Adam Trinder believes Mystic Journey is back to her best but her stumbling block in the Empire Rose Stakes could be a horse the trainer sees as a younger version of his star mare.
“I keep looking at Odeum’s form as a three-year-old filly and it’s almost the same as Mystic Journey’s was two years ago,” Trinder said.
“Both horses finished fifth in the Atlantic Jewel and then won the Jim Moloney Stakes.
“We then went and won the Moonee Valley Classic and Odeum won the Thousand Guineas.
“I think it would have been a scary proposition to take on Mystic Journey two years ago with only 49kg and now we’ve got to give eight kilos to a horse with the same form, which really concerns me.”
Odeum is a $3.70 favourite with TAB fixed odds with Mystic Journey second pick at $4.60 for Saturday’s 1600 metre Group One race at Flemington for fillies and mares.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Empire Rose Stakes
The Tasmanian trainer said he wasn’t surprised by Mystic Journey’s return to form with the mare winning the Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley at her last start on September 25.
“Before the race all the indications were that she was back to her best but I just wanted to see it,” Trinder said.
He said their decision to diversify how they prepared Mystic Journey by having her trained at Pakenham due to COVID restrictions didn’t work.
“We went back to basics after that and did what we’ve always done which works for her,” he said.
“That is prepare her on the farm and then send her over on the boat on Thursday night and she arrives in Melbourne on Friday morning which works for her. We won’t be changing from that again.”
The track at Moonee Valley was rain affected and Trinder said Mystic Journey would be better suited by the prospect of a firm track at Flemington.
“Also five weeks between runs is perfect for her,” Trinder said.
Mystic Journey has had three starts over 1600 metres at Flemington for wins in the 2019 Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile and a second in the Makybe Diva Stakes last spring.
She will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy for the first time on Saturday.
