Mystic Journey and Still A Star have swapped places in the betting order after the barrier draw for Saturday's $300,000 Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington.
Bookmakers opened Mystic Journey at $11 and Still A Star at $14 early in the week but revised their market after acceptances on Wednesday morning.
Mystic Journey, who has drawn barrier 12, eased to $15 while Still A Star, who has drawn barrier 2, had her price slashed to $7.00.
Trainer Adam Trinder has booked three-time Melbourne premiership-winner Luke Nolen for his first ride on Mystic Journey.
Luke Currie, who has ridden Mystic Journey at four of her past five starts, switches to Still A Star who is trained by his godfather Bill Ryan.
Currie won the race last year on $20 outsider Pretty Brazen for trainer Tony McEvoy.
Both mares are due to travel to Melbourne on the Spirit Of Tasmania on Thursday.
Ryan said earlier in the week that he expected Still A Star "to run a huge race but still be improved by whatever she does".
Trinder told RSN radio on Wednesday that he also expected Mystic Journey to be "more than competitive."
"Her record at Flemington is exemplary," the trainer said.
"She hasn't been exposed there over 1400m but she has a good understanding and liking of the track."
Trinder said he believed that, despite now being a six-year-old, Mystic Journey had retained her zest for racing.
"She's coming off three trials after a long, slow build-up and she's now ready to go back to the races," the trainer said.
Mystic Journey required surgery to remove bone chips from a knee after her fifth in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington on February 27.
"Everything went well with the surgery and, since she's been back, she's been nice and even in her action and her enthusiasm has been good," Trinder said.
Mystic Journey's most recent trial was at Spreyton nine days ago when she was slightly slow to begin before finishing off strongly to narrowly beat Still A Star and Newhart.
She had her final serious hit-out on the grass at Mowbray on Monday morning when she and Still A Star both worked well.
CARR FALLS FOUL OF WHIP RULE AGAIN
Stewards suspended Siggy Carr for three meetings for excessive use of the whip on Sunday's Spreyton winner Needarein.
She was found to have used the whip 10 times prior to the 100m - double the legal limit.
When assessing penalty, stewards said they took into account the jockey's very poor record in relation to whip offences and the fact that the breach was in the 'high level'.
Carr, who pleaded guilty, chose to start the penalty immediately.
Two horses that were eased down by their riders and finished a distant last at Spreyton on Sunday both pulled up lame.
Brendon McCoull said Possession ($2.20 fav) did not respond to his urgings in the home straight and he chose not to ride the horse out over the last 150m.
Possession was subsequently found to be lame in the near hind leg and trainer Michael Trinder said the gelding would be spelled.
Daniel Ganderton asked for a veterinary examination of Kwai ($9.50) at the barriers before the last race and she was passed fit to start.
However Ganderton reported that the mare raced ungenerously throughout and he eased her down in the home straight.
She was also found to be lame in the near hind leg and trainer Barry Campbell advised stewards that the six-year-old would be retired.
PAST TWO SIRES WINNERS TO CLASH
The 2021 Sires Stake program gets underway in Devonport on Sunday night with two heats of the Raider Stakes and a prelude of the Granny Smith.
Two previous Sires Stake winners will clash in the first heat of the Raider Stakes for the four-year-old entires and geldings.
The 2019 Dandy Patch 2YO winner Colby Sanz has drawn the pole and 2020 Globe Derby 3YO winner Kohanah has drawn barrier 7.
Both horses are resuming and coming off multiple unplaced runs, so favouritism may default to first-up Hobart winner Watchmylips.
Kosimo, who ran a close second to Kohanah in the Globe Derby final, is the highest-rated runner in the second heat.
With insufficient acceptors to run heats, the Granny Smith for four-year-old mares is down to a 10-horse prelude.
The highest-rated runner is Blame It On Me, who won the three-year-old Sires Stake final, the Bandbox Stakes, as a $1.18 favourite.
The $50,000 Raider and Granny Smith finals are in Devonport on September 26.
The Sires Stakes series continues in Hobart in October with the Evicus and Dandy Patch then moves to Mowbray in November for the Globe Derby and Bandbox.
EAGLES FLYING HIGH IN VICTORIA AND SA
Tasmanian stallion Alpine Eagle had two debut winners on interstate tracks earlier this week.
Three-year-old gelding Speak No Eagle scored at Murray Bridge on Sunday for leading South Australian trainer David Jolly.
And, three-year-old filly Throntari was an easy winner at Wangaratta on Monday for Cranbourne trainers Robbie Griffiths and Matthew de Kock
Both horses were sold at the 2020 Launceston Magic Millions sale.
Throntari, out of Must Be Mink, brought $95,000 and Speak No Eagle, out of Without Words, is now looking a bargain buy at $15,000.
