The fairy tale story of the year, last year, MYSTIC JOURNEY (Needs Further-White Gold) may be ready for a new chapter.
When she burnt down the centre of the track to win the inaugural $5million All Star Mile in March of 2019, a race that followed her easy initial debut Gr 1 win in the Australian Guineas, it looked like we may have another Winx on our hands.
That All Star Mile win was her 10th from just 13 starts, but it has been slim pickings in seven races since.
And on Saturday she ran her worst race of her illustrious career, when a plodding 10th in the Gr 1 Memsie.
Upon examination, the vet found her to be lame, and the stewards have banned her from racing again until such time as she can prove her fitness.
That, plus the poor effort and the soreness, have combined to urge trainer Adam Trinder to take her back home to Tasmania.
She will get assessed there. She will rehab in the salt water and Trinder will make an announcement in a few weeks about her future – will it be to continue on the track or retire to stud.
At the moment she has won 11 races and $3,747,600 in stakes money.
This is about the best time for a mare to retire, so as to let down appropriately and be served later in the year.
