Racing: Bookies keep Mufhasa short for feature

The TAB bookies have taken a conservative line and lobbed Mufhasa into a $1.80 quote for Saturday's group one $220,000 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings, despite the horror No 13 barrier draw.

But they've probably got it right.

The 1600m barrier at Hastings, 100m from the first bend, is such a nightmare. Horses drawn wide in good class races can generally forget about it and come back next time.

From No 13 - No 12 if the emergencies do not re-enter the field - Mufhasa is the one horse with the tactical speed to cope with the problem.

Yes, the $1.80 is skinny, but if he lands in front or outside the leader - and that's $1.05 - Mufhasa should win.

His luckless and close second to Tavistock in the lead-up group one Mudgway Partsworld Stakes three weeks ago told all the stories you need to know.

"We didn't change the price from the futures market," said a TAB bookmakers spokesperson yesterday.

"The ones we've changed are Tell A Tale, into $11 from $14 off the back of a No 5 barrier and Il Quello Veloce, who has shortened a few points into $11 because of her No 2 gate."

The draw was not user friendly all round. Sir Slick drew the outside gate at No 16 - there are only 14 starters at 1600m at Hastings - and Fritzy Boy, who has gate No 12.

Fields for the three feature events at Hastings on Saturday:

R6. 2:30: Windsor Park Stud & HB Breeders Gold Trail Stakes, $70000, 3yo fillies, 1200m. - Katie Lee (11), Seven Schillings (13), Corsage (7), Queen Sabeel (5), Eileen Dubh (9), St Germaine (3), Gofonze (12), Bewitch (10), Sitara (4), Mi Payday (2), Mercury Mistress (6), Promenade (8), Staged (1) 56.

R8. 3.40: Traderacks Premier 2000, $35000, opn hcp, 2000m. - Penrickson (10), Six O'Clock News (2) 58; Harris Tweed (3), Hoorang (9) 57.5; All In Black (7) 55.5; Jovial Jock (1) 55; Halls (6) 54.5; A Great Life (11) 54; Jungle Rocket (4), Ease Hours (8), Waitui Zone (5) 53.5

R9. 4.22: Windsor Park Plate, $220000, wfa, 1600m. - Sarrera (8), Sir Slick (16), Mufhasa (13), Jacowils (15), Prince Kaapstad (11), Fritzy Boy (12), Sterling Prince (3), Vosne Romanee (9) 59; Tavistock (4), Tell A Tale (5), Altered Image (10) 58.5; Culminate (6) 57, Daffodil (7), Il Quello Veloce (2) 56.5; The Pooka (1), Arlington (14) 59. Emergencies: The Pooka, Arlington.

* * *

Yes, it's great to see that the Australian Racing Board has backed down on the jockeys' whip use.

But isn't the big picture that it's a major worry that the body in total charge of racing across the Tasman could bring in such ridiculous regulations in the first place?

And even more worrying, that a week ago, could totally defend those rules in the face of almost total condemnation after less than two months.

Then do a flip this week.

You'd want to think they'd be considering the next big issue to come along a bit better.