SPANISH MISSION showed he is a colt on the upgrade with a classy success in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket this afternoon.

The David Simcock-trained colt won the opener at the July Festival by four lengths to leave connections with a nice decision to make.

Spanish Mission has been pencilled in for a new $1million race on the turf at Belmont on September 7.

But after surging away to score in emphatic style over a mile and five furlongs, the possibility of a tilt at the St Leger is sure to come under discussion.

For now the Trillium Place team can simply savour a stirring display by the son of Noble Mission, owned by the American, the Honorable Earle Mack and Team Valor..

Jockey Jamie Spencer brought the 13/2 shot with a smooth run from half a mile out as the early leader Severance paid the price for setting too strong a gallop through the opening exchanges.

Spanish Mission engaged in a duel with Nayef Road from over a furlong out and his stamina held out best of the pair allowing Spencer to bring him home the comfortable winner.

The victory was Spanish Mission’s second from five starts and underlined how well he is progressing after finishing second in Listed class at Goodwood last time out.

David said: “He did everything properly and showed some nice 'gearage', if there is such a word! I like the way he travelled and then ‘found’, over a furlong further than before.

“We wouldn't find out too much about him at home – everything he does at home is quietly, quietly.

“He can only do what is in front of him – and he needed to step up on what he did at Goodwood to win this, which he did.”

As for that potential trans-Atlantic trip or a journey up the Al for Doncaster’s Classic – via a supplementary entry –  David added:  “We thought we were going down the Belmont route, but we'll have to have a rethink now. Earle Mack loves English racing, so we'll have to see.”





On a good day for the stable, Desert Encounter showed up very well for a long way in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes. Indeed for a few moments it looked as if was also bound for the winner's enclosure.
But he just tired in the closing strides before finishing a very creditable third, beaten just over two lengths.