Star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey made an outstanding return to racing with a fast-finishing fifth in the $500,000 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
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Spreyton trainer Adam Trinder said pre-race he would be "ecstatic" if Mystic Journey could finish top-five in the strongest William Reid field for many years.
Trinder, who was stranded at home due to the coronavirus restrictions, wasn't disappointed, with Mystic Journey coming from near-last on the home turn to figure in a photo-finish for fourth.
She was clearly the strongest-finisher in a star-studded group 1 lineup.
Although there are several suitable races coming up in Sydney, Trinder is reluctant to head to NSW due to the likelihood of soft tracks.
At this stage, his preference is to go to Adelaide for the group 1 Sangster Stakes on May 2.
Mystic Journey was having her first start since finishing fifth in the Cox Plate in October after her current campaign was delayed by a leg infection.
PRATTEN TREBLE
Kyle Pratten took the driving honours at Burnie on Friday night with a treble including the drama-packed feature race on Amazing Daisy.
The first attempt to run the NWTLHA Mares Discretionary had to be called off after less than a lap when Mach Charm, who had dislodged driver Samantha Gangell, couldn't be cleared from the track.
The well-fancied Island Bliss was leading at the time after the favourite Statement Please, who had initially stepped to the front, went into a break.
The second time around, it was a different scenario, as it was Amazing Daisy who found the front, with Island Bliss settling third and Statement Please second-last.
Statement Please ran home strongly to challenge over the last lap but, with the benefit of an easier run, Amazing Daisy held the $3.30 favourite at bay.
It was Amazing Daisy's first win in four starts since coming from Victoria and one of five winners on the night for the Ben Yole stable.
Pratten also teamed up with Yole to score with Keep Playing and My Ultimate Romeo.
Yole's other winners were Good Feelings who led most of the way for Natalee Emery and Lake Eyre who led all the way for Conor Crook.
Crook had scored earlier in the night on Falcon Harry who led all the way to record his first win since joining the Marc Butler stable late last year.
Samantha Gangell thwarted favourite-backers in the $8100 Sweepstakes where she trained two of the runners and drove the outsider of the duo, Navua Pixie ($4.80 to $7.00), to victory.
