The Paul Perry trained The Mission led all of the way to way to score an upset win in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick today.

The Mission, above, set the pace to win the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The front proved the place to be again and Damian Lane wasn’t frightened to take up the running on The Mission who was a drifter in the betting from $6 to start at $9.

Lane stuck to the inside fence in the straight and The Mission went to the line strongly to defeat the $1.85 favourite Invader who struggled to take off any ground from the winner in the run to the line.

The James Cummings trainer Whispered Secret ($6) tried hard in the straight to hold down third spot.

Trainer Paul Perry said that The Mission had no luck last start after missing the start to finish sixth in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick on April 1 behind Invader but knew once he jumped okay today he knew the others would have trouble running him down.

“He has shown something all the way through and he has probably been his own worst enemy,” Perry said.

“His last run in the Sires here he was a bit slow out and he got held up and nothing went his way.”

“But when je jumped well today and he can flow along he is pretty smart.”

Perry said that The Mission would now head to the spelling paddock before being prepared for the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the Spring Carnival.

“He will go to the paddock now and hopefully come back for the Caulfield Guineas.”

2017 Champagne Stakes Results