Mystic Journey seeks repeat in P.B. Lawrence at Caulfield

Mystic Journey won the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne in August 2019 for her seventh consecutive win, the sort of performance that suggested the mare was going to have a brilliant season in Australia in the final months of the year.

Mystic Journey has not won since. She was later fifth in the Group 1 Cox Plate, Australia’s top weight-for-age race, last October and fifth in her only start this calendar year in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at six furlongs in March.

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Mystic Journey is back in the Lawrence Stakes at seven furlongs on Saturday in her first start since the Reid and in the same situation as a year ago. Trainer Adam Trinder is using the Lawrence as a prep or Group 1 races in coming weeks and months.

Trinder is based in Tasmania and shipped Mystic Journey to trainer Peter Moody’s base in Pakenham, Australia, this week because of coronavirus restrictions. Trinder will train Mystic Journey from afar in coming months. Pakenham is located on the outskirts of Melbourne.

That is not the only change for Mystic Journey, a 5-year-old who has won 11 of 18 starts. Billy Egan has the mount for the first time.

Mystic Journey was a slight favorite in future-book betting as of Thursday at 3-1. The race has drawn a strong field, including the mares Arcadian Queen and Savatiano; Regal Power, who won the All-Star Mile in March; and Cape of Good Hope, who won the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes last October.

Mystic Journey won the 2019 All-Star Mile at Caulfield.

Arcadian Queen won the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens last September in her first start in nine months and has not raced since a fifth-place finish in the $5.18 million Golden Rose Stakes for 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens last November.

Savatiano won the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Caulfield last October. Earlier this year, Savatiano won the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes for fillies and mares at Rosehill Gardens in February but was winless in four Group 1 or Group 2 races from early March to early May.

Regal Power, a 5-year-old gelding, won the $3.26 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield in March, and has not raced since. Interestingly, Regal Power won the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes at seven furlongs last November in his first start in seven months, although this is a much tougher field.

Cape of Good Hope has been raced primarily at longer distances in the last year, and could benefit from a start on Saturday. Cape of Good Hope was eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and third in the Saratoga Derby in his final starts for trainer Aidan O’Brien before he was sent to Australia.

The nine-race Caulfield program begins at 10:10 p.m., Eastern, or 7:10 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.