In a change of heart from his trainer, Mourinho will take his place in the first Group One race of the year at Caulfield.

Peter Gelagotis had originally pencilled in the 1600m Carylon Cup at Caulfield on Saturday but the seven-year-old will instead contest the weight-for-age C F Orr Stakes (1400m).

Mourinho, ridden by Vlad Duric, finished sixth behind Lankan Rupee in an 800m barrier trial at Cranbourne on Monday after stewards instructed Gelagotis to trial him following his victory in the Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 24.

Mourinho hung out and Duric had to survive a protest from It Is Written's rider Matthew Allen to keep the Group Two contest.

Duric retains the ride on Saturday with Damien Oliver, who had been booked for the ride in the Carlyon Cup, committed to Happy Trails.

Gelagotis said the trial cleared the cobwebs and saved him from galloping Mourinho on Tuesday morning.

"He had to do an official trial to get reinstated," Gelagotis said.

"He had to have the jump-out or have a gallop in preparation for Saturday so we've now got an extra day up our sleeve.

"He's really well and Vlad gave him the thumbs up and we'll press on to the Orr Stakes."

Gelagotis said Mourinho had trained on nicely following his first-up win.

"Last time was the first time we had challenged him at 1200 (metres) and he performed way above our expectation," Gelagotis said.

"On the back of that we're going to challenge him in a Group One even though it's not his ideal distance, but the timing might be right."

Plans for Mourinho following Saturday's Orr Stakes are to head to the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28 and the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington two weeks later.

Gelagotis said Mourinho would have a light spring before being brought back for a tilt at the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October after the gelding was left out of the race at the committee's discretion last year.