Pacific to have spring Classic trial Mission

Pacific Mission will be treated as a potential 1000 Guineas contender in the spring after rewarding the faith of her connections with a runner-up finish at the Breeders’ Cup.

Andrew Balding’s Kempton novice winner and May Hill Stakes runner-up looked to have her work cut out in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and her task was made even harder by the fact she was drawn widest of all in stall 12.

However, the daughter of Lope De Vega proved her worth with an excellent effort to finish best of the rest behind Donnacha O’Brien’s Balantina, giving the Juddmonte team cause for optimism ahead of her three-year-old campaign next season.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for the owner-breeders said: “It was a huge run. It was a big shout from Andrew and Colin (Keane, jockey) and the owners to bring her out there on what she’d done but she’s a nice filly and was working well, so they wanted to give it a shot.

“From the draw she had we said we’d take our time and ride her for luck and in fairness, to get second was a great result as it was a difficult proposition from a wide draw.

“I think we’ll start off in a Guineas trial in the spring and see where we go from there, but she’s a filly with plenty of quality and that was only her fourth run, so we can start in a trial and see whether we can get there.

“Her mother (Big Break) was placed in a Guineas (finished fourth in Irish 1,000 Guineas) and it’s a good family, so you never know.”

Juddmonte fired a twin assault at the Breeders’ Cup Mile, with the Balding-trained Jonquil finishing ninth and Ralph Beckett’s shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat a few places further back in 12th.

Mahon is not giving up on either horse though, with Jonquil in particular expected to fare better next season.

“I think draws sort of killed them a bit. With Qirat (stall 13) we said we’d go forward to see where we could get to and he probably paid the price for that and Colin felt Jonquil (stall 10) was just a little bit flat,” he added.

“It was his second trip out there in a month after running at Keeneland in early October and he’s been on the go since the Greenham (in April), so I think he probably just needs a freshen up now and go again next year.

“He’s been running all year and between us messing up going sprinting and getting wide draws he’s been a little unlucky, but on his run in Keeneland and his win in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, I’m sure there’s a Group One in him.”