Racing: Outlook just fine for Mufhasa bid

Stephen McKee had a good moment in Sydney yesterday when he read the three-day weather forecast.

Predictions of three days of beautifully fine weather had McKee smiling as he put the finishing touches on (King) Mufhasa for Saturday's A$2 million ($2.5 million) Emirates Doncaster Mile.

Weeks of wet tracks have devastated the Sydney autumn carnival and McKee was starting to resign himself to watching King Mufhasa try to compete with Australia's best on an unsuitable wet Randwick track in his biggest test to date.

But McKee has been assured by any number of Sydney's astute track watchers that if the forecast is accurate the current heavy Randwick track will get back to a dead rating.

The track was heavy at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago when King Mufhasa made his Australian debut and finished a close third behind Vision and Power and Black Piranha in the A$400,000 George Ryder Stakes.

McKee says that performance gave a false impression to punters.

"There is a big difference between heavy at Rosehill and heavy at Randwick," he said.

"It can get very deep at Randwick and I'd have been worried if that was the likelihood for Saturday."

The Warwick Farm races in Sydney yesterday were held in heavy conditions after solid rain on Monday and Tuesday nights.

"It's beautiful here today," said McKee yesterday, "it's really hot."

McKee returned to Sydney on Monday night and is delighted with King Mufhasa's progress.

"He's improved and he looks very ready for this.

"He worked a nice 1200m here yesterday and had a good blow afterwards."

Sam Spratt made her Australian debut when she rode King Mufhasa into third in the George Ryder.

Because Rosehill has a relatively uncomplicated layout, McKee did not bother to walk Spratt around the course before the George Ryder, but he will certainly be doing that at Randwick.

"Randwick has some tricks to it," he said. "There is the rise in the home straight and that 'dummy straight' down the side between the 800m and 500m."

The heavy conditions at Rosehill saw the field, including King Mufhasa, shift to the centre of the track from the home turn, a scenario which does not really suit King Mufhasa's racing style.

The closer the field stays to the inside running rail the better King Mufhasa's chances will be.

The McKee's record in the race dates back to great mare Sunline.

She won the Doncaster in 1999 and 2002 and in her only other attempt she was beaten a neck in 2000 by Over, who carried 52kg to Sunline's 57.5kg.

The third horse that day, Zastov was four lengths back and carried just 50kg.

Sir Slick, the second New Zealander in the Doncaster, arrived at his Randwick stable late Tuesday night and did strong work on the course yesterday morning.

King Mufhasa is a difficult horse for the New Zealand TAB to price because it's the horse most domestic punters want to back and there is not significant betting to offset that liability.

In New Zealand King Mufhasa is at $9 but $16 is on offer for him in Australia.

Sir Slick is at $81 here and $150 in Australia.

All Silent is the Doncaster favourite at $5.50 ahead of Hot Danish on $8 with Vision and Power $9.

The price varies in Australia for New Zealand filly Daffodil, to be ridden by Hugh Bowman in Saturday's A$500,000 Australian Oaks.

She is at $14 with some agencies and $18 with others.

Kiwi Revoke is second emergency.

A$2 MILLION DONCASTER
* Wet tracks have upset much of the Sydney autumn, but the indication is Randwick will dry from heavy to dead for Saturday's big metric mile.
* Trainer Stephen McKee is delighted there is a forecast for three days of beautifully fine weather.
* McKee is confident of a forward showing from King Mufhasa, currently at $16 in Australia and $9 in New Zealand.
* New Zealand's Australian Oaks hope Daffodil is rated a $14 chance by Australian bookmakers