Racing: Mongolian Khan may look at Cox Plate

Mourinho finishes best to win the Underwood Stakes. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's Horse Of The Year Mongolian Khan took a giant step forward with his fourth in Saturday's Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

"That was a massive effort," says co-trainer Andrew Forsman. "He lost his footing at the start and cast a plate, so it cost him three or four lengths in where he should have been in running.

"And when he angled out in the home straight he got tightened up, so his effort was very good."

Going forward, Mongolian Khan will run in the Caulfield Stakes and beyond that it will depend on form. "If he's hugely impressive in winning the Caulfield Stakes we'd have to look at the Cox Plate, because his stallion potential has always been the focus.

"The Melbourne Cup is there and it's great to have options. They are good options."

Volkstok'n'barrell's co-trainer Donna Logan says the horse is on the right Melbourne campaign after finishing just behind Mongolian Khan.

"I'm actually delighted with him after his run yesterday," Logan told the Herald when she arrived back in New Zealand last night.

"He wasn't comfortable on that Caulfield track and he wasn't 100 per cent fit." The Caulfield home bend has always appeared to have little camber and affects some horses.

"He didn't look at all comfortable coming around the bend and he did well in the home straight. The last 200m of his race was his best. He was just point zero four of a second slower than the winner in the race. That's when you know you're going okay.

"That race will fit him up for the rest. I'm more than happy."

Peter Gelagotis, trainer of the winner, Mourinho, is also keen to contest the Cox Plate after the 8-year-old provided the Moe horseman with his first group one victory in the Underwood.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Mourinho had specking from $21 to $18 before scoring a short-head win from the favourite Fawkner ($3.40), with The Cleaner ($7.50) a nose away third.

Gelagotis said Mourinho could head straight to the Cox Plate without another run.

However, he said he would let the dust settle, celebrate the victory and see how the gelding recovers before deciding if he will have another start before the Cox Plate.

Mourinho could head to the Cranbourne Cup, a race he won last year, en route to the Cox Plate with a A$1 million bonus on offer for the two races. Additional reporting, AAP