Mufhasa ran in an era of incredible milers, but held his own and retired a Kiwi champ

A brown gelding by Pentire out of Sheila Cheval (NZ) (Mi Preferido), Mufhasa was bred by Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson and his father Colin. Offered by Rich Hill at the 2006 Select Sale at Karaka, Mufhasa was a $50,000 purchase by his owner, David Archer. Trained for the majority of his career by Stephen McKee, Mufhasa had 62 starts for 20 wins, nine seconds, six thirds and $3.63 million in prizemoney. First rising to prominence with a scintillating win in the Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton in November of 2008, where he clocked a sizzling 1:32.83, Mufhasa developed into a top-flight performer on both sides of the Tasman. With Sam Spratt as his regular rider he became an eight-time Group One winner in New Zealand, capturing two editions of Trentham’s Telegraph Handicap (1200m) and Te Rapa’s Waikato Sprint (1400m) along with the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m), Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and WFA Classic (1600m).

Mufhasa also shone at the highest level in Australia, known there as King Mufhasa, collecting a further two Group One victories in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m) along with three placings in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m), including a 2nd to the mighty Pierro, and another third in the Futurity Stakes to More Joyous. Mufhasa ran on all the finest, major metropolitan tracks in Australia, including, Rosehill, Randwick, Doomben, Eagle Farm, Caulfield and Flemington. He then went to Hong Kong to contest the HK$12 million Gr.1 The Champion Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin and sadly bled, a re-entrapment of the epiglottis prompting suggestions he would be retired. Mufhasa showed he had lost none of his zip when his first appearance back became a 10-length open trial romp, defeating stakes performers Astute and Agile, and first-up over 1600m he ran a gallant second to Xanadu in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings, beating home quality Gr.1 winners such as, Nashville, Final Touch, Survived and Ransomed.

McKee fell out with Mufhasa's strapper Amy Doran and in January, late in his career, Archer chose to keep the galloper with his strapper rather than his trainer and oddly transferred him to fellow Auckland trainer Bruce Wallace, where he could continue to be looked after by Doran. He was retired after damaging a sesamoid bone with no hope of the horse returning while preparing for a final campaign. Mufhasa was a remarkable New Zealand champion who garnered immense admiration from fans for his unwavering determination and indomitable spirit displayed in each competition. Mufhasa was a two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year, achieving that accolade in the 2008-09 and 2011-12 seasons.

RACE RECORD - 62: 20-9-6

EARNINGS - $3,629,818

Telegraph Handicap (2009, 2011)

Waikato Sprint (2009, 2011)

Otaki-Maori Weight for Age (2010)

Makfi Challenge Stakes (2011)

Toorak Handicap (2011)

Captain Cook Stakes (2011)

Futurity Stakes (2012) 

Windsor Park Plate (2012)