The legend of Tasmania's latest star, Mystic Journey, continues to grow after the daughter of Needs Further came from last to run down the near $1 million earner Hellova Street in Sunday's Magic Millions Thomas Lyons Stakes at Hobart.
With Anthony Darmanin in the saddle, the Adam Trinder-trained filly had plenty of work to do to run the old professional Hellova Street who can boast eight stakes wins including the last two runnings of this 1400 metre contest.
But run him down she did, defeating Hellova Street by half a length with the Patrick Payne-trained Chamois Road (Choisir) a further two lengths back in third.
Mystic Journey advances her record to 8 wins from 11 starts with earnings of $407,600.
A winner of the Group II Aquis Farm Fillies Classic over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley in October last year (image by Grant Courtney ), Mystic Journey is expected to make her next start in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2 and she is expected to stake a claim for a spot in the field for The All Star Mile.
"She was fantastic, she can get herself out of trouble and every time she runs she runs better," Trinder told racing.com.
"I was worried about her in the soft ground down the back, she really struggled and was quite scrappy in her action and she was dipping in the ground.
"He (Anthony Darmanin) just trusted her, like I've always asked him to do, and he wasn't quick to ask her for an effort because he only gave her one slap on the backside.
"She will take important improvement out of today's run and be spot on for the Guineas.
"Three weeks between runs is perfect for her."
An $11,000 purchase by her trainer out of the Armidale Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Mystic Journey is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Colombia mare White Gold who is a sister to the stakes-placed Oronero.
Mystic Journey is a three-quarter sister to the Listed winner Mystic Pursuit (Needs Further) who is out of White Gold's unraced half-sister Oh So Gold (Savoire Vivre).
A full-sister to Mystic Journey made $55,000 to the bid of Ross Wilkinson at last year's Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
White Gold was not covered in 2016 but had a Fighting Sun filly last spring and was bred back to Fiorente.
Armidale Stud's Needs Further covered 49 mares last spring at a fee of $5,500
