Racing: Trainer mystified by poor showing

Daffodil swamps Sarrera, Sterling Prince, Prince Kaapstad, Culminate and Tavistock in the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Mufhasa was yesterday declared 100 per cent by trainer Stephen McKee after one of the most lacklustre runs of his career in Saturday's $220,000 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

Last season's Horse Of The Year beat only Tell A Tale and The Pooka home in the group one race.

As close to the race as Friday - before the rain - Mufhasa was quoted as a $1.70 chance.

Tests yesterday revealed nothing was amiss with the million-dollar earner.

McKee, talking at yesterday's Pukekohe races, said he remained mystified by the performance.

"I trotted him up after the race and he was fine and I trotted him up again this morning and he looked great in his action.

"I don't know what went wrong.

"I spoke to John Wheeler afterwards and he said he expected All In Black to win and she ran last.

"He said it could have been a combination of the wet track and the fact she was second up from a spell. Perhaps it could be the same for him."

The rich returns of the Emirates Mile and the Hong Kong Mile are current lures for the Mufhasa camp.

Mufhasa is also still in the $1.2 million Kelt Capital Stakes, but is probably unlikely to start.

"I've still got to talk to the owners," said McKee.

With the possible exception of Tavistock, it's hard to see that the TAB have it wrong with Saturday's Windsor Park Daffodil, Sarrera quinella result as the two favourites for the Kelt Capital at Hastings on October 3.

The pair dominated.

With no disrespect to Daffodil, the honours were probably shared.

There is a chance Daffodil might have found a slightly better strip of ground out wider on the track and Sarrera had to change ground closer in to the centre of the track halfway down the home straight.

Tavistock made ground nicely late into sixth and looked a Kelt chance on the run, but Daffodil and Sarrera are also both going to be better suited.

Sterling Prince (third) and Prince Kaapstad fought bravely.

Market: $3 Daffodil, $7 Sarrera, $9 Tell A Tale, $10 Boundless, Tavistock; $12 Harris Tweed, $14 Miss Maren, Mufhasa; $21 Prince Kaapstad, Sterling Prince; $26 Alagant Satin, Il Quello Veloce, Jungle Rocket, The Pooka, Yanna Marie; $31 All In Black, Fritzy Boy, Ginga Dude; $41 Sir Slick, $51 Arlington, Gallions Reach, Penrickson, Vosne Romanee; $81 Eel Win.

* The stewards' report from the Windsor Park Plate is interesting:

Tell A Tale (J McDonald) was badly crowded on jumping away when Culminate (L Innes) shifted inwards abruptly upon leaving the barriers. In this incident Tell A Tale clipped a heel and blundered. Il Quello Veloce (M Du Plessis) shifted out on jumping, inconveniencing Sterling Prince (C Lammas). Tavistock (J Waddell) got its head up when being steadied off heels near the 800m. Near the 300m, Fritzy Boy (M Walker) shifted to the outside of Mufhasa (S Spratt) to obtain clear running and in doing so crowded Arlington (V Colgan) on to the hind quarters of Culminate (L Innes). M Walker was issued with a warning.

L Innes was suspended from the conclusion of racing on Sunday, September 20, up to the conclusion of racing on Friday, October 2, and in addition fined $1500 after admitting a charge of careless riding in that passing the 200m he permitted his mount Culminate to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of Fritzy Boy who was checked. Also inconvenienced was Mufhasa.

Sarrera (C Grylls) shifted out to obtain clear running near the 200m and inconvenienced The Pooka (T Harris).

When questioned, T Harris stated that The Pooka had not felt comfortable in the existing track conditions.

When questioned on the disappointing performance of Mufhasa, S Spratt advised that the gelding had travelled only fairly and when asked to quicken had been unable to do so but was unable to offer any excuses.

A post-race veterinary examination of Mufhasa did not reveal any abnormalities.

* Trainer Paul Moroney saw what he was looking for when Slashing beat hot favourite The Hombre in the NZ Bloodstock Insurance Premier.

"He's a horse that does only what he needs to do," said a delighted Moroney.

"He might have won only narrowly, but he kept going right down the back straight before he could be pulled up."

Winning rider Craig Grylls confirmed Slashing has been lazy in the close finish.

"As soon as I stopped with the whip he started to pull up."

Fellow Matamata trainer John Sargent was similarly excited when St Germaine came back to form in the Windsor Park Gold Trail Stakes.

"She needed her first-up run and doesn't mind some cut in the ground.

"She was dead right for this race."

Slashing and St Germaine are being aimed at their respective Guineas races at Riccarton in November.