DAVID Simcock brought off another successful US raid when Spanish Mission stayed on resolutely to just get the nod over French challenger Pedro Cara in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes over a mile and a half a Belmont on Saturday.

The race was worth $1 million in total prize money and Spanish Mission took home $535,000 for his US owners Team Valor and Earle Mack. The race is was the final leg of the New York Racing Association’s Turf Triple series for three-year-old colts and fillies.

Spanish Mission settled well and came wide of the bend, from last-to-first to claim the prize by a nose, despite Spencer dropping his right rein inside the final furlong.

A US-bred son of Frankel’s brother Noble Mission, Spanish Mission looks set be campaigned back in Europe rather than return to America for the Breeders’ Cup, for which he gained free entry.

Barry Irwin for the owners said: “When I bought him, the plan was to leave him in Europe this year and then bring him to America next year. Halfway through the season, I realised this is strictly a European horse and I told my guys, ‘He’s never coming home, but I’ll bring him for this race’. “We’re looking at the Melbourne Cup [in the future] with this horse. Earle would rather win that race than anything, and I’d like to win it as well.”

Spencer said of the dramatic finish: “Going into the final turn he was giving me all he had.

“I dropped my right rein and even though I was using the crop, when you drop your reins in a race, it typically signals to the horse that the race is over.”

THE Aga Khan’s homebred Edisa overcame an awkward start by flying home in the late stages to win the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes from fellow French challenger Wonderment.

Breaking from the rail under Flavien Prat as the 8/5 favourite, Edisa raced at the rear with Wonderment and Lady Prancealot while Romantic Pursuit and Dyna Passer set the steady pace in 1m 42.57secs for the opening mile.

Edisa wins the Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont \ Coglianese Photos

Heading into the far turn, Edisa came between Desert Ride and Art Of Almost before shifting out wide near the top of the stretch.

Close home, the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained filly re-rallied and moved ahead to beat Wonderment by three-quarters of a length.

“She broke slow and I was on the inside,” Prat said. “I wasn’t really happy with where I was, and they slowed down a lot up front. They went at a slow pace, but I’m very happy she really gave me a good turn of foot.”

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Love So Deep was fifth ahead of Lady Prancealot. Edisa’s win was her third in her last five starts, with two second places. The three-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy was bred in Kentucky.

“Her main quality is a quick turn of foot and she was able to show it here today,” Royer-Dupre said.

“She was able to track early, and when she finished late, she was able to come on strong with her quick turn of foot.

“It’s a great pleasure to win at Belmont Park today. I was last here in 1985, so it’s great to return and win. It’s a beautiful track and it’s nice to run here and win with a top horse.”

Royer-Dupre said that the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park is now under consideration.