Caloundra trainer Craig Stott's dream of winning a Group race is alive and well following Mystical Grey's narrow victory at Doomben.Mystical Grey ($2.90 fav) gave his supporters plenty of concerns during Saturday's JAE My Holdings Handicap (1350m) before scoring by a short half-head over Jasminka ($11).Shuffle The Cash ($16) came from last to finish third, only a long neck away.Jockey Eddie Wilkinson felt Mystical Grey was set for a big win approaching the home turn before the seven-year-old app
Caloundra trainer Craig Stott's dream of winning a Group race is alive and well following Mystical Grey's narrow victory at Doomben.
Mystical Grey ($2.90 fav) gave his supporters plenty of concerns during Saturday's JAE My Holdings Handicap (1350m) before scoring by a short half-head over Jasminka ($11).
Shuffle The Cash ($16) came from last to finish third, only a long neck away.
Jockey Eddie Wilkinson felt Mystical Grey was set for a big win approaching the home turn before the seven-year-old appeared to labour under his big weight of 58.5kg.
"I eased him out at the 500 metres and I thought he was going to win easily," Wilkinson said.
"But he got on the wrong leg until we straightened up.
"He had the big weight as well but he dug deep."
Stott was reluctant to make excuses for Mystical Grey's performance after travelling so well during the race.
"I don't want to go through that again," Stott said.
"I thought he would go to the line better than that."
Mystical Grey was a late scratching from Eagle Farm last Saturday because of a heavy track and Stott felt that may have contributed to the performance.
"Missing last week's run wouldn't have helped him and I was forced to give him a hard gallop last Tuesday," Stott said.
"I don't think you can make excuses for him but he showed he's a good fighter."
Stott, a former Victorian trainer, plans to step up Mystical Grey in distance this campaign.
"I'll run him over 1600 metres next start and then we'll look for a 2000-metre race," he said.
Wilkinson also believed Mystical Grey would eventually run 2000 metres.
Stott came to Queensland to retire on the Sunshine Coast last year and has only Mystical Grey in work and three two-year-olds in pre-training.
Stott, a former senior marketing executive for the defunct Ansett airline, farmed sheep and cattle with his late father Glenn for many years, taking on training.
The pair bred horses at Balbethan Stud near Oaklands Junction outside Melbourne and once stood Caulfield Cup winner Bunratty Castle.
Stott hopes Mystical Grey can fulfil his ambition of winning a Group race during the upcoming Brisbane winter carnival.
Mystical Grey showed his ability when last in training by claiming the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm last June.