Racing: Mi Muchacho over setback

Trainer Richard Anderson does not expect a setback suffered last week to affect pacing buzz-horse Mi Muchacho at Alexandra Park tonight.

The exceptional roan pacer will be a dominant favourite in the $30,000 North Shore City Stakes. If he wins, he could shorten to outright favourite for the New Zealand Cup.

But Anderson admits it has not been all plain sailing for Mi Muchacho since his punishing fresh-up win over many of his race rivals tonight in the Spring Cup three weeks ago.

"He actually came through the race well but he developed a bit of a niggly muscle problem in his rump last week," said Anderson.

"It was nothing serious and we have been working on it so I think it won't affect him this week.

"He had a run at the Cambridge workouts last Saturday and went all right so I don't think it is bothering him too much."

Mi Muchacho has matured into a ruthless stayer and should be fitter for his fresh-up win, enabling driver Peter Ferguson to again adopt an aggressive approach tonight, making the most of the 20m start he gets over Just An Excuse.

"I never tell Peter how to drive him but I think he is a very good front runner so I'd be happy to see him there," said Anderson in an almost-confirmation of tonight's driving tactics.

Anderson has surprisingly opted to make t the 2700m event Mi Muchacho's last before the New Zealand Cup.

That means it doubles as a chance to stamp their authority on the open class ranks and try to gain valuable respect before the Addington thriller.

With the advantage of a front line starting position it would be surprising if, after a safe beginning, Mi Muchacho does not hunt for the pacemaking role before the last lap.

Once there he would only need to race up to his last-start win to be near-impossible to run down.

"It is good to get that head start over Just An Excuse but we are not taking anything for granted because these are all good horses."

Just An Excuse stormed into second behind Mi Muchacho last start and his driver Todd Mitchell can see a similar situation developing tonight.

"I think we might end up driving him for one-run because the race is made for the front-markers," said Mitchell.

"If one of the favourites off the front leads then I don't think we can attack them and win so I'd be happy to get a cart into the race and try and out sprint them.

"I am not saying he can't win because he has done really well since his last race but I think he'd need a few things to go his way."

While Mi Muchacho dominates the fixed odds markets, rival driver Maurice McKendry isn't one ready to concede defeat.

He partners Myron tonight and the pair were a fighting third to Mi Muchacho after working hard in the Spring Cup, a performance that would rank as the best of Myron's career.

"I thought that was a really good run and I can't see any reason he can't win this," said McKendry.

"It won't be easy but if he steps well he is as good as most of them and getting better all the time."

Myron gives McKendry a shot as a feature-race double as he will drive hot favourite Badlands Bute in tonight's other major event, the $30,000 Kumeu Pak N Save Stakes.

Last season's 3-year-old of the year resumes tonight off a tricky 20m handicap but that is somewhat negated by the small, and not overly strong, field.

Badlands Bute pleased his connections when taking on Alta Serena and Myron at the workouts last week and should be good enough to overcome his handicap even allowing for his lack of racing.

Cup countdown

* Open-class pacers take their next steps toward the New Zealand Cup at Alexandra Park and Addington tonight.

* Mi Muchacho will dominate betting in the northern feature even though he suffered a minor setback last week.

* Harnetts Creek is attempting to bounce back from a dramatic last-start failure in the $30,000 Nobilo at Addington.

* Last season's top 3-year-old Badlands Bute returns to racing in the Kumeu Stakes.