Mourinho Shoots Clear in NZB Spring WFA Championship

A second win in the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Weight-For-Age Championship at Caulfield has propelled Mourinho (Oratorio) into a clear lead in the Championship following an exhilarating victory in the A$400,000 Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) on Saturday.

Mourinho triumphant in the Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes.

Saturday’s event was the third leg in the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Weight-For-Age Championship at Caulfield and was Mourinho’s second win in the Championship after claiming first points in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes two starts ago.

Trained by Peter Gelagotis, this is the son of Oratorio’s first Group 1 win after placing earlier in the year in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. His last start saw him run mid-field in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes to rival The Cleaner (Savoire Vivre).

“It was a very overwhelming race to win,” commented Gelagotis who celebrated his first Group 1 win with Mourinho. “Winning a Group 1 race is what every trainer aspires to achieve, it is the pinnacle of achievements in our sport.

“We were very fortunate – it was a good, tough, honest performance given by Mourinho. We were slightly disappointed with his previous start, the situation wasn’t quite right but with the favourable draw this time and a genuine tempo from the The Cleaner and Hi World, he managed to stalk them all the way.”

Commencing from barrier 4 for jockey Vlad Duric, Mourinho was one of the first horses away, settling on the rail behind pacemaker The Cleaner. Mourinho edged out to race three-wide as they approached the 500 metre mark, travelling up to challenge the leaders.

A three-way battle ensued in the home straight with Mourinho challenged by race-favourite Fawkner (Reset) and The Cleaner fighting on the inside. Despite drifting outwards in the dying stages, Mourinho was the strongest on the line, winning by a nose over Fawkner and The Cleaner coming in third place by a head.

Winning the Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes has earned Mourinho a tilt at the Group 1 Cox Plate which is run on 24 October at Moonee Valley Racing Club.

“The Cox Plate is the grand final we are working towards with him. The decision hasn’t been made yet whether he has a start in between or just give him a trial,” adds Gelagotis.

A winner of 11 of his 38 starts, six at stakes level, the eight-year-old gelding has won A$1,331,997 in prizemoney for his owners Mr T Ferraro, Mr C W Neal, Mr P Cauchi, Mr L Tartaglione, Ms D Binini, Mr R Bausch, Mr U Bausch, Mr M Nardella, Mr S Forte, Mr P B Pavey, Mr S J Porch, Mr M J Quigley, Mr J Dimech, Mr D Tartaglione and Miss R Tartaglione.

Earning a further 10 points towards the Championship, Mourinho now leads with a total of 20 points, The Cleaner is in second position with 14 points and Boban (Bernardini) is in third on 10 points.

The final leg in the NZB Spring WFA Championship will be held on 10 October with the running of the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes, run over 2000m at Caulfield Racecourse.

To view the current leaderboard for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Spring WFA Championship at Caulfield, click here.