Not among the original entries for the race on Monday, his trainer Peter Gelagotis elected to make him a late entry in preference to a barrier trial and that decision has reaped handsome rewards!
While hot favourite Dissident never looked comfortable over the short trip, having his first run for new owners the China Horse Club and Newgate Farm, Mourinho has never looked better, surging home with a powerful finish to claim his first Group I victory.
Winner of the Group III Tasmanian Derby at three, Mourinho won the Listed Cranbourne Cup during the spring and was last seen finishing seventh in the Group I VRC Mackinnon Stakes behind Happy Trails.
"Anything can happen in racing," said a delighted Peter Gelagotis.
"We all work hard and come to the races hoping for some luck in running. He's a good horse and he loves this place!"
Gelagotis has the Group I VRC Australian Cup as the autumn goal for Mourinho, so this win has come as a bonus.
A $36,000 purchase from the Little Wych draft at the 2009 Inglis Classic
Yearling Sale, Mourinho is a half-brother to Group III winner Molto Bene and is
one of five winners from the Generous (IRE) mare Benevolent (NZ), a half-sister
to Group III winner Prieur Way.Mourinho has won eight races from 32 starts and over $800,000 in prizemoney. He was bred by John and Fran Ovenstone of Little Wych Stud, who still have Benevolent, who was covered by Cox Plate winner Shamus Award last spring.
Mourinho is one of 42 stakes-winners worldwide for Danehill stallion Oratorio, who shuttled to Australia for Coolmore for seven seasons.
