Mystic Journey on track for All-Star Mile

Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey is primed to take on older horses in the All-Star MIle.

Mystic Journey has bounced through her memorable Australian Guineas win and is on track to clash with some seasoned older weight-for-age stars in the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile.

The Tasmanian filly’s convincing Guineas win at Flemington nine days ago clinched her a wild card into Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) over the same course and distance.

Trainer Adam Trinder has stuck to what has worked with Mystic Journey and he took the filly home to Tasmania after the Guineas, with the three-year-old scheduled to arrive back in Melbourne by overnight ferry on Friday morning.

“She has bounced out of the run,” Trinder said.

“She did a little bit of maintenance work on Saturday morning in company because she was quite bright and bouncy, so that suggests she’s in really good order.

“At this stage she will definitely take her opportunity in the All-Star Mile on Saturday.”

Mystic Journey’s Guineas victory was Trinder’s first at Group One level, an achievement he says has started to sink in.

“It was quite surreal to be honest,” he said.

“We went there with a lot of hope and obviously a little bit of expectation. She had been racing really well. We thought that she was good enough and she was short in the market, but in Group One company you’ve still got to see them go there and do it.

“Unfortunately with a little bit of expectation, your major emotion directly after is relief.

“But it’s started to sink in now and I’ve got nothing but admiration for what she’s been able to achieve.

“Every time I race her she is better than the last time. I thought on the day she won really well but when I watched the replay, she was quite dominant and commanding.”

Mystic Journey is second favourite for the All-Star Mile which will have a field of 14 including Group One weight-for-age winners Alizee, Happy Clapper, Hartnell and Grunt.

Mystic Journey’s ability to keep rising to each challenge gives Trinder confidence the filly is capable of measuring up again.

“She gets good relief under the weight-for-age scale with only 54 kilos which I think she will appreciate,” he said.

“She was really good at Flemington as I expected her to be, and now that she’s had that experience I hope that she just presents a little bit better again.”

The barrier draw is on Tuesday and Trinder has pinpointed the Godolphin-owned pair Alizee and Hartnell as the horses he believes could be the biggest stumbling blocks for Mystic Journey.