Mouro wins 2013 Group 3 Eclipse Stakes

Trainer Tony McEvoy has seven millions reasons to be “aggressive” with Mouro in the autumn after the import’s tough win in the Group III Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

Mouro worked hard for the first half of the race before holding off the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rain Drum to notch his second successive win but McEvoy said the US-bred galloper would race in tougher company in Sydney.

McEvoy said he would target the Group I Doncaster Mile and Group I Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which now carry a combined $7 million in stakes after Racing NSW announced prizemoney boosts to the events as part of ‘The Championships’ concept.

“I think I’ll look at the Doncaster or that 2000-metre race. I think I’ll step him up,” McEvoy said.

“I’ve thought of him as a Group I horse and I suppose we have got to find out now so we’ll be very aggressive with him in the autumn.”

Mouro kept his run going to hit the lead at the top of the straight. The winner tired late but still had a half-length to spare over Rain Drum at the finish while Bel Thor worked home well for third, a further two lengths away.

“I think I enjoyed the last 100 metres only. Midrace, he just looked like he didn’t want come back to Ollie and he just showed he is a good quality horse and justified us going to a Group I (Toorak Handicap) with him.”

 

Source: http://www.racenet.com.au/news/95239/2013-Eclipse-Stakes-result—Mouro-bound-for-Sydney