Tasmania’s new super star Mystic Journey will kick off her 2019 Cox Plate campaign in the Group 3 $160,000 The Big Screen Company Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 27.
Mystic Journey, above, will kick off her 2019 Cox Plate campaign in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Adam Trinder trained Mystic Journey took all before her during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with wins at Flemington in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) and in the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) and has been installed as the $4.60 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2019 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26.
Trinder has mapped out a Spring Carnival plan for Mystic Journey and if conditions don’t suit her in the Bletchingly Stakes, the rising four year old mare will head straight for the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 31.
“Obviously our next preparation is directly in our mindset and that’s a five run preparation culminating in the Cox Plate,” Trinder told racing.com.
“She’s (less) than a month away from her first up assignment, she’ll head to 1200 metres first-up (in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield) and continue to improve throughout the campaign as the distances rise.
“The initial mindset at this stage is that we’ll (then) go the month into the Memsie Stakes at 1400 metres, but that may potentially be her kick-off point, we’ll just monitor that ground there for the Bletchingly.
“If the ground is suitable then she’ll take her opportunity in the Bletchingly, if not we’ll just wait (until the Memsie) and start off over 1400 metres.
“At this stage, all going well, she’ll have four races and then into the Cox Plate.”
Mystic Journey’s win against the older horses at weight for age in the All-Star Mile was her sixth straight victory and her tenth win from only thirteen race starts, giving her a healthy back balance of more than $3 million.
Early betting for the 2019 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Mystic Journey, $6 Avilius, $8 Iys Gracieux, $9 Almond Eye, $11 Verry Elleegant, $13 Benbatl, $15 Crystal Ocean, Humidor, Kluger, $17 Deirdre, Ghaiyyath, Indy Champ, Te Akau Shark, $21 Aerolithe, Best Solution, Cheval Grand, Happy Clapper, Homesman, Kiseki, Melody Belle, Prince Fawaz, $26 Blair House, Brutal, Danceteria, He’s Eminent, Johannes Vermeer, Kenedna, Magical, Rekindling, Rostropovich, Zabeel Prince, $31 or better the rest.
