Mufhasa returned to his magnificent best on Sunday when he blitzed a quality field in the Group 1 Fully Fledged at Fairdale WFA Classic at Otaki.

Jockey Sam Spratt sent Mufhasa to the front and they dictated terms at a good tempo to keep the majority of the field off the bit.  Bounding three lengths in front when balancing for home, Mufhasa ran his rivals ragged get within 0.20s of Alamosa’s 1600m track record of 1.32.69s.

Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval by Mi Preferido) is New Zealand’s reigning Mercedes Horse of the Year.  He was bred by Rich Hill Stud’s father and son partnership of Colin and John Thompson and was purchased at the 2006 Karaka Select Sale for $50,000.

Mufhasa has now earned NZ $1.34 million for owner David Archer and trainer Stephen McKee.

Rich Hill sold a Perfectly Ready half-brother to Mufhasa for $290,000 at the Karaka Premier this year.  Mufhasa’s dam Sheila Cheval produced a filly by Zabeel in 2009 and is again in foal to the champion sire.

Rich Hill sire Pentire has been in red-hot form in Australia with Larry’s Never Late crediting a G3 to his record in the Launceston Cup last Wednesday.

Pentire mare Zarita is last-start winner of the G2 Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley and she can go a level higher in the VRC Australian Cup at Flemington this Saturday.  Rangirangdoo is another Pentire gunning for a G1 this Saturday in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.