Classy galloper Mourinho
From the time Mourinho was left out of the 2014 Cox Plate, trainer Peter Gelagotis has been driven to have his stable star in winning form for this year’s race.
That ambition is a step closer after the eight-year-old provided Gelagotis with his first Group 1 victory in winning the 1800m Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Ridden by Vlad Duric, Mourinho scored by a short-head from the favourite Fawkner with The Cleaner a nose away third.
Mourinho started his campaign under fellow Moe trainer Darryl Blackshaw with Gelagotis sidelined due to a race-day treatment suspension.
Pippa Mickleburgh – thrilled
Gelagotis said Mourinho could head straight to the Cox Plate without another run and he will be “chewing the ears off” the selection panel to ensure the gelding gains a start.
But he said he would let the dust settle, celebrate the victory and see how the gelding recovers before deciding if he will have another start before the Cox Plate.
Mourinho could head to the Cranbourne Cup, a race he won last year, en route to the Cox Plate with a Aus$1 million bonus on offer for the two races.
“Everyone wrote him off this time around after a poor run, but it wasn’t one of my best rides,” Duric said. “We made the most of it today and he’s turned it all around.”
Duric said he favoured Mourinho having another start before such a high pressure race of the Cox Plate, suggesting the Caulfield Stakes on October 10.
With his first SA yearlings being offered at the CPYS Book 1 sale in January 2016, Avontuur’s powerhouse Oratorio is the talking stallion of the industry locally and the real attraction is the fact that he gets them to perform at the optimum level around 2000m.
www.racingpost.com – additional reporting by SP editorial staff
