Mourinho wins Tasmanian Derby

Coolmore Stud’s Irish bred shuttler Oratorio sired his third feature winner since the start of the year when Mourinho claimed the G3 Tasmanian Derby (2200m) in Hobart on Saturday.

Mourinho (3g Oratorio  -Benevolent by Generous) won his maiden as recently as December 2 at Geelong and he graduated to a Moonee Valley victory on New Year’s Eve before a Flemington failure on January 22.

He stumbled and lost all chance at headquarters last time but jumped away with the leaders in the Tasmanian Derby to win by almost three lengths from Heez Born Lucky (Ustinov) and Jay Bee’s Gee Gee (Tough Speed)

Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis bought Mourinho for $36,000 out of the Little Wych draft at the 2009 Inglis Classic yearling sale.  His dam Benevolent retired a maiden after a dozen starts in NZ.  She is a half-sister to Rotorua G3 winner Prieur Way (Star Way).

Oratorio (Ire) sired last month’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Torio’s Quest and he is also responsible for Kiwi filly Banchee who was a G2 winner of the Karaka Mile at Ellerslie on January 30.

Oratorio’s northern hemisphere stock includes G1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Beethoven.  He was sold to the Middle East late last year and will be gunning for a winning hat-trick at the Dubai World Cup meeting in March after wins in the Qatar Derby and Heir Apparent Trophy.