Racing: Lady Chaparral right to par with shock defeat of Mufhasa

Lady Chaparral causes a major upset by beating hot favourite Mufhasa in the Stella Artois Tauranga Stakes at Gate Pa on Saturday. Photo / APN

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood has a strong argument now to take an extra Mulligan, or two, on his next round of golf with his mates at Cambridge.

Wood took over the preparation of Lady Chaparral eight starts ago at the suggestion of owner and regular Sunday playing partner John Goodman.

Goodman and wife Shirley, best known for racing former weight-for-age star The Filbert, already had a full-sister with Lady Chaparral's trainer at the time Corrina Young.

The switch paid off on Saturday with one of the biggest upsets of the season when Lady Chaparral swept past $1.40 favourite Mufhasa to win the group three Stella Artois Tauranga Stakes.

Wood, however, admits the win was unexpected in more ways than one.

The 5-year-old was originally booked to be in Riccarton last week for a minor two-race campaign.

But on the eve of her departure south Wood discovered a minor stone bruise which was enough to keep the three-race winner at home and set up the clash with group one ace Mufhasa.

"It didn't look like a realistic Plan B mission at Tauranga," said Wood.

"If it was a handicap she'd be getting 10 to 12kg from Mufhasa and as it was 59kg v 57kg.

"But I said to the owners she's working well and she's a chance to get some black type."

Wood said Lady Chaparral was now a chance to clash with Mufhasa again in the group one Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on December 3.

But he planned to chat to the Goodmans today before confirming the run; Wood feels she may be better kept to clockwise racing.

The win capped a big day for Danielle Johnson who was suspended for five days on Friday for careless riding when winning aboard outsider Denver at Dargaville.

The holiday from November 20 to 26 means she'll miss the Levin Classic ride aboard smart Tauranga winner Randall on November 25.

Pukekohe trainer Gareth McRae said yesterday it was likely Jason Collett would take over the reins in the $250,000 group one.

Randall had to be a black type contender to stave off the challenge of Release Me in the John Warren Insurance Three Year Old over 1400m.

The pair had the finish to themselves in running a faster time than Heza Karma Karzi did in maintaining his unbeaten course record in the open sprint.

"He had to win to make sure he got into the field because we might have been struggling otherwise, but he also had to run really well to warrant the trip down," said McRae.

"Right from the early stages as a two year old we thought he might make the grade.He was such a big strong horse you had to keep reminding yourself he was only a baby when you first started off on him."

McRae said only bad luck has robbed Randall of his shot at black type until now.

First a rain-affected track cost the Howbaddouwantit gelding a run in the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie, and then a stone bruise derailed a 2000 Guineas campaign.

* Wood has convinced former Racing Minister Winston Peters to announce his new industry policy for the upcoming General Election at the Cambridge track tomorrow from 6.30am.