While all eyes were on the return of Dissident on Saturday it was a horse bought at the 2009 Inglis Sales for $36,000 that again stole the show.
The well named Mourinho, who more than likely is named after his Portuguese counterpart, has all the qualities of the Chelsea head coach and on Saturday would’ve divided punters and racing fans again.
For myself I didn’t have an investment financially in the race but wanted to see Dissident return in style. What we got was far from that but it was good to see him run on for a place in his first return back from bleeding.
In fact I had a sigh of relief over the fact that everything seemed to go well from the mandatory three-month spell that is now imposed whenever a horse bleeds. Plus there is much bigger fish to fry in Sydney later in the autumn.
But for mine Mourinho is a horse for the true believers. Purchased for just $36,000 the horse has now amassed just under $807,000 in prize money and has eight career wins from 32 starts.
This includes Saturday’s Group 2 victory over It is Written and Dissident in the Jeep Australia Stakes, but in the spring it also put in memorable runs for second in the Group 2 Dato’ Chan Tin Nam Stakes behind The Cleaner and third in the Group 3 JRA Cup behind The Cleaner again and Sangster.
Mourinho is as honest as the day is long and other memorable performances throughout his career include a second placing at the start of last year at odds of $100-1 in the Group 3 Tab Rewards Stakes, and beating home Gris Caro in the 2013 edition of the JRA Cup.
Plus a win in the Cranbourne Cup last year, also Saturday’s victory was the second time in six starts that Mourinho had saluted at odds of more than $20-1.
It just shows that spending a fortune on a race horse doesn’t guarantee success and sometimes the cheap diamonds in the field provide the real value. Mourinho is a great advertisement for anyone looking to buy small in the industry.
Mr Marciano
Guest
Thanks to Jim for selecting the horse and having faith in the breeding program that selected him. Many thanks to G1 Goldmine being instrumental in the matings of Esprit Rossa, Axis Point and Mourinho and the team that followed that belief.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Yeah it might be that the track wasn't suited but you just never know. It was his first go at the Moonee Valley track as well, his trial was a ripper to which makes it all the more disappointing. Plus it's not like Ben Melham isn't in form he is finding winners on the track of late.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Ah that makes a lot of sense! As you can tell I'm not all that familiar with grass surfaces :) it's won some big races up the Moonee Valley 'short straight' and has been one of my faves over his career.
SM
Guest
I only read the headline and thought it was an unusual one for a football article, then I find out it's about horse racing. I'll be on my way now.
Bondy
Guest
He loves the the Valley does Mou , Dissident was most disappointing for mine . The filly $1.90 looked quite hot in the Blue Diamond preview trial .
Alfred Chan
Expert
Always great to see the Gelagotis boys on course whether it be for a Bairnsdale maiden or Group 2. One of the benefits they have from training out at Moe is the fact that both Moe and Moonee Valley are Strathayr surfaces which means their horses are much more familiar on it than those trained out of Caulfield or Flemington. They position their horses to this advantage and reap the rewards.