A start in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) for Tassie star Mystic Journey is up in the air with trainer Adam Trinder still undecided on a final 2019 Spring Carnival program.
Mystic Journey is the early $4.50 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26 on the strength of her wins in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2 in the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) two weeks later over the same course and distance.
Tasmania’s new racing idol was set to step out at Caulfield last Saturday in the Group 3 $160,000 The Big Screen Company Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) but Trinder opted to miss it because of the rain affected track and the new season four year old will now kick start her Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17.
The Memsie Stakes is two weeks after the P.B. Lawrence at Caulfield and at this stage Trinder is still weighing up his options if he will head there with the mare.
“She’ll head to the Lawrence. That will give us more clarity as to what our next steps are,” Trinder told racing.com.
“Unfortunately, by missing the Bletchingly, we fall into a fortnight routine with her should she run in the Memsie (August 31) and then the Makybe Diva (September 14).
“So, we’ll know off the back of the Lawrence as to whether she needs to run in the Memsie. It’s a race that we may bypass, or we may diversify in travel plans with her.”
“I am really comfortable that she did bypass the Bletchingly.”
“I thought the ground was quite testing and it wouldn’t have been a suitable start point for her.”
Mystic Journey has been installed as the $3 favourite for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Bletchingly Stakes winner Scales Of Justice at $6
Early betting for the 2019 Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Mystic Journey, $6 Scales Of Justice, $9 Alizee, Osborne Bulls, Pierata, $10 Happy Clapper, Vega Magic, $12 Avilius, $13 Hartnell, Te Akau Shark, $15 Brutal, $17 Trekking, $21 Cliff’s Edge, Fundamentalist, Humidor, Le Romain, Malaguerra, Mr Quickie, Sesar, $26 Pohutukawa, $31 Castlevecchio, $34 or better the rest.