Cranbourne Cup winner Mourinho may step up to Group 1 company of the Mackinnon Stakes after posting his biggest win in Sunday’s listed race at Cranbourne.
Stable manager Manny Gelagotis said Mourinho, placed in last year's Cranbourne Cup, deserved a shot at racing’s elite level given his rich vein of form this preparation.
Gelagotis said Mourinho had been exposed to weight-for-age racing before and acquitted himself well.
“I really think now he deserves a shot at the Mackinnon Stakes,” Gelagotis said.
Gelagotis congratulated brother-trainer Peter and Craig Newitt, who brought up a treble with his Cranbourne Cup success.
He noted that Mourinho, placed behind The Cleaner in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and JRA Cup at his previous two starts, brought the best form reference into the $200,000 listed Race.
“I know it's easy to say, but the horse had clear-cut form,” Gelagotis told TVN.
“As I said to the owners if The Cleaner was in the race he would be in the red. If the form was true then the horse should have come out and done what he did.
“He was always going to be tough to run down, he’s a tough horse.’
Mourinho, backed from $5 to $4.60, scored by a neck from the fast-finishing More Than Sacred, $8.50, with Le Roi, well supported from $4.40 to $3.80, a half-length away third.
Le Roi, ridden by Damien Oliver, appeared to be inconvenienced at the 150 metres when Mourinho rolled out.