A tough win in the Group 3 $150,000 Snowhite Maintenance Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield today will see Mouro aimed at higher class races during the Autumn Carnival next year.
Mouro wins the Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield in fine style. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Winning trainer Tony McEvoy has no doubt that Mouro is a high quality racehorse and will go on and be competitive in tougher company over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“He just showed that he is a good quality horse and probably justified us thinking of going to a Group 1 with him. I’m glad we waited, it’s been a really good result,” McEvoy said.
“In the Autumn I think you will see him go up a level. I’ll put him away now and you will see him in Sydney in the Autumn”
McEvoy had toyed with the idea of running Mouro in last week’s Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington but was happy to wait and get a good result today.
Mouro wasn’t the best out of the barriers and when Damien Oliver couldn’t find a spot midfield, let the stallion slide up outside the leader St Gabriel.
The pair then matched motors until the home turn where Mouro ($3.60 favourite) showed his superiority with a good turn of foot that saw him dash three lengths clear before Rain Drum ($3.70) narrowed it down to half a length on the line with the consistent Bel Thor ($5.50) running home strongly for third.
“It just didn’t look like he pinged the start and had to do a lot of work up the hill. Mid race he just didn’t want to come back to Ollie,” McEvoy said.
Oliver agreed with McEvoy that Mouro will be competitive at Group 1 level and suggested that the Group 1 $3m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick in April would be a nice race for the five year old.
“He’s done a good job with 59kgs, wanted to go a little bit keen and he was a bit vulnerable but he was too good,” Oliver said.
“It feels like there is a big mile handicap in him you know. I thought the Toorak might be a good race for him. I think he would appreciate a bit of give in the ground and if he happened to get into a Doncaster with a soft track he would be some chance I reckon.”
