He beat Viadana in the group one Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham, then finished a terrific fifth, less than one length from winner Historian, in the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.
The slow pace in the Zabeel worked right against Shuka and so did barrier No 10 of 10 at the tricky 2000m Ellerslie starting point.
Despite that, Shuka sprinted hard from the back of the field in the run down the home straight and nothing was finishing faster. The result may have been different had he drawn a barrier.
Two weeks ago Shuka had an exhibition gallop with Silent Achiever between races at Ellerslie with both horses impressing in clocking smart time.
"He's done everything right since then and his work this morning was excellent," said co-trainer Peter Williams yesterday.
Shuka can race anywhere in a field and from his barrier he should get close to the run of the race.
And then you have Zurella. There has been the odd excuse for the talented mare, like when she got back on the rail in an unsuitable slow-tempo Zabeel Classic, but overall there is no excuse for some of her efforts.
In an effort to change around Zurella's thinking, trainer Shaune Ritchie has schooled the mare at Cambridge this week.
"I've had her over the logs and the pony fences in an attempt to move the goal posts for her," he said.
"We all know she is capable of beating some of the fields that have beaten her lately and there doesn't appear to be a physical reason for that.
"Everything here depends on what decisions she makes at the 500m."
One plus for Zurella is that she has saved some of her career-best performances for Te Rapa. On this track, she has a record of five starts for two wins and three placings. She also has an ideal No 4 barrier.
Otago-trained The Solitaire put the sword to those who wanted to under-rate the southern form she scored on her northern debut at Pukekohe last start at good odds. It was no ordinary win - she raced to them in the home straight and worked away to win easily under 59kg, a big weight for a mare.
The Solitaire has trained on well in the north under trainer Steve Anderton and although this is a fair step up in class from Pukekohe, she cannot be ignored.
The remarkable Historian is capable of just about anything. He got away with a slow pace when he won the Zabeel Classic, but his win was still remarkable.
Brave Centaur is better than his recent paper form suggests and has a great record on this track, and 3-year-old Aspen did enough when third to Recite at Trentham last start to suggest he can get some of this.
