When eight year-old gelding Mourinho won the Group I MRC Underwood Stakes it wasn’t just his trainer Peter Gelagotis and owners that were cheering.
A Tasmanian Derby winner at three that has blossomed as an older horse, Mourinho was bought from the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $36,000 from the draft of Bathurst based Little Wych.
By former Coolmore shuttler Oratorio (IRE) from Kiwi bred mare Benevolent, Mourinho was bred by Fran Ovenstone, who owns and runs Little Wych.
“It was very exciting and I was thrilled that I have managed to breed a horse that has reached Group 1 level,” said Fran Ovenstone.
“It is like a dream come true and I hope it will inspire some smaller breeders to continue to strive for the ultimate success.”
15 year-old Benevolent has foaled this spring producing a colt by Cox Plate winner Shamus Award and is booked to visit another Group I winning son of Snitzel in Wandjina, who stands at Newgate Farm.
At present, Mrs Ovenstone is looking to upgrade her mares and has chosen a number of Newgate sires to assist in her endeavour with mares also booked to Dissident, Deep Field and Eurozone.