We wanted a nice quiet trial and for her to extend under no pressure ... and that's what she did.
- Trainer Adam Trinder
Cox Plate favourite Mystic Journey is on target for a return to racing in 10 days after a barrier trial win at Spreyton on Tuesday morning.
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Trainer Adam Trinder said he was "very happy" with the star mare's narrow win as she wasn't extended to beat three quality rivals.
She scored by a short head from dual Newmarket Handicap winner I'm Wesley with smart mare Gee Gee Double Dee a half head away third.
Former two-year-old of the year Pateena Arena, who set the pace, was a close fourth.
Mystic Journey, ridden by apprentice Chris Graham, sat off the pace before finishing strongly under a tight hold.
"Chris said she could have led but we wanted a nice quiet trial and for her to extend under no pressure, similar to her racing pattern," Trinder said.
"And that's what she did - she flowed along and relaxed nicely.
"She was still a little fresh, so the trial will serve good purpose and bring her on.
"All roads now head to the P B Lawrence on Saturday week at Caulfield."
Mystic Journey hasn't raced since mid-March. She missed a scheduled return in the Bletchingly Stakes on July 27 due to a wet track.
I'M WESLEY AFTER THIRD NEWMARKET
I'm Wesley looks on target for a tilt at a third successive Newmarket after his good trial.
The seven-year-old is entered for the Open Handicap over 1150m at Spreyton on Sunday.
"If that race falls away we might have to go to Melbourne for one run then come back to get ready for the Newmarket and Conquering again," trainer Glenn Stevenson said.
"He has to have a run somewhere."
Early signs are good that Sunday's race will stand up as there are 10 entries.
I'm Wesley completed the Newmarket - Conquering double in 2017 when ridden by Raquel Clark and repeated the feat last year with Brendon McCoull in the saddle.
HILLIER BRINGS UP 50 WINS AGAIN
Beauty Point reinsman Rohan Hillier won his 50th race for the season on Whos Watching Now in Hobart on Sunday night.
He's had 49 wins in Tasmania and one at Melton on Ryley Major.
It's the fifth season in a row that Hillier has driven 50 winners or more and, although he's still well short of his 2017-18 tally of 79 winners, he's had 120 less drives.
With five meetings to go, Mark Yole has a commanding break on the premiership table with 82 wins.
He leads Ricky Duggan on 69, Gareth Rattray on 63 and Hillier and Todd Rattray on 49.
Two wins in Hobart have taken leading trainer Ben Yole to 170 for the season, with interest only in the runner-up's position where Bianca Heenan (50 wins) leads Todd Rattray by four.
STAYER READY TO TAKE NEXT STEP
Longford trainer Peter Luttrell won't be scared to step former Victorian mare Uncovered up in class after her overdue victory at Spreyton on Saturday.
While conceding that the Class 1 Plate "wasn't an overly strong race", Luttrell believes that the five-year-old can add to her two-win record.
"I'm not frightened to step her up in grade because there's not a lot of difference between staying horses," Luttrell said.
"Either they stay or they don't.
"She's not a bad little mare but she's been her own worst enemy - you can't give them 15 to 20 lengths start on this track.
"But Froggy (Newitt) rode her a treat. She showed a little bit more speed than usual and travelled beautifully in the run."
Luttrell said Uncovered had a "short, choppy action in front" and he suspected that she may have been getting a little stiff.
"So I got Froggy to give her a good warm-up before the race and away she went," the trainer said.
Uncovered was an 11-start maiden when she joined the Luttrell stable 12 months ago.
She has since shown a liking for the synthetic track where she's won both her races and twice been beaten by only a short half head.
MONEY POINTS TO ROYAL VICTORY
Rosevale-trained greyhound She's A Princess has been the biggest shortener in early betting on the state final of the National Sprint Championship at Mowbray on Thursday night.
After opening at $6.50, the Ricky Martin-prepared bitch is into $5 with both Ladbrokes and tab.com.au.
Hello Rhonda ($2.40 to $2.60) and Be Like Bill ($3.50 to $3.60), who shared the fastest heat times, retain their places at the head of betting.
Dahlhaus ($2.15) remains a firm favourite for the distance final but there has been good support for the other heat winner Bronelly Jacob who has been $2.80 into $2.35.
All states will be conducting their finals on Thursday night and Sky 2 will have a dedicated coverage from 8pm, with hosts on-course at each venue.
Duncan Dornauf will front the Launceston coverage.
Foxtel is making Sky 2 available to all subscribers, free of charge, on Thursday.
Meanwhile, last year's sprint final winner Buckle Up Rose won her 24th race at Devonport on Tuesday at odds of $21.
It's the longest priced she's started in Tasmania since her career-best win 12 months ago.
Stop Line, the $1.40 favourite, got caught up in traffic before being pole-axed in a rough-house race.