ARE WE READY FOR MAGICAL MYSTIC TOUR?

Owner Wayne Roser and trainer Adam Trinder celebrate Mystic Journey’s victory in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield (racingphotos.com)

マーク・トエインが、見たのは、多彩で長い歴史を誇るオーストラリアの競馬の一瞬でしかありませんでしたが、あれから、オーストラリアの競馬は、国の主要産業となり、さらに人々の情熱を掻き立てる娯楽となっています。オーストラアリアの競馬は多くの詩人に謳われ、皇室がパトロンとなり、国家の伝統として高く評価をされ続けてきました。、

Really? This soon?

OK, no-one is getting ahead of themselves (well, maybe a little bit) but the authority of Mystic Journey’s victory in Saturday’s Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield really was something to behold.

Making her first appearance since capturing the $5 million All Star Mile at Flemington in March, the Apple of the Isle – Mystic Journey – took her tally to seven wins in a row … 11 wins from 14 outings overall and nearly $3.4 million in stakes. Not a bad return at all on an $11,000 yearling sale price.

While there is still some conjecture as to what’s next for Mystic Journey, the ultimate goal is the $5 million Cox Plate on 26 October, with likely lead ups in the Makybe Diva Stakes (14 September) the Turnbull Stakes (5 October) or, possibly, a tilt at the Memsie Stakes on 31 August.

That’s in the hands of the connections, but all we know is that Mystic Journey is a genuine tonic for those of us suffering from Winx’s racetrack departure. Sure, Mystic Journey is four Cox Plates short of a true comparison, but as the mare showed on Saturday, she is clearly the real deal.

Not surprisingly, affable owner, Wayne Roser, was still on cloud nine come Monday morning, but wasn’t getting carried away with the win.

“We really are just going to take it one race at a time … there are no certainties in this game, but it’s fairly safe to say we were very happy with the way she’s come back and the way in which she went to the line,” Roser enthused. “I’ll have a talk to (trainer) Adam (Trinder) this week and a decision will be made then on whether it’s the Memsie or Makybe next.”

A retired barrister now based in Tasmania, Roser admits to being fortunate to have a star like Mystic Journey in the ‘stable’.

Roser also races Mystical Pursuit – from a half sister to Mystic Journey – whom he purchased for $28,000 at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale and who has since gone on to win her first four at two, including a pair of black type races.

“It balances itself all out pretty much,” Roser concedes. “You can have plenty of misfortune as well, which just makes it all that more exciting when a good one comes along.”

Bolstered by the success of Mystic Journey, Roser currently races 21 horses – with 11 of those being “babies coming through”.

“Adam picked out the now 2YOs at yearling sales in Tasmania, Melbourne, Adelaide and Queensland and we’re very happy with the way they are progressing,” Roser reveals. “I purchased Mystic Journey and Mystical Pursuit from Armidale Stud and we also got a very nice Dissident filly (for $30,000) from them in Tasmania earlier this year that we’ve called Mystical Beauty. Since we bought her, the half brother, Transact, won the (Listed) VRC St Leger Stakes.”

Roser is putting a toe into the breeding waters too, with his 4-time winning Wanted mare, Khatun, recently retired and heading to Armidale Stud to be covered by Mystic Journey’s sire, Needs Further.

Exciting times indeed.

Armidale Stud’s David Whishaw is, naturally enough, gearing up for a busy season with Needs Further, a Group winning Encosta de Lago stallion who stands this spring at a fee of just $12,500.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how excited we all are,” Whishaw points out. “It’s a real shot in the arm for the local breeding industry … it’s great for Adam Trinder, great for Wayne Roser, great for the breeders who continue to support Tasmania and great for Needs Further.

“Needs Further’s oldest have just turned five and he’s had a stakes winner with every crop of racing age: Pateena Arena, Mystic Journey and Mystical Pursuit, have won the Elwick Stakes in successive years and have 10 stakes victories between them, along with a $5 million All Star Mile.

“Tasmania is only a small industry with not a lot of mares to go around, but Needs Further is really starting to hit his straps and he’s deservedly getting a lot more attention from other states.”

HOOFNOTE: Bred by Ralph Zito, Mystic Journey is out of the Colombia mare, White Gold, who has a yearling filly by Fighting Sun and is due to foal to Fiorente this spring.

The Power of Passion

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