Mission River Breaks The Ice

Mark Smith - Friday August 28

Royally-bred Redoute’s Choice colt Mission River finally shed his maiden status at his sixth attempt in a 1000 metres maiden at Gosford on Friday.

Taking advantage of an inside barrier draw, Josh Parr had Mission River travelling sweetly behind the pace set by the odds-on favourite Heroess (Snitzel) and Hajime Naoki (Time for War).

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After a brief scare when a run closed on him in the straight, Parr maneuvered back to the rails when Heroess rolled off and  Mission River hit the line strongly to defeat Hajime Naoki by a half-neck with Heroess one and a quarter lengths back in third.

Trained by the newly former partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Mission River is a homebred for Sun Stud.

He began his career in January when second to Rulership at Randwick then split Supreme Idea and Dame Giselle in the Listed Lonhro stakes at Randwick on February 15.

He found the opposition a bit hot in the Group II Skyline Stakes and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes which brought the curtain down on his 2yo season.

Backed into odds-on favouritism on his resumption at Newcastle on August 13, the son of Redoute’s Choice looked ring-rusty and half disinterested in the early stages of 900m maiden and clocked in third.

Mission River is the second winner for the top-class Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Yosei who was something of a Group 1 snob.

Michelle Payne brings Yosei back to scale after winning the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (Mark Smith)

Three of her four wins came at the highest level in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes, Tattersall's Tiara and MRC Thousand Guineas, with Michelle Payne in the saddle.

Yosei also placed in the AJC Doncaster, MRC Toorak handicap and SAJC Robert Sangster Classic.

Sun Stud purchased her for $850,000 out of the Morning Rise Stud draft at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when she was carrying the twice winning Deep Field colt King’s Champ.

Yosei has a 2yo filly named Bay Of Naples who comes from the penultimate crop of Redoute’s Choice.

After foaling a Fighting Sun filly last spring, Yosei was covered by Trapeze Artist.

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Race Result - Baby Ayton Mdn Hcp 1000m

Gosford Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.29
1
Mission River
- 3c Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Yosei (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: J Parr 59
2
0.2
Hajime Naoki
- 3g Time For War (AUS) x Stella Di Paco (NZ) (Paco Boy (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Cejay Graham 53
3
1.5
Heroess
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Srikandi (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Avdulla 55.5
4
1.9
Luftwaffe
- 3f Panzer Division (AUS) x West Love (AUS) (Zedrich (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: Ms L Day 53.5
5
2.0
Kennedy Choice
- 3g Choisir (AUS) x Lacada Siren (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: S Lisnyy 55.5
6
2.5
Curtis Island
- 3g Kermadec (NZ) x Polygamist (AUS) (Diatribe (AUS))
Tnr: R L Pearse Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
7
4.8
Mandalong Superb
- 3f Nicconi (AUS) x Mandalong Queen (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G R Nickson Rdr: A Banks 55
8
5.8
Freckle
- 4m Zoffany (IRE) x Freckle Face (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
9
7.4
Hireach
- 3c Outreach (AUS) x Misstiflying (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G R Nickson Rdr: Ms N Burrells 52
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