Tally-Ho breezer Spanish Mission ran an outstanding race for Team Valor and Garay Barber to finish third in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington in Australia.
The son of Noble Mission survived an injury scare to line up in the iconic event and did best of the international challengers to stay on into third under Craig Williams, ultimately winding up just half-a-length adrift of the second Incentivise.
“I was thrilled with him and he’s run with real credit,” trainer Andrew Balding told the Racing Post. “I have to give a big thanks to everyone who has been involved – Tony Noonan and his son Tom have done a brilliant job with him, as has Neil Varley who has been riding him out there. Maddy O’Meara did the quarantine in Newmarket with him, so it’s been a big team effort.
“He has an invitation to go for the Hong Kong Vase, which is a possibility, but we’ll have to see how he comes out of the race.”
The ultra reliable Spanish Mission boasts six wins, among them the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational and Yorkshire and Doncaster Cups, in addition to placings in the Ascot Gold Cup and Lonsdale Stakes.
He was bred by St Elias Stables in Kentucky and purchased by Tally-Ho through Lynch Bloodstock for $125,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.
Re-offered by Tally-Ho at the 2018 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale (he is pictured below breezing on the Rowley Mile), he was bought back for 60,000gns on that occasion and went on to carry the colours of the Tick Tock Partnership prior to his sale to current connections.
