Victorian country trainer Darryl Blackshaw had to wait 40 years to claim his first Group race victory.
Now he’s hoping Mourinho can give him a second in the space of three weeks before the gelding returns to fellow Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis.
Mourinho scored a first-up win for Blackshaw in the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield and on Saturday lines up in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.
On Sunday the gelding returns to Gelagotis who has been serving a three-month ban for a race day treatment.
Mourinho galloped at Moonee Valley on Tuesday under race jockey Vlad Duric, covering 1200 metres in 1min11.59secs, running his last 400m in 26.39s.
The eight-year-old will be out to avenge his second placing to The Cleaner in last year’s Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and gain automatic entry into next month’s Cox Plate.
Since teaming with Mourinho at the start of the year, Duric has recorded three wins – all in black type races – and a Group One third placing from five rides.
His only flop was in the Australian Cup before a spell.
Duric said Mourinho’s action felt great as he returned to Moonee Valley where he is a five-time winner from 11 starts at the track.
“He was out wide on his own and the horse was a little bit casual on me and just cruised around,” Duric said.
“It’s funny that a horse like him that likes to hang out seems to really like this track.
“Maybe it’s the camber and the StrathAyr surface, but he really likes galloping on it.”
The Cleaner also likes the track and Contributer has shown he may also be suited by it with a pleasing gallop on Tuesday.
Duric heads into Saturday’s race confident of a forward showing from Mourinho who is on the third line of early betting.
Contributer is the $2 favourite ahead of The Cleaner at $6 with Mourinho at $7.50.
“I’m super confident,” Duric said.
“It will be a really nice race with some exciting horses stepping out.
“But that’s why we get out of bed to ride these good ones and hopefully win a nice race.
