Many of the horses who wrote the early history of Australian racing were bred in the Bathurst district west of the Blue Mountains in central western New South Wales, one of the most famous being The Barb.

Revered as the Black Demon, this1863 foaled stallion is recorded as having won 15 of 23 starts, including the AJC Derby, two Sydney Cups (one with 10st 8lbs – 67.0kgs) and the Melbourne Cup (at three). He was given a massive 11st 7lbs  - 73.0kgs for the 1869 Melbourne Cup but did not run.

The Barb was lucky ever see racecourse as folklore has it that he was stolen by bushrangers from a paddock on the stud, Leeholme, Bathurst, but was let go when he became lame.

He is recalled nearly 150 years after his racing exploits following an impressive victory in the $150,000 Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Elwick, Hobart on Saturday of a horse raised only a short drive away from where he grew up.

A son of the Ireland bred Danehill sire Oratorio, a shuttler to Coolmore in the Hunter Valley, he is the gelded Mourinho, another good horse bred on John and Fran Ovenstone’s Little Wych stud at Orton Park, Bathurst and sold through the Sydney Classic yearling sale, realising $36,000.

Trained at Moe in Victoria by Peter Gelagotis, Mourinho is emerging as a performer who like The Barb could stay well enough to contest the Melbourne Cup.

His Tasmanian Derby success was only his sixth appearance but his third win. He easily won a maiden at Geelong on December 2 and careered away to score by 3.75 lengths at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve.

Mourinho has the bloodlines that suggest he could stay well. His sire Oratorio was one of the best 3-year-olds of his generation up to 2000m and his dam Benevolent is bred on a cross two English Derby winners, being by New Zealand shuttled Generous and from Regal Spy, a winner at 2200m by the great Sir Ivor.

If Mourinho makes it to a Melbourne Cup field, he will be the second runner in the race bred by the Ovenstones at the Little Wych stud. Also by a Danehill sire, namely Nothin’ Leica Dane, the other is Ain’t Seen Nothin’ and she finished mid field in the 2003 Cup.

One of the best racemares of her time, the Barbara Joseph trained Ain’t Seen Nothin’ won eight races, including the VRC Let’s Elope Stakes, Canberra Guineas and National Sprint, finished second in the AJC Adrian Knox Stakes and VRC Matriach Stakes, third in the AJC Craven Plate, STC Queen of the Turf Stakes and MRC Underwood Stakes and fourth in the MRC Caulfield Cup, AJC Oaks and MRC Mackinnon Stakes.