Newcastle Cup-Hobart Cup-Herbert Power - Next Stop Melbourne Cup for Military Mission

Mark Smith - Saturday October 14

The Newcastle Cup and Hobart Cup winner Military Mission (IRE) took a further step towards the Melbourne Cup with a dominant performance in  Saturday’s Group II Neds Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

Building a terrific record (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Joao Moreira for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott,  Military Mission came from back in the field with a sweeping run to defeat United Nations (Galileo) by three-quarters of a length, with Ferago Fiorente) a length back in third.

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The 6-year-old son of Mastercraftsman (IRE) came to the race off the back of a fourth to stablemate Just Fine (IRE) in the Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick, and Waterhouse is adamant he should have finished second.

“Joao, isn’t he music to your ears?; he just understood that there was a bit of a breeze blowing here today and was able to get cover,” Waterhouse said.

“It was a bit of a muddling run race, but he just didn’t panic and let the horse get into his rhythm.

“He ran fourth to Just Fine the other day and was an absolute moral not to run second. He was back second-last.

Another cup for the trophy cabinet (image Grant Courtney)

“I love the way he works himself into the race - both the jockey and the horse - and the way he was coming and coming at the end.”

A €170,000 purchase for Mckeever Bloodstock/Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott from the Kremlin Cottage draft at the 2021 Goffs London Sale, the former  Hugo Palmer-trained gelding advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $798,895.

Military Mission is the best of two winners from four to race for the Tamayuz mare Atlantic Isle, a 3-time winner in Germany.

Military Mission is one of 110 stakes-winners for Danehill Dancer’s Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Mastercraftsman (IRE), a former shuttler to New Zealand.

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Race Result - Neds Herbert Power Stakes Gr2 2400m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 2:32.56
1
Military Mission
- 6g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Atlantic Isle (GER) (Tamayuz (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: J Moreira 57
2
0.8
United Nations
- 5h Galileo (IRE) x Christmas Kid (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: D Yendall 53
3
1.8
Ferago
- 7g Fiorente (IRE) x Vodissa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P F Ryan Rdr: Harry Grace 53
Fiorente
4
2.1
Daqiansweet Junior
- 6g Sweet Orange (USA) x Paulette (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: B Shinn 58
5
3.6
Carini
- 5g Siyouni (FR) x Candarliya (FR) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: M J Dee 53
6
3.8
Mount Popa
- 9g Maxios (GB) x Mimalia (USA) (Silver Hawk (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
7
3.9
Brayden Star
- 5h Twilight Son (GB) x Desert Liaison (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Moor 53
8
5.3
Rebel Racer
- 7g Rebel Raider (AUS) x Just Sybil (AUS) (Alannan (USA))
Tnr: Amy & Ash Yargi Rdr: C Newitt 53.5
9
6.3
Regal Power
- 8g Pierro (AUS) x Broadway Belle (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J Leek Jnr Rdr: A Lynch 58
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