Making his fifth start in seven weeks, the 2yo The Mission gelding Mishani Mental broke through for his first win in Saturday’s Sky Racing Hcp (1100m) at Doomben and banked another $100,000 Aquis bonus for owner/breeder Mike Crooks.
With Jackson Morris in the saddle, the Les Ross-trained gelding darted between the topweight Heroic Son and the favourite Saweetie for a well-deserved long head victory.
The Heroic Valour colt Heroic Son was a gallant second, three-quarters of a length ahead of the $600,000 I Am Invincible debutant Saweetie.
Crooks’ Mishani Enterprises has been quick off the blocks to claim the bonuses on offer by Aquis for the first crop of The Mission. Two weeks back Mishani Warfare opened the floodgates at Eagle Farm.
The breeder bonuses range from $1 million should The Mission sire a Group 1 winner in 2021/22 or the 2022 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and/or Inglis Millennium winner/s) right through to $25,000.
“It’s a good incentive for breeders. There is usually a QTIS bonus available for the owners and trainers but this is just for breeders,” Ross said.
“Mike has thirty-three two-year-olds and six of them are by The Mission so hopefully we can win with another four.
“I was quite surprised by his price today even though he had four runs. We took him to Toowoomba last week and were tossing up whether to put him in the paddock, but we did not have another for the 1100m and with the $100,000 (bonus) we said we will send him around.
“He is tough-as-teak. I don’t know what to do with him know. No sense in putting them in the paddock when they’re winning.”
Mishani Mental is the second winner from four to race out of the unraced Octagonal mare Mishani Lotus a half-sister to the Group III BJ McLachlan Stakes winner Mishani Honcho (Jet Spur).
After missing in 2019, Mishani Lotus foaled a colt from the first crop of Sun City (Zoustar).
With his second winner, The Mission holds second place on the leading first season sire table behind Heroic Valour.
The Group 1 winning son of Choisir stands at Aquis Farm stands at Aquis Farm for a fee of $8,800.
