Mission Is On For Melbourne Cup

Saturday, October 30, 2021 | 11:00 am

Updated: October 30, 2021 at 1:52 pm

File photo dated 11-09-2020 of William Buick riding Spanish Mission win The bet365 Doncaster Cup Stakes during day three of the William Hill St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse. Spanish Mission has been cleared to run in the Lexus Melbourne Cup and will start from stall 14 in Tuesday's Flemington feature. Issue date: Saturday October 30, 2021.

Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) has survived a last-minute veterinary scare to be given the all-clear to line up for Tuesday's G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, for which he has drawn stall 14.

Trained by Andrew Balding, the 5-year-old was found to have swelling in a leg on Friday but has subsequently been passed fit by the Racing Victoria vets. With Craig Williams booked to ride, Spanish Mission is second-favourite for Australia's most famous staying contest behind the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise (Aus) (Shamus Award {Aus}).

The Peter Moody-trained favourite is in stall 16, while last year's winner Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), trained by Jospeh O'Brien, has drawn gate two and will carry top weight of the 24 runners.