The Mission Dominates Champagne Stakes

Twenty three-year-old jockey Damian Lane continued his ascension into the upper echelons as he guided The Mission (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) to a dominant success in the G1 Moet & Chandon Champagne S. at Randwick. The Mission finished only sixth last time to race favourite Invader (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) in the G1 Inglis Sires' two weeks ago but turned around the form in no uncertain fashion under an enterprising ride from Lane. Despite not being quickest from the gates Lane rushed The Mission straight into the lead and built up an advantage of six lengths at halfway. He then got a nice breather into the colt, allowing the pack to close to within three lengths nearing the turn. Sweeping in, Lane kicked again and the Paul Perry trained juvenile responded gamely taking another length out of the field as Invader went in pursuit. The favourite could make little impression however and The Mission hit the line strongly two and a quarter lengths clear of Invader with Whispered Secret (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) a neck behind in third. “That felt great, he is a very tricky horse to ride and having ridden him in the Sires, I really learnt a lot from him and it was great to get the win today,” Lane said. “He goes very keen but he doesn't jump very well, so in the Sires I got crossed quick, I run up backsides and I had to take off around them and it was just ugly but the way he stayed on I thought this horse has great stamina and if he can get in his rhythm out in front like he did today, I don't think they will run him down,” he added.

For Paul Perry there was an added dimension to the victory for The Mission as he also trained the colt's sire Choisir (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to land a famous Royal Ascot double in 2003. “He showed something all the way through but he's probably been his own worst enemy. His last start in the Sires he was a bit slow out, got held up and nothing went his way but when he jumped well today and he can flow along I think he's pretty smart,” Perry said after the race. The Mission has been something of a slow burner. He took six runs to get his head in front but when he did it was the G3 Schweppervesence H. at Rosehill Mar. 25 that gave him his racecourse break through. That run was followed by the abovementioned sixth place in the G1 Inglis Sires' at Randwick Apr. 1. Perry is now keen to back off The Mission for a while to focus on spring targets. “He'll go the paddock now and hopefully come back for the Caulfield Guineas. He can certainly race on the speed so it should suit.”

Pedigree notes…

My Amelia (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was precocious enough to win as a 2-year-old and she has passed that precocity on to her progeny. The Mission is one of three winners from three runners and five foals for the mare who has also produced the MGSP Smart Amelia (Aus) (Smart Missile {Aus}). Unfortunately she foaled a full sister to The Mission in 2015 but that foal died last year. My Amelia is out of the top class runner Carry On Cutie (Aus) (More Than Ready) who won the G1 Salinger Champage S. but her breeding exploits have yet to match those on the track with no stakes performers as yet from her three winners and eight foals.

MOET & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE STAKES-G1, A$500,000, ATC, 4-15, 2yo Open Set Weight, 1600mT, 1:41.07, Hvy.

1–&THE MISSION, 56.5, c, 2, by Choisir (Aus)
1st Dam: My Amelia (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
2nd Dam: Carry On Cutie (Aus), by More Than Ready
3rd Dam: Rose of Latakia (NZ), by Conquistarose

(A$32,500 Ylg '16 MMLJAN) O-Ms C G Collis, Mrs B J Grant, Mrs J P Poole & Mrs D M McCarthy; B-Mr R Pegum NSW; T-P M Perry; J-Damian Lane; A$295,000. Lifetime Record: 8-2-1-1, A$411,925. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B+.

2–Invader (Aus), 56.5, c, 2, Snitzel (Aus)–Flame of Sydney (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (A$475,000 Ylg 16 MMLJAN) O-Newgate S F (Mgr: G D Murphy), Aquis Farm (Mgr: Miss K A Fogden), China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: A K Teo), Horse Ventures (Mgr: M B Sandblom) & Winstar Farm Llc (Mgr: J Mull; B-Mr A Pitt NSW; T-P & P Snowden; J-J Bowman; A$95,000.

3–Whispered Secret (Aus), 54.5, f, 2, High Chaparral (Ire)–Zutara (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). O-Gooree Stud (Mgr: E M Cojuangco); B-Gooree Park Stud Pty Ltd NSW; T-James Cummings; J-G Schofield; A$50,000.

Margins: 2.3, 2.6, 4.2. Odds: 8/1, 17/20, 5/1.
Also Ran: Ace High (Aus), One More Honey (Aus), Aberro (Aus), Eshtiraak (Aus), Memento (Aus), Nashville Skyline (Aus), Reflectivity (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.