Veteran kiwi King Mufhasa might yet defy his age in Sunday's Champions Mile if his sparkling trackwork and the confidence of trainer Bruce Wallace is any guide. (image, barrier draw ceremony) 

The eight-year-old looked sharp again this morning when he worked over 1400m on the turf under raceday jockey Michael Rodd. “He felt great and just seems a different horse since his recent throat op (operation),” Rodd said.

King Mufhasa, the first New Zealander to contest the race, would become the first eight-year-old and the oldest horse to win a Champions Mile if successful on Sunday. Three seven-year-olds have won (Electronic Unicorn, Bullish Luck and Able One) and the dual winner Bullish Luck was placed at nine years in 2008.

“It was good work this morning,” said trainer Wallace, “similar to last Saturday, about three-quarter pace from the seven (1400m) and breeze up the last 600m.” King Mufhasa ran his last 400m in 22.6 seconds in an overall 1m 20.8s (timed from the 1200m).

King Mufhasa had the “tie-back” surgery three days after an out of character failure in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm on 9 March and was then four weeks between runs before finishing second to Pierro in the G1 George Ryder Stakes on 6 April.

“Everything about him is better since he had the operation to fix the epiglotic entrapment last month,” Wallace said, “his breathing's better, his action's better and he's done really well since he's been here in Hong Kong.

“I'd say he's in better shape than before his last run when it took the best three-year-old in Australia to beat him and my bloke was giving him weight. The throat procedure knocked him around for a few days and he then had a little hiccough through the healing process so we didn't do a lot with him leading into the Ryder. I'd have been happy if he'd run anywhere in the first five that day,” he said.

Wallace, who had HK International Races placings with Kingston Bay and Darazari in the 1990's, said he enjoyed travelling his horses. “I like the challenge of travelling horses and having them run to their best. Early in my career I probably had more success in Australia than at home (New Zealand),” he said.

The King Mufhasa team, in particular strapper and track rider Amy Doran, is mindful of the quality of the Champions Mile field headed by the top rated local Glorious Days.

Doran, who has looked after King Mufhasa since day one of his racing career, recalls that her favourite horse and Glorious Days were one time stablemates under the care of Stephen McKee - who trained King Mufhasa until the end of 2012 - in New Zealand.

“I was working for Steve (McKee) when he had Glorious Days before he was sold to Hong Kong. I remember the horse well, I've still got photos of him...but now I'm hoping I can get a photo of (King) Mufhasa beating him on Sunday,” Doran said. Glorious Days won his only start in New Zealand before being shipped to Hong Kong.

Doran doesn't mind relinquishing the trackwork saddle to Michael Rodd and was impressed with King Mufhasa's action as he appeared to travel comfortably in his work this morning. “He's always going faster than he looks,” she said.

Great Britain's challenger Penitent is also pleasing his stable. This morning he did little more than cantering work on the all-weather, under regular track rider Sean Murray, but looks bright. “Sean tells me he's never moved as well as he has here in Hong Kong. Hopefully he can produce a career best here this weekend because he'll probably need to, to win it,” said co-owner Nick Bradley of the Middleham Park Racing syndicate.

Richard O'Brien, assisting trainer David O'Meara who arrives in Hong Kong today, said the horse is continuing to do well. “We're very happy with him. The facilities here are great and I really have to thank the (Hong Kong) Jockey Club who've been so helpful and have provided us with everything we need,” he said.

John Moore's trio Dan Excel, Xtension and Admiration had reasonable hitouts on the all-weather this morning along with the Tony Cruz trained Pure Champion. None was extended through their gallops although Xtension quickened up well to run his last 400m in 24.2s.

“Tom Berry reported that Xtension's work was fantastic this morning and I can tell you that Dan Excel's never been better,” said Moore, “my three have all drawn well and they all can be handy to the speed. I'm happy going into this race with all three. Dan Excel's probably the pick but who's to say old Xtension won't bob up again? Admiration's probably needs some luck but he's well.”