Trinder puts faith in Mystic
WHILE many of the nation’s pundits are shying away from star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey in today’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, her trainer Adam Trinder is confident she can atone for her last-start loss and take winning form into the Cox Plate.
Mystic Journey suffered her first defeat in eight starts when second to rank outsider Gatting in the Group 1 Makybe Diva over 1600m three weeks ago and that left some pundits unsure if she has resumed as well as she was in the autumn.
Mystic Journey travelled to Melbourne by sea on Thursday night and settled in well at Tony McEvoy’s stables at Flemington, where she usually stays during her Victorian visits.
“We brought the mare home after the Makybe Diva, which is normal practice, and in the weeks leading up to this next assignment on Saturday she has done exceptionally well,” Trinder said.
“She’s had a really nice time of it here at home and her demeanour tells me she will step out to the 2000m for the first time on Saturday in really good order.
“I’ve taken her for a couple of grass gallops and taken her to the beach to wade in the water, so she is right where I expected her to be, conditionwise, post the Makybe Diva.
“She’s tightened up, she’s lovely and bright in the coat and hasn’t missed a beat, so I believe she is going to run one hell of a race for us.”
It will be Mystic Journey’s first time beyond 1600m but Trinder has always believed she would be ideally suited to the 2000m trip.
“Obviously the 2000m is a query, but I am confident she will run it out strongly because she settles in the run, drops her head and relaxes.”
Mystic Journey has drawn barrier nine in the field of 12, but Trinder says the widish draw should pose no problems.
“From gate nine Anthony [Darmanin] should get the opportunity to allow her to go back, relax and blend in from the 700m mark in the threewide line and improve from there.
“I’m hoping she will be able to find the back of a horse such as Hartnell and track him into the race and if that happens he should get us to the 100m mark at least and then probably be hard to get past.”
Despite a horde of professional tipsters dropping off Mystic Journey, she remains favourite for the race at $2.70 after opening at $2.25, while Mr Quickie has been backed in from $4.40 to $3.90.
The Chris Waller-trained Finche, which won the Kingston Town in Sydney last start, has firmed from $10 to $9 while outsider Looks Like Elvis, which has won his past three, has been backed in from $101 to $31.