Injured Mystic Journey requires surgery but will return in spring

Roser said Mystic Journey would require an operation to remove bone chips from a knee but, all being well, would resume her racing career in the spring.

"We're in it to race ... we love racing," he said.

"As long as she can, we'll continue racing her.

"She'll tell us when she doesn't want to race any more."

Mystic Journey ran home fairly to be beaten just on 2-1/2 lengths when fifth to Star Of The Seas in Saturday's group 2 $200,000 Blamey Stakes.

Roser said he and trainer Adam Trinder immediately sensed something was wrong because "she didn't finish off as she normally does.

"Unfortunately she has bruising and bone chips in a knee so that's the end of this campaign," he said.

"I've already spoken to the surgeon and we hope to have her operated on in Tasmania on Thursday.

"She'll then need four months to recuperate."

Roser said he didn't consider having the operation done in Victoria because he didn't think the mare would cope without Trinder's attention.

"Bringing her home means Adam can monitor her every day which is the way to do it," he said.

Connections had been hoping Mystic Journey could win the Blamey to force her way into the $5 million All-Star Mile which she won two years ago.

"Even with her injuries, she wasn't beaten far ... if she had been right, she would have won the Blamey quite easily I would have thought," Roser said.

In Mystic Journey's absence, Still A Star will be Tasmania's lone runner in the All-Star Mile on Saturday week. She was the fourth-highest vote-getter.