Star mare Mystic Journey has won her second barrier trial at Devonport this campaign as she closes in on her new season return.
The Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile winner had been scheduled to make her return in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday week but Tasmanian trainer Adam Trinder elected hold her back because of a rain-affected track.
Instead, Mystic Journey had an 800m barrier trial at Devonport on Tuesday morning in preparation for her expected return in the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.
Mystic Journey had three rivals in Tuesday’s hit-out on the synthetic track and sat back in the heat before cruising up on the outside under apprentice Chris Graham to beat I’m Wesley by a short head, with Gee Gee Double Dee a half-head away third.
Mystic Journey is the $4.50 TAB favourite for the 2019 Cox Plate at The Valley in October, with the nominations for the $5 million weight-for-age feature to be announced on Tuesday afternoon.
