Rejuvenated top galloper Mufhasa again upstaged the best performed horses in New Zealand to record his fifth Group 1 win in the $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa yesterday.
"He has beaten the best field we have seen assembled for a sprint race in New Zealand for many years," said Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee.
Mufhasa sat behind the leader, Coup Align, during the early and middle stages of yesterday's race before unleashing a sizzling finishing burst to beat home the Group 1 winners, Wall Street and Keep The Peace.
"He was the most hardened horse in the field today and that gave him the fitness advantage over the others," McKee said.
"The way the race was run played right into his hands with Coup Align setting such a fast pace," he said. "Sam (Spratt) gave him a lovely trail behind the leader and they cruised to the lead in the home straight and never looked like getting beaten."
The Pentire six-year-old gelding had a disappointing campaign last season after he had been the New Zealand Horse Of The Year the previous season. He had won the Waikato Draught Sprint two seasons ago after having won the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham (1200m) and achieved the same double/double this season.
"It takes a top horse to win five Group One races, not many of them get to that level," said McKee. "There is no doubt that this (1400m) is his best distance and he's got a very good record at Te Rapa," he said.
With back-to-back Group 1 wins under his belt Mufhasa has shown he is clearly back at the top of his game and McKee is now keen to send him across the Tasman again. "He is nominated for the Group 1 $200,000 Otaki Classic (1600m) on February 26, which he has also won before, while there is also the lure of a start in the Group 1 A$500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in Melbourne on the same day. "He has never had much luck in Aussie but I'm keen to take them on again especially with him in such good form," McKee said.
Mufhasa has won 14 races and boasts 11 other placings for stake earnings of more than $2 million for Auckland owner David Wright, who purchased him for $50,000 and races him in partnership with his son, Simon, daughter Natalie and partner Diane Wright.
Regular jockey Sam Spratt said Mufhasa had the race in total control 200m from home and was not surprised he was able to win by one and three quarter lengths in a smart time of 1:21.09. "He was doing handstands in the home straight and won comfortably. He is such a great horse to ride," Spratt said.
Four-time Group 1 winner Wall Street produced a terrfic fresh-up performance to finish second in his first start since taking out the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington in November. "The winner was too seasoned for him today but it was a good run and he will take a lot of improvement from that," said trainer Jeff Lynds. "I always knew he would be vulnerable in this one against so many gun horses but he hasn't let me down."
Wall Street could have a rematch with Mufhasa in the Otkai Classic with Lynds also considering a tilt for his star at the A$1.5 million Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 16.
Keep The Peace also went a bold race fresh-up for third to beat home Coup Align, in his final New Zealand start before heading to Singapore, and favourite We Can Say It Now who had every chance.
