How does a horse that has won 10 races post a win in a maiden at Warrnambool on Tuesday?
The answer is simple. The horse has had his first 34 starts over jumps in France and Australia.
Owners, including Sandy McGregor of Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance fame, imported Dormello Mo from France, where he had competed exclusively over jumps.
The eight-year-old took a couple of runs to hit his best for Warrnambool trainer Simon Ryan before notching a hat trick of steeplechase wins at Mount Gambier and Casterton at his previous three outings.
Ryan picked out the De Bortoli Wines Maiden Highweight Plate (2041m) to give Dormello Mo his first flat run to keep the gelding fit for the Grand National Steeplechase later this month.
Dormello Mo started as the $2.50 favourite but had to work to beat the $8.50 chance Fulmineus by a length to keep his Grand National Steeplechase preparation going.
"He handled himself well and his jumps form is pretty good so we'll be going there (the Grand National) now in as good a form as he can be," Ryan told Racing Victoria.
