Star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey kicked off her Cox Plate campaign with a brilliant win in the $200,000 Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes over 1400 metres at Caulfield last Saturday at her first run back from a break.
The Adam Trinder-trained daughter of Needs Further enjoyed a good trail just off the pace under regular hoop Anthony Darmanin before showing her customary acceleration to wear down race leader Cliff’s Edge, who gave a good kick, with the evergreen Hartnell running on nicely for third.
Mystic Journey is now likely to have a month between runs before heading to the Makybe Diva Stakes on September 15 then the Turnbull Stakes on October 5.
Those two Group 1 races at Flemington should have her hard fit for the Cox Plate three weeks later. 
Further north, the return of top Tassie stayer Eastender didn’t go as well, with the Devonport, Hobart and Launceston Cups winner finishing tailed off in the Premier’s Cup Prelude over 1800 metres on the Kensington course at Randwick at his first outing for Chris Waller.
The former Barry Campbell rep apparently didn’t handle his first attempt at racing in the clockwise direction. He also collided with the rail midrace. 
His main target this spring is the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap — a race he’ll need to win in order to gain a start in the Melbourne Cup.
There was better news later on the card at Kensington when Royston Carr’s former top local three-year-old Mister Songman impressed at the same track with a gallant second in a $125,000 benchmark 88 handicap over 1100 metres at his first run back from leg surgery.
Now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the five-year-old Your Song gelding also has Group 1 ambitions and will target the Epsom Handicap — a race in which he has already firmed in betting to be a $26 chance.