Tassie’s rising super star Mystic Journey remains at the top of the betting for the 2019 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26.

Mystic Journey, above, remains the favourite for the 2019 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Mystic Journey, above, remains the favourite for the 2019 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Mystic Journey took her winning streak to seven straight with a dominant comeback win at Caulfield last Saturday in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

Regular jockey Anthony Darmanin gave Mystic Journey a trouble free run from barrier two in the eleven horse field and the Adam Trinder trained mare was able to haul in the leaders and go on to record an encouraging three quarters of a length win over the pace maker Cliff’s Edge and veteran galloper Hartnell.

Even though Mystic Journey looks to have returned to the racetrack in top order, bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have eased her slightly in the Cox Plate betting from $4.50 to $4.80 but she still remains in the favourite spot.

Trinder was more than happy with the way Mystic Journey scored her first up win but is not that keen on stepping the mare back up to weight for age company in a fortnight over the same course and distance as the P.B. Lawrence Stakes in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes.

“I thought she was great there today, she was soft,” Trinder said on Saturday.

“She still showed will and determination, that’s going to hold her in really good stead moving forward this preparation.”

“The Memsie in a fortnight is a Group 1 target and can’t be taken lightly, but we’ll do what’s right by the filly and my feel is a month between runs and just the three runs leading into the Cox Plate.”

Mystic Journey took all before her during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and was undefeated from four runs during the Autumn as a three year old filly and gained everybody’s attention with wins in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) and in the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

Pre-post betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2019 Cox Plate: $4.80 Mystic Journey, $6 Avilius, $10 Danceteria, $12 Verry Elleegant, $15 Hartnell, Te Akau Shark, $16 Kluger, $18 Humidor, $21 Arcadia Queen, $26 Circus Maximus, Count Octave, Latrobe, Melody Belle, Prince Fawaz, $31 Anthony Van Dyck, Castelvecchio, Homesman, Johannes Vermeer, Mr Quickie, Neufbosc, Rostropovich,  Wren’s Day, Yucatan Ire, $41 or better the rest.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.