Mourinho Aimed At Derby
- Thursday, 06 January 2011 00:36
Impressive last start Moonee Valley winner Mourinho is set to contest February’s $150,000 Group 3 Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart.
Named after one of the great modern day football coaches Jose Mourinho, who famously proclaimed himself as ‘The Special One’, the son of Oratorio has been given the opportunity by trainer Peter Gelagotis to prove he’s just that next month.
“He’s always shown us that he’s got a bit of ability,” Manny Gelagotis said, brother and Racing Manager of the Moe-based stable.
“Even when we had him broken in we had a very good report about the horse.
“He has just taken that bit of time to get to the races.”
Gelagotis indicated that the stable was happy to send the gelding to the paddock following his Moonee Valley win on Friday Night over 2040 metres but the intervention of leading rider Damien Oliver swayed them earlier this week.
Mourinho will now run in a the $70,000 Australia Remembers 0-78 Handicap (1800m) for three and four-year-olds at Flemington on January 22 before contesting the Tasmanian Derby on February 5.
Oliver will be able to ride Mourinho at Flemington on January 22 but has commitments at Caulfield the same day of the Tasmanian Derby.
When asked to compare Mourinho with ill-fated stablemate Big Col, who as a three-year-old won at Caulfield before finishing eleventh in the Group 1 AJC Derby (2400m), Gelagotis said, “I think Big Col was a more seasoned and polished horse but one thing about this guy (Mourinho) is that he is rapidly improving.”
Gelagotis is no stranger to the Tasmania Summer Carnival with Savquaw finishing third in the 2008 Listed Hobart Guineas (1600m) and Tristasun fourth in the 2008 Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m).
By Irish sire Oratorio, Mourinho is the third foal out of Generous mare Benevolent to race.
Her other two foals, Forest Beauty and Dementieva, have only managed to win a maiden over seven furlongs with their career earnings below $10,000.
Mourinho was purchased for $36,000 at the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and connections have recouped that initial outlay with prizemoney now in excess of $60,000.
To view the full record of Mourinho, click here.
Picture: Colin Bull
