Trainer Adam Trinder has warned that star mare Mystic Journey will be vulnerable when she returns to racing at Mowbray on Wednesday night - but the bookmakers aren't listening.
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Mystic Journey opened at $1.10 with tab.com.au for the $50,000 Ladbrokes Stakes, her first step towards another tilt at the $5 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on March 13.
She will have only five rivals when she makes her first appearance on home soil for almost two years.
But Trinder is just a little wary of the distance of the weight-for-age race.
"She doesn't have a fantastic record over 1200m (one win from five attempts) but it's a good starting point and hopefully we can build off it," the trainer said.
"I've been very happy with her leading up to the race - she hasn't missed a beat."
Trinder said he would "really enjoy" having Mystic Journey racing in Tasmania again.
"Firstly, it will allow local people to see her on her home turf and, secondly, it takes away the logistical issues of travelling to Melbourne," he said.
"She will be racing an hour away from her stable and will be back at home in bed two hours after the race."
Mystic Journey will have the services of Luke Currie whose only previous ride on the mare produced a win in the group 2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley in September.
Early market on the Ladbrokes Stakes is - 1.10 Mystic Journey; 8.00 Blaze Forth; 11.00 Liffeybeau; 16.00 Gee Gee Secondover; 101.00 Louise; 251.00 Brockton Punch.
In Wednesday night's other feature races, Swoop Dog and First Accused are $2.80 equal favourites for the rescheduled $100,000 Launceston Guineas over 2100m and Deroche is $1.28 for the $50,000 Lady Lynette for fillies and mares over 1100m.
STILL A STAR SET TO TAKE NEXT STEP
Still A Star, Tasmania's other All-Star Mile entrant, will have her second barrier trial since a long spell at Longford on Tuesday morning.
Trainer Bill Ryan intends to trial her again a fortnight later before a first-up run in the Bow Mistress Stakes on Hobart Cup day (February 7).
That will be her only chance to impress All-Star Mile voters, as the poll closes a week later - 10 days before her second-up run in the Vamos Stakes at Mowbray.
Connections understand it will be hard to get into the All-Star Mile under those circumstances, added to the fact that she and Mystic Journey are vying for the same home-state vote.
But they are relying on her outstanding three-year-old record and high social media profile to get her through.
Still A Star won six of her seven starts last season including four listed races in a row.
All-Star Mile voting opens on Friday and closes on February 14. There are a record 83 nominations.