Tarzino Trophy Countdown: Number 7 - Mufhasa 2011
The first Group 1 of the New Zealand racing season always brings a great deal of excitement. As we get closer to the running of the 2020 Tarzino Trophy, we are taking a look at the top 10 performances in the race since the turn of the century.
First run in 1985 when named the Challenge Stakes, all through the years this race has attracted an extremely strong field. Given it is early in the season at Weight-For-Age conditions over 1400m, horses of the highest echelon use this race as a springboard to campaigns both in New Zealand and Internationally.
Previously named the Mudgway Stakes, the Mudgway Challenge Stakes and the Makfi Challenge Stakes, the race was renamed the Tarzino Trophy in 2017. Tarzino - a former Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas winner - now stands at Westbury Stud.
Mufhasa was one of the true champions of the New Zealand turf and he stands proudly on the honour roll of this race.
Owner David Archer struck gold when he purchased this Colin and John Thompson bred son of Pentire from Mi Preferdio mare Sheila Cheval as a yearling at Karaka for $50,000. By the time he was finished, the sensational gelding would earn over 70 times that in prize money on the race track.
Prior to lining up in the 2011 Mafki Challenge Stakes, the horse had carved out a formidable record. At that time, the then 7yo had been the winner of 14 of his 43 starts and had over $2.1 million in the bank.
He had won five Group 1 contests, including the 2009 & 2011 Telegraph Handicaps (1200m) - back in the days when it was run for a $1 million purse.
He had been here before, running a close second in 2009 to Tavistock and the year previous where he ran out of steam off the back of an arduous campaign in Australia.
He was fourth in the market, behind some high quality opposition.
The four-time Group 1 winning Wall Street was the favourite, he’d taken out the Group 1 Emirates (1600m) at Flemington the previous November.
The brilliant Jimmy Choux was there and heading on a serious upward trajectory - at the time a NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m), NZ Derby (2400m) and Rosehill Guineas (1600m) winning galloper.
Queensland Oaks (Group 1, 2400m) victor Scarlett Lady was another to contend with, along with VRC Derby (Group 1, 2500m) winner Lion Tamer.
He had always been a horse that took luck out of the picture and on this day it was no different. His jockey and great companion Sam Spratt had him out of the gates and in a beautiful position just outside the leader Fleur De Lune.
When they commenced the run home, he was still full of running, it would take a tough one to get past him. He kicked at the 300m mark and didn’t stop, finishing 1 3/4 lengths clear of the fast finishing Jimmy Choux.
His sixth Group 1 was so typical of his whole career - a thoroughbred with a high cruising speed who was desperately hard to roll.
The combination with Sam Spratt was as good as you’d see from horse and jockey. She is full of admiration for the horse and her appreciation of him has grown as time has passed:
“I probably didn’t realise the significance of how good he was at the time, it's only now when you look back do you fully appreciate how good he was. Ninety percent of riders never have an association with a horse as good as him, and while I hope I’m not sure I will ever have another Mufhasa”
“He was so strong and you always knew he could run sections on or near the speed and still have that turn of foot over the final 200m, that’s what made him so good. We had so many good days at Hastings and his win in 2011 was one of many outstanding performances”
Owner David Archer looks back on the day:
“The Hawkes Bay was always a special place to race and the times we went there with Mufhasa he was so competitive in what were great fields. To beat Jimmy Choux in such a high class field in 2011 on his way to a huge campaign was something special. We had such a wonderful association with Stephen (McKee) and Sam (Spratt), she rode a great race on him that day”
He was like a fine wine, he kept getting better! You’ll go along way to find a horse with the level of shear durability and ability to perform at an older age as Mufhasa.
He’d carry on from here to pick up four further Group 1 victories, including two in Australia going by the name of King Mufhasa: The Toorak Handicap (1600m) and The Futurity (1400m) in his 7yo season.
He held the record for the most Group 1 wins in New Zealand when he clocked up his 10th as an 8yo, until Melody Belle surpassed him in 2019. It is worth listing his victories at the elite level, because it is impressive:
Telegraph Handicap (1200m) - 2009 & 2011
Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) - 2009 & 2011
Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m) - 2010
Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) - 2011
Toorak Handicap (1600m) - 2011
Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) - 2011
The Futurity (1400m) - 2011
Windsor Park Plate (1600m) - 2012
His record of victory in 10 Group 1’s could have easily been more, he ran 2nd or 3rd on 10 occasions at the top level as well. This included in his last start as a 9yo for 2nd in the 2013 Windsor Park Plate (1600m).
He had some setbacks late on in his career, but they never held him back.
He underwent tie-back surgery to correct an epiglottal entrapment, then came back to run a mighty second to Pierro in the Gr I George Ryder Stakes in Sydney.
He then went to Hong Kong to contest the Gr I Champions Mile (1600m) where unfortunately a re-entrapment of the epiglottis prompted suggestions he would be retired.
Archer decided to let nature take its course and satisfied Mufhasa had made a full recovery, brought him back for a final campaign.
Showing he had lost none of his talent when after a 10-length trial romp, he ran a gallant 2nd to Xanadu in the Gr I Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings in what was to be his final start.
He was finally retired in December 2013 after pulling up sore in a track gallop.
“As an owner he was just the most beautiful Horse, he won 10 Group 1’s and ran 2nd or 3rd in 10 Group 1’s. He ran some 60 times and I reckon he was in the lead or challenged for the lead in just about all of them, he gave you a run every single time” says Archer.
His well-earned retirement has seen him kept busy - as this photo of him and lifelong strapper Amy Dornan with Auckland Racing Club CEO Paul Wilcox aboard suggests!
He has made guest appearances at racedays in the North Island, has been a lead horse for young horses in training and has been an Equine Ambassador for the Auckland Racing Club. He’s even turned his hand as a show horse and reports suggest he’s keen to lead in those events as well!
This two-time New Zealand Horse of the year is a true legend.
Our Number 7 since the turn of the millennium is Mufahasa!