Racing: Mi Muchacho in doubt for spring racing

A dark cloud hangs over Auckland Cup winner Mi Muchacho's spring campaign.

Last season's Auckland Cup winner is a surprise absentee from the Kumeu Founders Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday night, raising doubts over his New Zealand Cup campaign.

The outstanding grey pacer knocked himself when galloping at Cambridge on Thursday night when he failed to show his best for the fourth time on end when racing on a left-handed track.

Mi Muchacho bumped a tendon when galloping with 1400m to run before fighting on gamely to finish fourth behind comeback pacer Sly Flyin.

His trainer Richard Anderson fears the 6-year-old may have bruised a bone in the incident but has ordered x-rays of the gelding's off-front hoof area.

"That hoof is his main problem and what causes him to gallop left-handed," said Anderson.

"Racing left-handed he puts a lot more pressure on that hoof and when it gets sore he gallops or paces rough.

"I don't think there is anything majorly wrong with it but we want the x-rays to make sure it is not damaging his pedal bone."

Anderson was using last Thursday's race as a trial for the New Zealand Cup, an event in which Mi Muchacho produced a career-worst performance last season when obviously troubled by the track.

Now he has been left wondering what next.

Mi Muchacho proved when winning the Auckland Cup fresh-up after a three-month break that he can compete at the top level without the racing usually required by top pacers.

But missing Friday's race is not ideal and Anderson also faces the extra problem of not having a serious Cambridge race in the next month in which to test his left-handed form.

"I am disappointed with what happened last week but at this stage the New Zealand Cup is still the target.

"I will know more once we get the x-rays back but I am still keen to go.

"It has just become a little harder," Anderson said.

If Mi Muchacho cannot get back on track for the New Zealand Cup, and become more comfortable racing left-handed, he will be left with few rich targets for the remainder of the season.

He would have only the Franklin and Auckland Cups as big-money aims, missing races such as the Hunter Cup, Interdominions and a host of rich Australian races as there are no right-handed tracks there.

Mi Muchacho's problems have seen him drift from $12 to $16 in the New Zealand Cup fixed-odds market.

Mainland Banner still heads that market at $3.50, with much more to be known about her progress when she trials for the first time this season at Ashburton next Tuesday.

Baileys Dream lost few friends with his second after being taken on at Cambridge and remains the second favourite at $5.50, with Roman Gladiator at $8.

Sly Flyin halved from $50 to $25 after his win and fellow northern pacer Winforu shortened from $30 to $10 after winning at Addington on Friday night.

While Mi Muchacho won't be at Alexandra Park on Friday night the feature race will still be a pivotal New Zealand Cup trial with Baileys Dream and Sly Flyin back into battle again.

They will clash with Badlands Bute, Waitfornoone and Mr Bojangles, all of whom would need to win or finish second to earn a New Zealand Cup spot.

The meeting will also host the first open trot of the Alexandra Park season, with Dominion Handicap winner Pompallier up against last season 4-year-old mare of the year, Our Sunny Whiz.