Mufhasa (NZ) Collects 10th Group 1

Dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa (NZ) covered himself in glory at Hawke’s Bay on Saturday and put himself amongst New Zealand racing greats when he collected his tenth Group 1 victory in the $200,000 Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m).

Dictating the terms of the race from the outset, Mufhasa (Pentire x Sheila Cheval) stormed out of the barriers to lead early in the race, running his rivals into the ground in the straight to win by three-quarters of a length ahead of top mares Fleur de Lune (Stravinsky) and Xanadu (Elusive City).

Jockey Sam Spratt who has paired with the eight-year-old in 12 of his 19 wins – and all of his Group 1 victories – was visibly elated with the gelding’s performance, as was part-owner David Archer.

Mufhasa will now head to the Toorak Handicap, a ace he won last year beating King’s Rose (NZ).

“It was just an unbelievable feeling on Saturday to see him get his tenth Group 1,” said Archer who purchased Mufhasa from the 2006 Karaka Select Sale for $50,000.

“He has to be considered as one of the greats and to be able to pick up four Group 1 wins at seven and now another at eight really proves that he is a bit of an equine freak.

“He has come through the race in great order so we are now going to head across the Tasman to the Toorak Handicap. I have spoken to Greg Carpenter, the Chief Handicapper, and he says that we are likely to meet More Joyous with 59 kilograms so it will be a big race for him.”

Running less than two lengths behind Ocean Park (Thorn Park) when resuming in the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes, the form surrounding Mufhasa is very strong with Ocean Park winning the Group 1 Underwood Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield, beating some of Australia’s best weight-for-age horses.

Saturday’s victory was Mufhasa’s 19th of his 52 start career. Winning his first race on debut at Ruakaka in May 2007, his remarkable career has seen him win top races including two Telegraph Handicaps in New Zealand, and the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Group 1 Futurity Stakes in Australia.

Last season was arguably Mufhasa’s most successful, winning four Group 1 races and earning him his second NZ Horse of the Year Title, with his first coming in 2009. All up Mufhasa has contested 34 Group 1 races and has been successful at the elite level for the last five consecutive seasons, a remarkable achievement.

Mufhasa is one of 34 stakes winners for his sire Pentire who stands at Rich Hill Stud. The sire of two NZ Horses of the Year with Xcellent winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, Pentire is also the sire of Rangirangdoo (NZ) who won the 2010 Group 1 Doncaster Mile and ran second in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Bred by Colin and John Thompson, Mufhasa was purchased by David Archer at the 2006 Karaka Select Sale from Rich Hill Stud for $50,000. Raced by David with Natalie and Simon Archer and Mrs DJ Wright, Mufhasa has now earned in excess of $3.3 million.