Team Valor's Spanish Mission Eyes Nad Al Sheba Trophy

Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes winner Spanish Mission is bound for Dubai, where the son of Noble Mission  will begin his 4-year-old season for a new ownership group.

Plans call for Spanish Mission to return from a five-month layoff Feb. 27 in the $300,000 Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3) at Meydan Racecourse, a 2,810-meter (about 1 3/4-mile) turf race that will determine his status for a richer test next month on the Dubai World Cup card.

"Depending on how he runs there, we'll run him in a mile-and-a-half or two-mile stakes on Dubai World Cup Day," said Barry Irwin, the founder and CEO of co-owner Team Valor International.

The options for Spanish Mission after the Nad Al Sheba Trophy would be either the $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) or the $1.5 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2) at 3,200 meters (about two miles), both March 28 at Meydan.

Spanish Mission has not raced since Sept. 7 when he made his first start in the United States and captured the inaugural Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park, the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the New York Racing Association's Turf Trinity series for 3-year-olds.

Spanish Mission was campaigned last year by Team Valor and Earle Mack, but Mack recently sold his share of the colt to Gary Barber. 

"An opportunity arose, and I called Gary," Irwin said. "He was aware of the horse and was very receptive. The deal was done in quick order."

Bred by St. Elias Stable, Spanish Mission is the third foal from the Street Cry mare Limonar, who has produced three winners from three foals to race, including stakes winner and group 2-placed Mokarris.

Spanish Mission has won three of seven starts and has earned $710,246. The Kentucky-bred trained by David Simcock made his first six starts in Great Britain, and Irwin expects the colt, along with Team Valor's Technician, to be well traveled this year, though they are unlikely to race in the U.S. Technician, a 4-year-old son of Mastercraftsman, has won five of 10 starts, topped by a victory in the Prix Royal Oak (G1) that earned him acclaim as champion 3-year-old stayer in France.

"Spanish Mission is a horse that's going to travel a lot. He and Technician can go anywhere," Irwin said. "The good part with him and Technician is that they both want to run the same distances, but Spanish Mission likes it firm and Technician likes it soft. Between the two of them, we should be able to run in races like the Ascot Gold Cup (G1, at Royal Ascot June 18)."