Spanish Mission Sold, to Remain in Australia

Brae Sokolski has acquired multiple 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."

Sokolski is also the managing owner of Melbourne Cup winner Veery Elleegant, trained by Chris Waller, and runner-up Incentivise, a Moody trainee. 

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.

Beginning his career for Earle Mack and Team Valor with trainer David Simcock, Spanish Mission broke his maiden in November of 2018 and won the 2019 Bahrain Trophy (G3) at Newmarket three starts later. Returned to his native country, he proved a determined winner of the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes over the Belmont Park lawn, his lone stateside start from 19 career outs to date. Barber bought out Mack after that start, the colt was sent back to Europe, and Balding took over training duties last summer.

Winner of the 2020 Share Shop Chester Stakes and Bet365 Doncaster Cup (G2), Spanish Mission also took the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup Stakes (G2) this May. He has been no worse than third since then, with a third in the Gold Cup (G1) in June, a runner-up finish to the legendary stayer Stradivarius  in the Aug. 20 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup (G2) at York, and his Melbourne Cup third.