Mourinho racing career over?

Trainer Peter Gelagotis said his star eight-year-old, who most recently finished third in defence of his Peter Young Stakes crown, was all-but retired after scans detected a slight discrepancy on his upper nearside tendon.

"It's not a bad one, it's in the low grade, but factoring in his age, it's safe to say he'll be retired," Gelagotis said.

"It takes 12 months to get over them.

"It's the second time he's done it - he did it once as a late three-year-old, and it took 18 months to get him back.

"He's been a great horse for us - we bought him for $36,000, and he's brought home over $1.3m.

"The horse is sound. He'll make a great companion."

Mourinho has endured a topsy-turvy racing preparation so far, having come off a 2015 that featured victory in the G1 Underwood Stakes, three Group 2 successes and a gallant run in the Cox Plate.

This prep, Mourinho missed the start but finished off well in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley before winning a Cranbourne trial with ease.

That was followed by the infamous incident behind the gates prior to the CF Orr Stakes, in which Mourinho ran 17th of 18 after being kicked by Fenway, before flashing home for an eye-catching third in the Peter Young Stakes.

The aftermath of that kick is yet to be completely resolved, with Peter's racing manager and brother Manny on Friday appealing his $2000 fine for being found guilty of improper insulting language to the RAD Board.