Oliver gears up for Mufhasa

BY TIM BARTON

Damien Oliver has been declared to ride Mufhasa in the Group I Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, in Melbourne, on Saturday.

Oliver replaces regular rider Sam Spratt, who rode the horse at the Sydney autumn carnival this year.

Oliver has often ridden for Mufhasa's trainer, Stephen McKee, in Australia. He rode Culminate in her two runs in Sydney last autumn and partnered stablemate Boundless when she was the runner-up in the 2008 AJC Oaks.

Mufhasa was unplaced on a slow track, when a $3 favourite, in the Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings at his last start and was a $2 favourite when runner-up to Tavistock in the Mudgway Stakes (1400m).

The Pentire five-year-old, who races in Australia as King Mufhasa, has been given 54.5kg in the A$350,000 Toorak, 4kg less than topweight Racing To Win.

New Zealand stables should be well represented at the Caulfield meeting, with Young Centaur, Capecover, Sand Hawk, Mr Tipsy, Hoorang, Nom du Jeu and MacO'Reilly also nominated.

Young Centaur and Capecover will continue their Melbourne Cup buildup in the Herbert Power Handicap (2400m), while Mr Tipsy and Hoorang will try to earn a Caulfield Cup start in the same race.

The winner of the A$200,000 Group II Herbert Power is exempt from the Caulfield Cup ballot.

MacO'Reilly and Nom du Jeu will tackle the weight-for-age A$400,000 Group I Yalumba Stakes (2000m), with Nash Rawiller riding Nom du Jeu again.

Young Centaur was trapped on the inner, on a wet track, at Moonee Valley at his last start and trainer John Sargent is expecting a good run on Saturday.

"He's flying and galloped well with Heart Of Dreams on Saturday morning," Sargent said. "We will probably go forward and ride him positively this weekend."

Stablemate Red Ruler will race in blinkers in the A$2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17.

Rider Danny Nikolic recommended the gear change after Red Ruler finished a close fifth in the Group I Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last weekend.

Red Ruler, who raced with side winkers in the Turnbull, has raced in blinkers previously, notably when the runner-up in the 2008 Kelt Stakes.

He was favoured by the weights in the Turnbull but was reluctant to take gaps on the inner. However, he wound up late to be in a photo for third and less than a length and a half from the winner.

"He likes a bit of room and Danny said he was hesitant to take a gap," trainer John Sargent said. "He's better off in the open and rolling forward from the 600m.

"If he can do that, he will keep going and he went right to the line on Saturday.

"He had worked extra well the previous Tuesday, with Light Vision, but you need everything in your favour in Group I races."

Red Ruler should make the Caulfield Cup field but is not yet assured of a start. Forty-four horses remained in contention, after the third acceptances yesterday, with Red Ruler 18th in the order of entry.

Eighteen horses will start, with four on the ballot, but Red Ruler could be pushed down a place on Saturday, by the Herbert Power winner.

The other New Zealand-trained horses still in the Caulfield Cup are Daffodil, Harris Tweed, Sarrera, Hoorang, Mr Tipsy and Six O'Clock News, with Daffodil, Harris Tweed and Sarrera safely inside the top 18.

Meanwhile, Sargent will have eight runners at Taupo today and rates Pinot Girl, who will race in blinkers, and the maidens Handsome Zulu and Fromelles as his leading chances.

- © Fairfax NZ News