kick off so it will be good to see how she goes,” Currie said.

Mystic Journey has fallen back in the queue for Racing Victoria wildcards for the AllStar Mile, meaning the winner of 12 of 22 starts will rely on the public voting to get a start in the $5 million event at the Valley on March 13.

Currie said the three runs were focused on getting Mystic Journey to Melbourne in the best shape to tackle a star-studded All-Star Mile field.

“It will be a bit different with the voting and whether she gets in or not, but I’ll go over and have a spin on her,” Currie said. “I’ll go and ride her in the races in Tassie.

“I suppose if she gets a run in the All-Star Mile that I’ll have first refusal on her for that race, as long as I ride her well in the lead-up races.

“I suppose she doesn’t have to win those races in Tassie, it’s all about giving her the right preparation.

“But you would expect her to be winning down there.”