Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey to avoid Winx before preparing to succeed legend as Cox Plate queen
Anointed as Winx’s heir apparent with a colossal All-Star Mile win triumph, Mystic Journey will be given the chance to succeed the world’s best racehorse as Cox Plate queen.
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Anointed as Winx’s heir apparent with a colossal All-Star Mile win triumph, Mystic Journey will be given the chance to succeed the world’s best racehorse as Cox Plate queen.
REAL WINNER: ALL-STAR A HUGE SUCCESS
With Winx likely to retire after next month’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, Mystic Journey won’t ever cross swords with the superstar.
Instead the October 26 weight-for-age championship will be the next chance to draw a parallel between the established champion and emerging successor.
Trainer Adam Trinder ruled out a clash with Winx with Mystic Journey, prefer to take a long-term approach.
When it's all said and done, Mystic Journey's strapper will never forget this moment. You were brilliant Betty... ♦ï¸â™¦ï¸ pic.twitter.com/Q6gPvdLCF5
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 16, 2019
“We’re hopeful we can get her back there (to The Valley) for the Cox Plate this year,” Trinder said after Mystic Journey landed her sixth win in a row.
“This is her last run for the autumn. We’ll put her away and hopefully get her back and hopefully get her back for the Cox Plate.
“We’ll stay away from the champ (Winx). She keeps that title and so deservingly keeps that title.
“We’ll put this filly away and look after her and hopefully she can take the mantle.”
An $11,000 purchase, Mystic Journey now has nine wins from 12 starts — and $3.2 million in earnings.
Former jumps jockey Trinder continues to be astonished by his charge.
“Every time we race her, she just raises the bar and goes to another level and we witnessed that again,” he said. “She’s fantastic.
“I don’t know where the bottom of her is, to be perfectly honest, she’s only a young filly and she’s still on an upward spiral.
“It’s very special. She is the first Tasmanian-trained Group 1 winner and she’s now won the richest mile race in the world.
“Five million dollars in prizemoney. We only race for $10 million through the course of the year, so she’s earned half of that in a minute, 36.”
Overcoming a wide run, Mystic Journey ($3.60) comfortably accounted for Group 1 performers Hartnell ($13) and Alizee ($4.20).
Jockey Anthony Darmanin, 36, extended his stunning surge to prominence.
He had to wait 18 years to notch his first Group 1 — in the Australian Guineas aboard Mystic Journey two weeks ago — and now has ownership of victory in the world’s richest mile.
The Victorian rides trackwork five days a week for Lloyd Williams’ Macedon Lodge operation, but he formed an incredible partnership with Mystic Journey.
“It’s just amazing, absolutely amazing. I can’t describe it,” Darmanin said.
“We were caught three-deep but I was happy to be there because she relaxes so well.
“She loves galloping room and her turn of foot is unbelievable.
“I got there so easily and I just thought ‘Count to 10, count to 10’.
“I had the front-runners covered and I was sure how they were travelling behind me.
“She was challenged and she kicked again.
“I’m on a journey that I’ve never been on before.
“It’s unbelievable. Tassie’s probably going crazy too. I’m just so grateful.”
THEY SAID IT WOULDN’T WORK BUT IT DID
They were mocked for being in the field and derided for reducing the quality in the All-Star Mile but the owners of the battlers couldn’t be prouder of their horse’s efforts.
The syndications groups which had three of the runners with the biggest ownership in the race and the horses which were regarded as the battlers — Urban Ruler (14th), Man of His Word (12th) and Mr Money Bags (11th) all were well beaten.
But as one pundit pointed out those horses didn’t disgrace themselves as Urban Ruler was beaten just on 10 lengths. Although they were never factors in the All-Star Mile, the managers of the three big syndicates couldn’t get enough of the concept.
Although Man Of His Word finished 12th and started $201, syndicate manager Sam Lyons described the All-Star Mile event “as a ridiculously good concept”.
Lyons from Grand Syndications said they had 47 people in the ownership group and also another 77 from the broader syndication group.
“We had a big group of owners here and you can’t get the smiles off their faces. He’s loomed up well on the turn he found the class too strong,” Lyons said.
“We knew we weren’t up to those top horses but he wasn’t disgraced. We’ve had a great day.”
“They’ll fine tune it for next year. For all the knocks on the race what was wrong with it? It’s the highest rating race for the season and it’s going to remain in the top two or three.”
Well known syndicator Shelley Hancox from Hancox Bloodstock who had Urban Ruler, who is owned by a syndicate of 800, finished last and started at $201 agreed.
Hancox summed it up best how the All-Star Mile had resonated with the owners and fans by pointing out that when the runners went out on to the track they were clapped.
“How often does that happen. I’ve never seen it before,” Hancox said.
Hancox said they had 250 owners turn up to watch Urban Ruler.
“We’ve got so many interstaters in function room. Obviously we hoped the horse would run better but its generated interest. Friends of owners have come along and they’ve got into it.”
"SHE IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!"
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 16, 2019
Mystic Journey wins the #AllStarMile ðŸ†ðŸŽ pic.twitter.com/9CI4qeGzkI
Darren Dance from Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock said his ownership group got excited before the turn when Mr Money Bags appeared to be travelling well in a mid-field position.
The $151 chance r Money Bags finished 11th and was beaten just over six lengths.
“The horse ran out of his skin. He gave us something to get excited about,” Dance said.
Dance entertained 80 people in a function adjacent to the mounting yard.
“They’ve had a ball. It’s been a great day great to be part of it.”
Dance said the concept had generated extra interest in horseracing.
With Michael Manley
CUMMINGS PROUD OF HIS BRAVE PAIR
James Cummings couldn’t have been prouder of his All-Star Mile placegetters — evergreen veteran Hartnell and star mare Alizee — as he gave the inaugural $5 million race a massive tick in terms of its top-end quality and overall promotion.
Conceding the pair had been beaten by a very good horse in Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey, Cummings said both Godolphin entrants ran “slashing” races.
Anthony Darmanin is the inaugural winner of the @allstarmile ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘#AllStarMile | #7racing pic.twitter.com/SrUDnCNZJA
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 16, 2019
Alizee looked the winner before Mystic Journey launched her run on the inside, while Hartnell stormed home on the inside with a trademark big performance.
“He savaged the line,” Cummings said of eight-year-old Hartnell, whose second place took him through the $7 million prizemoney bracket.
“He was following a very capable horse at the top of the straight, but was just forced to switch back to the inside, and unfortunately didn’t quite get the momentum when he needed it.”
A very happy man.@_emdavenport chats to Mystic Journey owner Wayne Roser after an amazing win at the @allstarmile.#AllStarMile | #7racing pic.twitter.com/vuwbM7C3wO
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 16, 2019
“ (Alizee) ran terrific, that’s up there with one of her best runs, but (she) ran into the best Tasmanian filly for 100 years.”
Asked if he would love to see his pair have another crack at Mystic Journey, Cummings said: “We’ll just let the dust settle.”
“Look at the first to sixth (finishing positions), and it is a serious race. If you got that result in the Doncaster, you would be saying that’s the best Doncaster of all-time, just about.”
Damien Murnane is $250,000 richer!
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 16, 2019
This is how you celebrate.#AllStarMile pic.twitter.com/5hVqPEterX
Hartnell will head towards the Doncaster on April 6, while Cummings is less certain on the plans for Alizee.
“I am not sure,” he said when asked if Alizee would race on in Sydney this campaign. “I am wary of her on heavy tracks.”
With Glenn McFarlane
SUNDAY FIX
STEWARDS
Jason Maskiell suspended for seven meetings for causing interference on Come On Carl.
John Allen was suspended for 11 meetings for his ride on Jumbo Ozaki.
Stephen Baster was suspended for 10 meetings from his ride on Favourite Thing.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
ODEON
Great return. Loomed up to win first-up but couldn’t get past three above average battled hardened 1400m specialists.
EARTH ANGEL
She ran home nicely for fourth in Grand Mile Final. Stable is setting her for the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
EL DON
Promising galloper who stuck on well for third behind Wetakemanhattan.
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Main Stage – Slow recovery.
Cristal Eyes – Slow recovery.
Happy Clapper – Slow recovery.
Originally published as Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey to avoid Winx before preparing to succeed legend as Cox Plate queen
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