Mystic Journey honoured
Mystic Journey (Needs Further) will be recognised with a race named in her honour at next year’s All-Star Mile raceday at Flemington.
The Mystic Journey, a 2000 metre fillies and mares' set weights and penalties contest will recognise the inaugural winner of the world’s richest mile race.
Mystic Journey when racing
Unlike The Mystic Journey, which will retain its title, The Regal Power (2000 metres) and The Mugatoo (1600 metres), which are $200,000 Quality H. honouring the respective All-Star Mile winners in 2020 and 2021 will only feature in 2022 with a rotation policy set to determine those two race names in the future.
The VOBIS Gold Comet (1000 metres) for sprinters aged three years and older is set to make its debut and will offer a further $30,000 in VOBIS bonuses.
The next crusade
Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) is the first runner confirmed for next year’s edition of The Everest.
Neil Werrett, Max Whitby and Col Madden have once again secured the Team Hawkes-trained gelding after he flashed home to finish second behind Nature Strip (Nicconi) in this year’s running of the $15 million feature.
Masked Crusader
“Masked Crusader ran so well in The Everest this year; he was unlucky not to have won the race. He is still only a lightly raced sprinter, and we feel he will be at his best next year,” Masked Crusader’s managing owner Rupert Legh told Racenet.
“I can tell you that the horse has never spelled as well as he has after his spring campaign. He’s back in work now and looks amazing.’’
Blue Sky to shine Bright
Jamie Richards isn’t fazed by Coolangatta's (Written Tycoon) presence in Sunday’s BJ McLachlan S. at Doomben, even if the market suggests the favourite is near-unbeatable.
Richards will saddle up Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) in the 1200-metre feature, an exciting debut winner that he holds a big opinion of.
“They’ve got Coolangatta as unbeatable, but we really like our filly I think it’s going to be a good test for her to see where she’s at against the favourite for the Magic Millions,” Richards said.
“We’ve put blinkers on, we’ve sharpened her up, and we think we can give Coolangatta a shake.”
Tivaci turning it on
Young Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci notched his 11th Australasian winner via the second-start victory of Wolf Queen (NZ) at Gosford on Thursday.
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly proved too good for Icing On The Cake (Astern) and debutant Dijon (Headwater) in the 1000-metre dash.
Tivaci is currently sixth overall on the Australian second-season sire standings, having amassed $887,130 in progeny earnings.
Pannell prepared for Rossa reunion
Todd Pannell is hoping his hit-and-run reunion with Beau Rossa (Unencumbered) in Sunday’s Listed Falvelon Quality at Doomben can prove rewarding.
The reigning South Australian Jockeys' Premiership winner will venture north to partner the Will Clarken-trained gelding after being forced to forego key opportunities aboard the 5-year-old during the Melbourne spring carnival.
"I've always had a big opinion of this horse, from day one he's always shown a lot of ability," Pannell told Racing.com.
"He's starting to grow into himself now, putting it all together, and he's got more to offer and more potential, which is exciting."
Parsifal well placed
Dubai World Cup Carnival-bound galloper Parsifal (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is a pillar of health ahead of Sunday’s Listed Christmas S. at Caulfield, according to trainer Will Clarken.
The Boxing Day feature will be the 7-year-old’s final start before departing Australia with stablemate He’s A Balter (Spirit Of Boom).
Parsifal (NZ)
“I couldn’t be happier with him, but it just depends on how good this favourite (Marabi) is. He’s a very honest galloper and I think this is his pet trip,” Clarken told Racenet.
“The races we are picking out (in Dubai), from what we can work out, are like an open handicap at Flemington on Saturday or a Listed race. That’s what we think they are, which will give our horses the chance of competing well.”
Overlord on the board
Geoff and Mary Grimish-homebred Overlord (Sebring) secured a long-overdue maiden victory at Gosford on Thursday.
The Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old, who was last seen at the races on December 23, 2020, boasts a G3 Ming Dynasty S.-placing, a fourth in the G1 JJ Atkins S. and two seconds to subsequent Group winner turned Twin Hills Stud stallion Peltzer.
Ridden by Kathy O’Hara, Overlord settled back in the field before running down well-backed debutant Destiny’s Bounty (Headwater) to prevail by 0.35l.
McNeil ready to make his mark
Logan McNeil, the younger brother of G1 Melbourne Cup hero Jye, hopes his maiden metropolitan win at Sandown on Wednesday can open the door for increased opportunities in the new year.
The 20-year-old graduated from Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey Training program alongside Tatum Bull, Alana Kelly and Madison Lloyd in 2018 but was sidelined for the best part of eight months last year with an ankle injury sustained in a trackwork fall.
Logan McNeil
“Obviously your name gets forgotten about quite quickly in this game, so it took me a while to get the momentum going again, but now I’m just loving the opportunities,” McNeil told RSN.
“I definitely try to model myself to Jye’s (McNeil) style, it’s a little bit harder being a bit taller, but the aim has always been to model myself on him.”
Colgan ready to reconnect
Vinnie Colgan is excited to reunite with classy mare Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) in Sunday’s G1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic after missing her last start Group 1 romp through suspension.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained 5-year-old enters the 2000-metre feature on the back of success in the G1 Captain Cook S. at Te Rapa, when partnered by Danielle Johnson.
Two Illicit (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“She very rarely wins over a mile, especially going left-handed and she is a very good mare at 2000 metres right-handed, and obviously I rode her to win the Zabeel Classic last year.
“It was a hard choice (between Two Illicit and Concert Hall), but I have always been a Two Illicit fan as well. I have ridden them both in trackwork and Two Illicit just has that bit of x-factor. Concert Hall is a very good mare, but Two Illicit is a bit special.”
Longines World Racing Awards stay online
The Longines World Racing Awards will be held virtually for the second-straight year on January 25.
The Longines World’s Best Racehorse and World’s Best Horse Race will be revealed while Ryan Moore, the 2021 Longines World’s Best Jockey, will be honoured.
