Tasracing

Group 1 winning mare Mystic Journey will jump from barrier nine when she returns to the races in Saturday’s Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The $200,000 feature has attracted 11 starters and despite the wide barrier, the five-year-old mare has only been a slight drifter from $3.90 out to $4.00 with Ladbrokes, retaining favouritism over Regal Power, Arcadia Queen and Savatiano who are all around the $5 mark.

Jockey Billy Egan takes over from regular rider Anthony Darmanin for Saturday’s assignment and will no doubt have been hoping for a lower draw. Mystic Journey however does have a tendency to be slowly away on occasion, including in her recent trials and if that’s the case on Saturday the barrier may be an advantage particularly if the track is racing fairly.

The 2019 P.B. Lawrence winner had her final grass gallop in Launceston on Wednesday, working alongside stablemate Special Moment with her trainer Adam Trinder in the saddle.

“She ran good time which is the dynamics of a mare of her calibre, but she’s really well-placed heading into her first-up assignment on Saturday,” said the trainer after Tuesday’s workout.

It will be a different preparation for Trinder with COVID-19 restrictions preventing him from travelling with his stable star and she will head to the Victorian stables of Peter Moody for the extent of her campaign.

“It’s only a new training facility and it’s not that busy.

“We didn’t want her in one of the metropolitan yards where it was all hustle and bustle,” said Trinder on his decision to send Mystic Journey to Moody’s Pakenham base.

Following Saturday’s race Mystic Journey will be aimed at the Group 1 Memsie Stakes also at Caulfield a fortnight later, with her trainer leaving the rest of her campaign open after the first two races.

The P.B. Lawrence Stakes is race eight on Saturday’s Caulfield card at 16:35.

Watch the replay of Mystic Journey’s most recent trial in Devonport on 28 July.