Mystic Shadow staged a remarkable late rally to clinch the prestigious $10,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred race at Fraser Downs on Thursday evening.
Under the masterful guidance of driver Bradley Watt, Mystic Shadow initially fell back to sixth place as the race commenced, maintaining a steady position as the competition kicked off with a brisk opening panel in :27 and a halfway mark in :56.3. Watt strategically stayed six lengths behind the leader, biding his time until he hit the three-quarter mark in 1:25.4 to launch a decisive move.
Seizing the opportunity, Mystic Shadow veered off the rail, skillfully tailed the fast-paced favourite Pirate Booty (piloted by Terry Kaufman), and gradually bridged the gap from the outer lane. With a burst of speed in the home stretch, Mystic Shadow elegantly overtook the frontrunners, crossing the finish line in 1:55.1 with a commanding lead of three-quarters of a length.
In a thrilling conclusion to the race, the valiant Grey Sea, steered by John Abbott, gallantly secured the second position, while Pirate Booty settled for third place.
Trained by the seasoned Nelson Craig in partnership with Richard Wm Craig, Mystic Shadow, a seven-year-old Shadow Play-Breathe mare, clinched her first victory of the season and marked her 11th career triumph. With an impressive track record of 103 races, Mystic Shadow has amassed a total earnings of $106,584. The unexpected victor of the race, Mystic Shadow, paid out at generous odds of $32.00 to win, emerging triumphant at 15-1.