Mourinho To Make Amends In Derby

Friday, 04 February 2011 02:30

The Peter Gelagotis-trained Mourinho is capable of pulling off a stunning form reversal by winning tomorrow’s $150,000 Group 3 Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart according to the stables’ Racing Manager Manny Gelagotis.

After winning impressively at Moonee Valley two starts back, Mourinho finished last behind King Diamond at Flemington and was eased down over the line by apprentice Jason Maskiell.

“It’s a bit mystifying how the race ended up last time at Flemington but he seems to have come through that without any problems,” Gelagotis said.

“He stumbled at the start and seemed a little indifferent in his action so to Jason Maskiell’s credit he didn’t press the button as he realised the horse wasn’t going to be in contention.

“He pulled him out, thinking there was something wrong but we couldn’t find anything.

“He was thoroughly vet checked and had a real searching gallop during the week and that convinced us that we should press on.”

Anthony Darmanin will take the reins tomorrow in the absence of Maskiell who was suspended at Sandown Hillside last Saturday.

Darmanin is no stranger to the Gelagotis stable and boasts a 16% win strike rate aboard Gelagotis’ trained horses since the 2002/03 season.

“We are giving Anthony a chance.”

“Anthony has missed out on some good rides in the better races but he understands where he sits with us at this point in time and with the carnival up and going it was obviously pretty hard to get the services of an A-grade jockey.

“So we really felt, whoever was going there, we wanted to book a rider nice and early on so that we wouldn’t be left without a rider,” he added.

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.

Mourinho is currently rated a $3.40 favourite for the Tasmanian Derby with TAB Fixed Odds ahead of Heez Born Lucky at $3.80 and Ludka at $4.80.

Hobart (Saturday)
Race 6 @ 3:21 - $150,000 Group 3 Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (2200m)

fShare

Tweet