Spanish Mission

Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency had the final say for Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) at the Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale, the Listed winner bringing a final bid of €630,000. Fun With Flags won the Prix Rose de Mai, and was the G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up by just over two lengths to Halfday (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), for Jerome Reynier, and was offered with an entry in the G1 Prix de Diane. She has won three of her four career starts. When asked for details, de...

Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), this year's G2 Yorkshire Cup winner and G1 Melbourne Cup third, has been sold to Australian interests and will remain Down Under with trainer Peter Moody. Formerly raced by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, the 5-year-old entire will now represent Brae Sokolski, Ozzie Kheir and Jonathan Rosham. "Yesterday I finalised a deal to secure Spanish Mission to race in partnership with Ozzie Kheir and Jonathan Rosham," said Sokolski in a release. "I would like to thank the former owners of Spanish Mission, Gary Barber...

Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) has survived a last-minute veterinary scare to be given the all-clear to line up for Tuesday's G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, for which he has drawn stall 14.  Trained by Andrew Balding, the 5-year-old was found to have swelling in a leg on Friday but has subsequently been passed fit by the Racing Victoria vets. With Craig Williams booked to ride, Spanish Mission is second-favourite for Australia's most famous staying contest behind the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise (Aus) (Shamus Award...

Defending G1 Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB})'s full-brother Sir Lucan (Ire) and G1 Goodwood Cup runner-up Away He Goes (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) have entered quarantine for trips to the Melbourne Spring Carnival. The Joseph-O'Brien-trained Twilight Payment won the G3 Irish St Leger Trial on Aug. 13 and finished second in the G1 Irish St Leger two weeks ago, and he will pre-quarantine in Ireland for two weeks before shipping Down Under. Sir Lucan, who will remain in Australia and join Gai Waterhouse...

The well-traveled group winner Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) will enter quarantine on Thursday before traveling to Australia. His goals Down Under include the Oct. 16 G1 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup and the Nov. 2 G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup. The May 2 Yorkshire Cup S. hero, who races for Team Valor LLC and Gary Barber, was last seen running second to Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Lonsdale Cup S. at York on Aug. 20. Trainer Andrew Balding is pleased with the 5-year-old entire and hopeful of...

Providing a boost to Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who had beaten him so readily in the Mar. 27 G2 Dubai Gold Cup, Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) was at the fore with a smooth success in Friday's G2 Yorkshire Cup. Held up in last early by William Buick, last year's G2 Doncaster Cup winner who was making his European return having been fifth at Meydan was moved closer travelling notably strongly as Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) attacked approaching three out. Getting the better...

Fields for a trio of Thoroughbred Group 2s and one Purebred Arabian Group 1 on the Dubai World Cup card were drawn on Monday with the five Thoroughbred Group 1s to be finalised during Wednesday's draw ceremony. The $750,000 UAE Derby Sponsored By Emirates NBD attracted 14 sophomores, and, as an added bonus carries 170 (100-40-20-10) points toward the GI Kentucky Derby on May 1. Saudi Derby conqueror Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) leaves from the widest stall in 14. Rated a field-topping 112, the Hideyuki Mori trainee-one of three...

The G1 Dubai Sheema Classic is a potential March target for G1 St Leger second Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}) according to trainer Andrew Balding. Since taking the Listed Noel Murless S. in October, the colt returned to be the runner-up in the H H the Amir Trophy in Qatar on Feb. 20. "He ran a smashing race," said Balding. "It was his first run for a while, and he's entitled to come on for that. All being well, he might head towards Meydan for the Sheema Classic. He's...

Tackling near two and a quarter miles for the first time, Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) excelled at the trip to win Friday's G2 bet365 Doncaster Cup and stake his claim as a major player in the staying category. Always travelling easily in fifth for William Buick, the 6-4 favourite who had won the Aug. 20 Listed Chester S. after his move to Andrew Balding loomed alongside Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) with purpose having already travelled two miles. Sent into the clear from there,...

Team Valor International's English GSW Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), the highest rated horse on Thursday's Meydan card at 110, makes his first start since a narrow win in Belmont's Sept. 7 Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy. The 2810-metre turf event drew a field of nine, and the David Simcock trainee, successful in the July 11 G3 Bahrain Trophy S. and third in Goodwood's G3 Gordon S. on Aug. 1, leaves from gate six. If he performs with credit today, the Nad Al...