Latest News

By Brad Gray

A daring front-running ride from Damian Lane on The Mission paid dividends with the Choisir colt proving too slick for his rivals in the Group One Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

“That felt great, it 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.

“In the Sires I got crossed quick, I ran 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.”

The Mission led throughout at a good clip

Paul Perry was confident that his two-year-old would take plenty of running down when he tore away to establish a big lead mid-race.

“He gets in that mode in his work and he can keep trucking on. I knew he’d keep going,” said Perry.

“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.

“I’ve had a couple that have run places in the race that have turned out to be real good horses so I hope he’s one of them.

“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.”

Meanwhile, odds-on favourite Invader was left with no excuses and chased hard to run second with Whispered Secret claiming third.

“He just couldn’t accelerate on the inferior ground, acquitted himself well considering,” Bowman said of Invader.

The Mission loving the attention! ?????? pic.twitter.com/JTI7TEo4Ps

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 15, 2017

All of the results and replays at Randwick on Saturday