Spanish star’s mission
STAR international stayer Spanish Mission will definitely board the flight to Melbourne on Friday, bar a second uncharacteristic setback.
Spanish Mission, put through his paces at Newmarket, England at the weekend, has recovered from the muscle spasms which forced the Melbourne Cup second favourite to miss a flight nine days ago. British trainer Andrew Balding is “relieved and happy” with the “sound and resilient” horse, who was withdrawn from the Caulfield Cup after failing to board the September 25 shipment.
Spanish Mission was second favourite in the Caulfield Cup behind Queensland sensation Incentivise but American managing owner Barry Irwin, said Spanish Mission could benefit from the setback.
“I’m OK with it [missing Caulfield Cup] because I didn’t like the idea of dropping him to 2400m and having to race him twice in a couple of weeks. It’s something he would not have been used to,” Irwin said.