Racing: Mufhasa prevails in Hastings feature

Mufhasa gave trainer Stephen McKee his second win in the feature spring sprint at Hastings with a 7yr-old when the gelding won decisively on Saturday.

McKee was the co-trainer with his father, Trevor, of Sunline, who won the race as a 7yr-old in 2002.

Others of that age to win the weight-for-age 1400m race are Catering King (1989), Horlicks (1990), Pakaraka Star (1997) and Fritz (2001).

Mufhasa, who had not raced for five months, will carry on to the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate, the wfa 1600m race at Hastings on September 17.

Seachange (2006 and 2007) and Starcraft (2004) have won both races.

Sunline, who won fresh up at Hastings in 2002, ran third in the George Main Stakes in Melbourne at her next start. There is also a chance Mufhasa will step up to 2040m in the $300,000 Spring Classic at Hastings on October 1.

It was his sixth group one win on Saturday. The others are the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in 2009 and 2011; Waikato Sprint the same years and 2010 Otaki Stakes. The Pentire gelding has not raced beyond 1600m.

He had finished second to Tavistock in the Hastings sprint in 2009 and 10th last year.

Jimmy Choux ran on well for second to Mufhasa on Saturday, which augured well for longer assignments. Lion Tamer also pointed to his chance over more ground when he ran on well for fourth.

Lisa Allpress and Opie Bosson were both suspended until September 11 inclusive for careless riding at Hastings on Saturday.

Allpress is suspended from next Sunday. Bosson's suspension was effectively from yesterday.

Allpress, the rider of Scarlett O'Hara (race 1), admitted shifting out at the 800m, causing a check to Golden Globe with resultant interference to Wainui Prince and Queen Boudicca.

Bosson, the rider of Twilight Savings, winner of race 8, admitted shifting out at the 300m, forcing Santangelo to take the line of Geeza, who was severely checked.

Bosson said that Wall Street was unsuited by the tempo in the Makfi Stakes and over-raced. He said Wall Street failed to respond in the run home.

Azincourt was stood down for three months after he bled in race 4.

 

 

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