In Brief
- P. B. Lawrence Stakes is Mystic Journey's first assignment.
- COVID-19 forced Trinder to change targets.
- Cox Plate still in the mix.
Star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey stepped out in a trial Tuesday morning in Devonport that forms part of her preparation for a first-up tilt in the P. B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400 metres at Caulfield next month.
Mystic Journey was not pushed to finish fourth in her trial with David Pires aboard and she was only 1.6 lengths from the winner Century Arrow from the Angela Brakey stable.
The mare’s trainer Adam Trinder confirmed original plans to run her first-up in next Saturday’s Bletchingly Stakes had to be scrapped.
“We just changed our plans and opted to head to the Lawrence Stakes over 1400m on August 15 and we have the option of progressing to the Memsie Stakes over the same trip a fortnight later,” Trinder said.
“She will hold a nomination for the Cox Plate but we also are considering the Group 1 Empire Rose over 1600m that is a weight-for-age race for fillies and mares at Flemington on Derby Day.”
Mystic Journey has had only one start since finishing fifth in last year’s Cox Plate in October last year and that was an eye-catching fifth in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in late March.
“COVID-19 has upset all of our race plans in one way or another.
“She will have another trial in Devonport in a fortnight and then head to Melbourne, but it looks like I won’t be able to travel with her.
“We’ve had to accept the world we live in today and adapt accordingly.”
It was a busy morning for Trinder at Tuesday’s trials as he saddled up a dozen of his stable tenants that also included Mystic Journey’s three-quarter sister Mystical Pursuit that trialed well.
Watch Mystic Journey trial in Devonport on Tuesday morning: