People calling the horse 'a dog who should be shot' ... stuff like that.
- Trainer Adam Trinder
Spreyton trainer Adam Trinder has been shocked by the reaction to Mystic Journey's defeat in the group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
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Trinder said he had received derogatory test messages, phone calls and emails and been trolled on social media after the star mare went down to 100-1 outsider Gatting.
"I really couldn't believe what was happening - there are some very ordinary people out there," Trinder said when he arrived home on Sunday.
"People calling the horse 'a dog who should be shot' ... stuff like that."
Trinder's comments were aired on RSN radio, now broadcast into Tasmania, on Tuesday morning.
"I honestly wanted to take her away and hide her ... I have to be honest, it was really distressing," he said.
Trinder has always been very accessible on the phone but has now had to divert all his calls to message bank.
He replies only if he knows the caller.
The trainer said that despite the fact Mystic Journey's seven-race winning streak had come to an end, he was not disappointed with her run.
"She ran considerably faster time than she did winning the All-Star Mile and Australian Guineas but just got beaten by a better horse on the day," he said.
Trinder said the defeat had actually eased the pressure on him a little.
"Apart from Winx and Black Caviar, they can all get beaten - she's still right on track," the trainer said.
BENNY MAY GO BERZERK IN CUP
Although he has more pressing engagements on his mind, Adam Trinder hasn't lost sight of one of his major goals - the Devonport Cup.
At the same time as he has been preparing Mystic Journey for the Cox Plate, Trinder has been working with an ex-Victorian horse that he hopes will prove a live chance in his home-town feature race.
Benny Goes Berzerk had his first start for the trainer at Spreyton on Sunday and finished off strongly to win the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1350m.
"He has been a personal project of mine," Trinder said.
"He had good form as a younger horse when he was with Darren Weir and I'd like to think he will be a Devonport Cup contender if I can get him going.
"He's a horse with a big action and the 1350m on Sunday was as short as he would want."
Benny Goes Berzerk won three provincial races for Weir and was six times in the money on city tracks including seconds over 1400m at Flemington and Sandown.
He raced only twice over distances similar to the Devonport Cup, with his best result a 2-1/4 length sixth to Mr Monarco over 1800m at Sandown last November.
TEST FOR LESNAR AT CRANBOURNE
In-form Spreyton trainer Glenn Stevenson heads to Cranbourne on Wednesday to test the waters with promising galloper Lesnar.
The lightly-raced grey will tackle the $50,000 Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) with Devonport jockey Daniel Ganderton in the saddle.
He opened at $10 in the tab.com.au market.
Lesnar returned from a spell with a win over the talented Gee Gee Bay Watch at Spreyton 24 days ago and last week scored a soft win in a 1400m trial.
Stevenson said that the six-year-old had always shown good ability but had been a slow maturer.
"He's been very soft in mind and body but hopefully he's grown up a bit now," the trainer said.
"He's wasn't fully wound up when he won first-up so he will improve enormously on that effort."
Stevenson is the leading trainer in Tasmania so far this season with nine winners.
STAKES LIFT FOR 3YO FEATURES
Two races won last season by star youngster The Inevitable have been given a healthy stakes boost.
The 3YO Cup over 1200m has been lifted from $50,000 to $75,000 and the 3YO Trophy over 1400m from $25,000 to $50,000.
Tasracing said the increases were as much as it could afford in the 2019-20 budget but eventually hoped to lift both races to $100,000.
YOLE LOOKING TO STAR ON RETURN
Reigning premiership-winner Mark Yole returns from Victoria to drive veteran pacer Star Chamber in his first-up run in Hobart on Wednesday night.
Star Chamber, trained by Bianca Heenan, has drawn the pole in the open-class race over 1609m.
Fast beginner Call Me Hector (barrier 4) is likely to pressure him for the early lead but Yole won't be giving it up without a fight.
"He finally gets a draw, which he hasn't been able to do for a long time, and he's got good gate speed so I'm quite confident he can hold the lead," the driver said.
"It's a strong race with Call Me Hector and Im Jaks Teller back in but it's handy that Illegal Immigrant has been scratched because he's been absolutely flying.
"I think Star Chamber will give a lot of cheek and be very hard to beat."
The just turned 11-year-old hasn't raced since he was placed off 30m in the $75,000 Tasmania Cup final in Hobart in March.
"He had a nice trial last week and from all reports went quite well," Yole said.
Yole spent several days in Victoria and had numerous drives for his brother Ben at Melton, Cobram and Yarra Valley.
The stable won a claiming race at Yarra Valley on Monday and, in fact, supplied the first four placegetters in a five-horse field.
However Yole was on the 'wrong' horse, Hez The One, with the winner the longer-priced My Ultimate Fella driven by David Miles.