Peter Gelagotis is focused on preparing promising three-year-old Mourinho for next month's Tasmanian Derby and will be happy to see him confirm his prospects with a good run at Flemington.The gelding, by Coolmore stallion Oratorio who won the Group One Eclipse Stakes in the UK, was a $36,000 purchase at the Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.He has already proven to be a good buy, winning twice and placing once from four starts and earning more than $60,000 to date.Last start he led and raced away
Peter Gelagotis is focused on preparing promising three-year-old Mourinho for next month's Tasmanian Derby and will be happy to see him confirm his prospects with a good run at Flemington.
The gelding, by Coolmore stallion Oratorio who won the Group One Eclipse Stakes in the UK, was a $36,000 purchase at the Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
He has already proven to be a good buy, winning twice and placing once from four starts and earning more than $60,000 to date.
Last start he led and raced away to score by 3-3/4 lengths from Take The Moment over 2040m at Moonee Valley on December 31 with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
However Oliver, whose current riding weight is 54kg, was unable to take the mount on Mourinho in Saturday's Australia Remembers Hcp (1800m) as he received the minimum weight of 53kg in the 0-78 event for three and four-year-olds.
In-form apprentice Jason Maskiell has gained the mount both on Saturday and in the Group Three Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart on February 5.
"He's shaping up well. He's lightly raced but he is showing maturity and there is a lot of upside to the horse," Gelagotis said.
"He's aiming at the Tassie Derby so we gave him an easy week after Moonee Valley and then a nice fortnight of work for this run which will top him off.
"Hopefully we can take him to Tassie and he'll be very competitive there."
Another three-year-old preparing for the Tasmanian Derby through Saturday's event is the Greg Eurell-trained Threebytwo.
The Southern Image gelding has raced only four times and is chasing a hat-trick following wins over 1469m at Kyneton and 1600m at Sandown.
Meanwhile, Gelagotis has a new addition to his Moe stables in Module who was knocked down for $70,000 plus GST at Tuesday's Gold Magic Millions Racehorse Sale to Victorian-based Cameron Cooke Bloodstock on behalf of the Gelagotis team.
Offered by Lloyd Williams' Hudson Conway Racing, Module has raced eight times for three wins and three placings and $62,000 in prizemoney.
The Reset five-year-old gelding's last start for the Williams family was a first-up third to the Gelagotis-trained Belgietto over 1600m at Flemington on December 18.