The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Melbourne Cup graduate Military Mission ($13) was huge down in grade and distance coming from a long way back with a furlong to go to run over the top of his rivals and post an impressive 2.75 length victory in the 2023 Zipping Classic results at Caulfield.

2023 Zipping Classic winner Military Mission was enormous saluting by nearly three lengths. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The in-form six-year-old enjoyed his second Group 2 success in three starts having earlier won the Herbert Power Stakes at the same track and trip back in mid-October.

He was last seen running 10th behind Without A Fight in the Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November.

Military Mission relished a return to the mile and a half in easier company in the Group 2 $750,000 Zipping Classic (2400m) and was too good late flying home up the middle with Jye McNeil aboard for win.

The Michael Moroney-trained Bankers Choice finished a distant second, while the beaten favourite Duke De Sessa from the Maher/Eustace stable rounded out the Zipping Classic trifecta in third after looking the winner at the top of the straight.

It has been a big 12 months of improvement from the imported grey with Military Mission going from a Taree Cup win in November last year to become a multiple Group 2 champion and also picking up wins in the Group 3 Hobart Cup and Group 3 Newcastle Cup this year.

“They do an amazing job with these stayers – they can keep them up for so long,” stable representative Rebecca Shanks told Racing.com.

“He’s been exceptional this preparation.

“So brave to run in his first (Melbourne) Cup over that distance he’s never stepped over before in a high-pressure race, and then to step back in trip today and be so competitive, he’s so tough.

“It’s absolutely amazing for these owners, they’re such big supporters of our team and they’re all so much fun to go to the races with; it’s so rewarding to get a win like this one.”

McNeil was made to work for his Zipping win on the progressive stayer overcoming a jostling start to settle back before storming home on the straight.

“Under tricky circumstances too,” McNeil said.

“It didn’t really go to plan, I was in a bit of a jostle for positioning, ended up having to take my medicine, come back, keep the horse happy.

“I had one run at them and he let go with an amazing change of speed and he was too good for them.”

2023 Zipping Classic Results & Finishing Order 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.