Monica’s sacrifice for her highly strung Star
THE planning that goes into sending a Tasmanian horse to race in Victoria has always been a time-consuming process but the arrival of the Covid-19 virus has sent all equine travel plans into a tailspin.
This weekend Tasmania’s two most celebrated mares Mystic Journey and Still A Star make the trip across Bass Strait with eyes on the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes over 1400m at Flemington.
It is the starting point for both mares as they edge their way towards the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m) at Flemington on VRC Derby Day, October 30.
Mystic Journey’s connections have opted to send their superstar unattended, as she is an experienced traveller and will be collected at the other end by stable representatives of where she is staying.
But Still A Star is a different kettle of fish as she can be quite temperamental.
But her trainer Bill Ryan has been afforded the luxury of his daughter Monica Ryan who has agreed to “take one for the team”.
Bill suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease, that prevents him from travelling to Melbourne for fear of
falling victim to the Delta strain of Covid-19.
Given the responsibility of looking after the most precious piece of livestock ever to grace Bill’s Longford stables, Monica took it in her stride, but as the Covid situation in Victoria worsened it became increasingly obvious how daunting this venture might be.
Monica will make three trips to Melbourne leading up to the Empire Rose, provided Still A Star contests all the races her trainer has mapped out and each time it will require the mare’s travelling handler to spend two weeks in isolation (self quarantine) upon her return to Tasmania.
Still A Star is unable to stay in unfamiliar surroundings longer than a few days, which is why the mare must return to Tasmania after each Victorian assignment.
“I am happy to do whatever it takes, but what daughter wouldn’t do it for their father,” Monica said.
“I was originally happy to accompany the mare for each of her three trips to Melbourne this campaign.
“But the outbreaks have worsened in Melbourne, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit concerned.
“The racing industry has been able to continue to operate throughout this pandemic in Victoria.
“That’s because everyone involved over there is extremely particular about doing all the right things as far as protection against Covid is concerned.
“I have loaded up on masks and protective disposable gloves and I will stick to a rigid routine once I get there.
“Some people over there might think I’m going overboard but I plan to wear PPE wherever I go while in Melbourne.”
Still A Star contests the Let’s Elope on Saturday, after which she will head to the Rose of Kingston Stakes at Flemington on October 2 with the Empire Rose her grand final four weeks later.