Old Mystique's Melbourne Cup Claims On The Line

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday April 23, 2005

By CHRIS ROOTS

KEMBLA Grange trainer Bede Murray will use Old Mystique's next couple of runs to weigh up whether the four-year-old should be entered for the Melbourne Cup - starting with the Macau Jockey Club Trophy (2000m) at Randwick today.

The wily trainer believes Rogan Josh's little brother has time on his side to fulfil his potential but hasn't ruled out the chance of having a dash at the race that stops the nation this year.

"We'll have a good look at that after his next couple of starts," Murray said.

"If we don't enter him (this year) it takes away a couple of options but I think he's still a year away from being fully mature."

Old Mystique is only a four-year-old and Murray has noted that Rogan Josh didn't race at the top level until he was a six and seven-year-old.

The one thing Old Mystique has shown in his 10 starts is he will stay, and getting over 2000m this afternoon will suit him better than when he was a grinding fourth to Bibury Court over 1600m at Warwick Farm on April 13 after a short let-up.

"If he races well he will go to Wagga for the cup," he said.

Old Mystique comes into today's Class 6 on the limit weight of 53kg and would have to win to race his way into the Listed Wagga Cup (2000m) field on May 6.

He is rated on the third line of betting at $6 alongside Dancing Daggers with three-year-old Restless Wind a $4 favourite ahead of the Gwenda Markwell-trained Valadez ($5).

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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