TASSIE FILLY TRIUMPHS IN AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS

By Scott Gooley | Saturday, March 2, 2019

MYSTIC JOURNEY JOINS ELITE FILLIES CLUB

Mystic Journey joined a very selective group of fillies when she took out the Group 1 Australian Stakes at Flemington, today.

Since the first running of the Australian Guineas in 1986, only four fillies have won the mile feature for three-year-olds – Triscay (1991), Miss Finland (2007), Shamrocker (2011) and Mosheen (2012) - and since Mosheen’s victory a further dozen had tried to get the better of the boys.

It’s a gigantic feather in the cap of Tasmanian trainer Adam Trinder who prepares the daughter of Needs Further who has now won nine of her twelve starts, but Trinder quickly deflected the accolades bestowed upon him after the race.

“She’s a fantastic filly which makes our assignment a lot easier.”

“The team at home do a fantastic job with these horses and it’s good to be able to showcase it on the main stages.”

“We didn’t think she was a Group 1 filly in the spring, but we trusted come the autumn … once she strengthened up … she would be.”

“Thankfully we were right.”

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OREGON’S DAY RETURNS … ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER TILT AT COOLMORE

The cards fell perfectly in place, or more accurately, the race unfolded favourable, for Oregon’s Day’s return to racing at Flemington in the Tressday Stakes, with the Mick Price trained filly defying a noticeable betting drift to score a strong win.

“You can say beautiful ride, but the seas parted and he (Damien Oliver) made full use of the run.” Price admitted after the race.

“We were looking for a nice third or fourth so it’s great to get a win in a Group 3 race and she’s now not far off winning $1M in prize-money.”

Oregon’s Day may very well break through that threshold when she heads to Sydney for the Coolmore Classic in a fortnight’s time.

Oregon’s Day ran second in the Group 1 for fillies and mares last year behind Daysee Doom, also when second up from a spell as she be will again be this year.
“She’s a class mare and I’m hoping she can fluke a Group 1, one of these days.”

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WAUGH STABLE WORKING WONDERS

Kim Waugh stellar month of results continued at Randwick with Goathland scoring first up from a spell over 2000m in a Benchmark 88.

“I feel like I’m back at the trots again,” the former Harness trainer and driver admitted.

“They’d never start over 1200m. They’d be always a mile and 2000 and 2400m so it’s enjoyable. It’s different.” Waugh said after the victory.

It was Waugh’s seventh winner from 22 runners this month, and signalled a promising campaign ahead for Goathland, a galloper formerly owned by Lloyd Williams, who recorded some strong performances last time in, including finishing fourth in both the G3 Newcastle Cup and Colin Stephen.

Waugh confirmed she’ll continue to test Goathland in good company with the ultimate goal a start in the Sydney Cup and, as was the case on Saturday, she’ll be hoping jockey Blake Shinn will be aboard.

“Blake rides him so well. He’s got the best hands and that’s why we fight to make him ride them.”