Race Result:
1st: Military Mission (J McNeil/G Waterhouse & A Bott) - $13
2nd: Bankers Choice (J Allen/M Moroney) - $8.50
3rd: Duke De Sessa (M Zahra/C Maher & D Eustace) - $3.50 equal favourite
Winning Time: 2:31.73 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 2-¾ lengths x Short Neck
Winning Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (stable representative Rebecca Shanks speaking)
On the win: "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."
Wet track: "When it started to open up at eight o'clock at the stables this morning we definitely thought we were a good chance, this horse's wet track form is super, three runs on a heavy for a win and a third."
Long preparation: "He's been exceptional this preparation, so brave to run in his first 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."
On Gai & Adrian: "They do an amazing job with these stayers, they can keep them up for so long."
Winning Jockey: Jye McNeil
Big win: "Under tricky circumstances too, 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."
Pre race plans: "I was looking to be one-out, three pairs back and there was a rider wanting the same position as me which was becoming awkward and rather than getting into a bumping duel I took my medicine, came back and he found a fantastic rhythm, spent no energy and made an amazing run."
Widest runner: "He was really relishing the conditions, I wasn't too sure about the part of the track we were in but he let go fantastic there and as the day's gone and we've continued to get the rain perhaps it's starting to be the place to be."