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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisment

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
More Reading...
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
Military Mission Captures Newcastle Gold Cup
European imports supplied the bulk of the field in Friday’s $300,000 Group III Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) and dominated the finish.
Aquis Welcome First foals for Young Gun Officiating
A fast Group winning sprinter by Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame, Officiating (USA) was carefully selected by Aquis Stallions following a global headhunting mission to secure an outcross stallion for Queensland and his first foals are arriving this spring.
Military Mission Triumphs in Hobart Cup
Winona Costin repaid Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's faith when she gave Military Mission (IRE) a pearl of a ride in Sunday's $300,000 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup (2400m) at Elwick racecourse.
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
Horse Trading Stock Issues to Avoid
One of the key areas in thoroughbred taxation is accounting for trading stock and ensuring the tax closing value is properly ascertained. You’d be quite surprised of the enormous difference to the tax position of any racing player where trading stock problems occur.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.