Jockey Luke Currie committed to riding Tassie star Mystic Journey in All-Star Mile lead-up runs

Jockey Luke Currie will head to Launceston on Wednesday to ride Mystic Journey to start her attempt to return to the top of the mountain in the All-Star Mile in March.

Mystic Journey won the inaugural All-Star Mile a week after notching her Group 1 success in the 2019 Australian Guineas. But the Tasmanian star has only won two of her eight starts, both at Group 2 level, since her triumphant autumn.

Currie steered Mystic Journey to victory at his only ride on the Adam Trinder-trained mare in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at The Valley in the spring.

A commitment to the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable prevented him from riding Mystic Journey in her unplaced run in the Empire Rose Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.

He has committed to riding the five-year-old in three runs over the Tasmanian Summer Carnival.

Mystic Journey is a $1.10 favourite to resume with a win over five rivals in Wednesday night’s $50,000 Ladbrokes Stakes (1200m) at Launceston.

Luke Currie (red sleeves – outside) driving Mystic Journey to victory over Perth mare Perfect Jewel in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at The Valley. Photo: Natasha Morello/Racing Photos via Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

“It’s a good race, a weight-for-age 1200m race, for her to kick off so it will be good to see how she goes,” Currie said.

Mystic Journey has fallen back in the queue for Racing Victoria wildcards for the All-Star Mile, meaning the winner of 12 of 22 starts will need to rely on the public voting to get a start in the $5 million event at The Valley on March 13.

Currie said the three runs were focused on getting Mystic Journey to Melbourne in the best possible shape to take on what could be a star-studded field in the All-Star Mile.

“It will be a bit different with the voting and whether she gets in or not but I’ll go over and have a spin on her,” Currie said.

“I’ll go and ride her in the races in Tassie and I suppose, if she gets a run in the All-Star Mile, that I’ll have first refusal on her for that race as long as I ride her well in the lead-up races.

“I suppose she doesn’t have to win those races in Tassie but it’s all about giving her the right prep but you would expect her to be winning down there.”

Originally published asCurrie going the Journey on Mystic

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