Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) has survived a last-minute veterinary scare to be given the all-clear to line up for Tuesday's G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, for which he has drawn stall 14.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the 5-year-old was found to have swelling in a leg on Friday but has subsequently been passed fit by the Racing Victoria vets. With Craig Williams booked to ride, Spanish Mission is second-favourite for Australia's most famous staying contest behind the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise (Aus) (Shamus Award {Aus}).
The Peter Moody-trained favourite is in stall 16, while last year's winner Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), trained by Jospeh O'Brien, has drawn gate two and will carry top weight of the 24 runners.
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