Choisir Colt on a Mission

The win very nearly didn't happen.

Neither rider nor horse were supposed to contest the race, with The Mission paid-up for the Golden Slipper seven days prior and Brown booked to ride Hawkes Racing's Reflectivity in The Schweppervescence.

But The Mission (images Steve Hart) was an emergency in the Golden Slipper and didn't gain a start whilst the scratching of Reflectivity left Brown available when booked jockey Ben Melham had a flight delay getting into Sydney from Melbourne – and the rest is history.

"The racing gods looked after us last week and a week later we are getting the chocolates," stable foreman Shannon Perry said.

"Onwards and upwards to Randwick now."

Perry indicated the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) on April 15 was more likely than next Saturday's Group I ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) but a decision wouldn't be made until the dust had settled.

The keen racing manners of The Mission may need to be addressed if the stable is considering a rise in class and distance, at least according to the winning jockey.

"I think he will run the mile," Brown said. "Maybe Paul and Shannon [Perry] should put a set of visors on him, just to help him relax a little bit more.

"I know he probably needs the blinkers, but stepping up to the mile I think he is going to need something taken off."

The Mission is the 79^th stakes-winner for Choisir, who was also trained by Paul Perry. He too was a headstrong customer as a juvenile before blossoming at three to become the best sprinter in the world.

A $32,500 Magic Millions Book II purchase for his trainer from the Edinglassie Stud draft, The Mission was bred by Richard Pegum and is a half-brother to Group III placed Smart Amelia from minor winning Redoute's Choice mare My Amelia, a daughter of Group I AJC Champagne Stakes winner Carry on Cutie.

My Amelia has a weanling filly by Rubick and was covered last year by Written Tycoon.