Brae Sokolski has acquired a number of group 2 winner Spanish Mission in partnership and will keep the colt in Australia with trainer Peter Moody, it was announced Nov. 10.
The Noble Mission colt was third last out in the Nov. 2 Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) at Flemington for Team Valor and Gary Barber and trainer Andrew Balding. He will race for Sokolski, Ozzie Kheir, and Jonathan Rosham “and our warm circle,” Sokolski announced in a statement released Wednesday on social media.
“I am pleased to announce that following his outstanding performance in this year’s Melbourne Cup, Spanish Mission will remain in Australia to be trained by Peter Moody,” the statement read. “I would like to thank the former owners of Spanish Mission, Gary Barber and (Barry) Irwin (of Team Valor), who specifically approached me and gave me the opportunity to purchase their wonderful horse and keep him on our shores.
“Spanish Mission is truly a world class stayer and more importantly still on an upward trajectory with so much more to come. We will advise of future plans with him in due course.”
Bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables out of the Street Cry mare Limonar , Spanish Mission was a $125,000 graduate of the Lane’s End consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by Lynch Bloodstock. He was exported to Europe but failed to meet his reserve in 2018 at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.
Starting his profession for Earle Mack and Crew Valor with coach David Simcock, Spanish Mission broke his maiden in November of 2018 and received the 2019 Bahrain Trophy (G3) at Newmarket three begins later. Returned to his native nation, he proved a decided winner of the Jockey Membership Derby Invitational Stakes over the Belmont Park garden, his lone stateside begin from 19 profession outs up to now. Barber purchased out Mack after that begin, the colt was despatched again to Europe, and Balding took over coaching duties final summer season.
Winner of the 2020 Share Store Chester Stakes and Bet365 Doncaster Cup (G2), Spanish Mission additionally took the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup Stakes (G2) this Could. He has been no worse than third since then, with a 3rd within the Gold Cup (G1) in June, a runner-up end to the legendary stayer Stradivarius in the Aug. 20 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup (G2) at York, and his Melbourne Cup third.
