Spanish Mission victorious in Jockey Club Derby for Simcock and Spencer

Spanish Mission went from last-to-first to claim the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park under Jamie Spencer, despite the jockey dropping his reins in the closing stages.

Sent off the 21-10 favourite, the David Simcock-trained three-year-old broke poorly and was held up in the early stages of the 1m4f contest before being unleashed two furlongs from home.

Although Spencer didn't have full control of the reins, the son of Noble Mission stayed on strongly in the closing stages to get up by a nose from runner-up Pedro Cara.

Spencer said: "He didn't break that well but I wasn't too concerned. I was happy he was relaxed and found his rhythm coming along the backside.

"Going into the final turn he was giving me all he had. I dropped my right rein and even though I was using the crop, when you drop your reins in a race it typically signals to the horse that the race is over.

"I would've been mad with myself had we lost but he got back on his game and finished strong. He was a very game horse today."

The race is a 'Win and You're In' event for the Breeders' Cup Turf on November 2, but part-owner Barry Irwin confirmed the colt would return to Europe before heading to Australia for a possible Melbourne Cup bid in 2020.

"He's a good horse. I think he'll get better with age," Irwin said. "When I bought him, the plan was to leave him in Europe this year and then bring him to America next year. Halfway through the season, I realised this is strictly a European horse and I told my guys, 'He's never coming home, but I'll bring him for this race.'

"We're looking at the Melbourne Cup with this horse. Earle would rather win that race than anything, and I'd like to win it as well."

Spencer was also aboard the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Love So Deep, who finished six lengths behind the Aga Khan's Edisa in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes.

Further afield, the Chapple-Hyam trained Ambassadorial ran a mighty race to defy odds of 71-1 and finish third in the Keeneland Korea Cup under David Egan.

Pass The Vino, also ridden by Egan and trained by Paul D'Arcy, finished last of 16 in the 6f Korea Sprint after pulling his near fore shoe in the paddock. He was lame after the race.

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