Shuka's final winning margin was "only" seven and a half lengths.

That was SO great to see!

Two in a row now... I think he remembered he doesn't always have to be 2nd. :)

(Seemed like the race caller was getting a kick out of the name Schmeckenbecher there at the end). :D

Great day for MDP... I hadn't realized he had 5 wins on the day.

Thoughts on Mufhasa going to HK for the Champions Mile? I guess he leaves tomorrow....

Any idea who gets the mount?

Funny that in the HK press Ambitious Dragon is getting all the ink when it's Xtension who won it the past two years. (Beadman in 2011 and James Mc Donald last year... wonder who has the mount).

You're probably right about Pierro but it sure was nice to see (no disrespect).

Have you seen this? :eek:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-dail...e-to-US-tycoon

Yeah, I heard about the sale this morning. A bit sad, but I can't wait to see how she goes in the US - I think she'll be great.

I didn't know about her injury in the Oaks. Wow, that really changes everything. What I thought was the worst race of her life was actually incredibly brave.

Good question about who rides Mufhasa in Hong Kong. I have no idea! I'd love to see him do well there, but at the same time I think he's probably done enough and deserves to retire to a nice paddock somewhere soon.

Veyron news - actually he did have an injury.
http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...ydney-campaign

Agree about Mufhasa... I'd rather read about how he's been retired.

Maybe after this...

Mixed feelings about Habibi because of course I'm glad she'll be here and pointed to the BC but I feel bad for her many fans there.

Thanks for the Veyron update, poor guy.

Was looking at the noms for Awapuni... oooh Villifye and Zennista, Park Princess, Belfast Lad, Ripping... looks like fun!

Ripping* hasn't won for like 2 years.... maybe this will be it.

(God I love this name). :o :D

Good luck to Yin Yang Master once again, this time at Te Aroha (R7).

Pretty sure Firebolt was scratched. The others didn't do well at all. :(

:( That is a shame. And, yeah, I'll definitely miss Habibi. But I'll watch her on TV and wave a little NZ flag! She could actually boost our profile and generate some interest in NZ racing - being a Derby-winning filly is a big deal anywhere in the world, so hopefully she'll pick up a few fans.

Whoa, I wasn't planning on going down to Te Rapa this weekend, but I might have to - some REALLY nice races.

Oh you HAVE to go... hadn't realized that Pinzaara was entered!!!!! Asesome!!!

Please wave to Huffer for me.

Weird to see a field with Double Barrel but withOUT The Hombre haha!

Good luck to PInzaara of course, to Ms. Huffer, Nine Pin, Lucky Coutry, Sir Lovesalot, The Grinner, and, in the Travis, Stakes (nice nice field) Postman's Daughter. It would be nice to see her win. :)

SOOOOOOOOO CLOSE!

Fantastic run by Pinzaara and in such a huge field!. Very very nice you must be proud although am wondering if you nearly had a heart attack when Iamishwara passed her. I nearly did and the results were right in front of me so knew it was coming. Very very nice though. Congrats!

This is the only replay I've watched so far but I see that Huffer won and Lucky Country was 2nd in her race.

Don't remember ever hearing of Pimms Time... will watch that one and the rest a little later.

Congrats, ed.

Again, so proud of her. She's just been amazing this summer. Her career before this season was 10:1-1-0. This season, she's 11:1-5-2, with two 4ths as well. So consistent, and she just tries so hard every time.

Here's a quote from what Stephen McKee told us after the race.
'Very rarely have I seen a jockey genuinely surprised at their horse's performance. Sam was today. She said Pinzaara was "going up and down on the same spot" just after the home bend (which was quite boggy), and somehow she managed to dig deeper and find more to rally and finish on strongly. Although she has ridden her quite a few times, I think she was amazed at just how much heart this horse has got.' :)

Pimms Time has come from nowhere, really! She was in rating 65 grade as recently as November, when her career stats were 5:1-0-1. Now they're 12:5-1-1! Her improvement has been astonishing.

Fantastic quote!

What's next for her?

She's getting close to her winter break - she's earned it!

Maybe one more race, the Rotorua Stakes (!!), the weekend after next.

Exciting!

* * *

Mufhasa at Sha Tin today...

http://corporate.hkjc.com/news_image...1517_l_102.jpg

He looks great! :)

Lots of scratches in Yin Yang Masters race. It's still a massive field but maybe?

I would love to see him win. It would be worth the two and a half year wait! :o

Mufhasa 'lame in left fore' and 'substantial blood in trachea' after his race in Hong Kong. :( Really hope he'll be alright.

Haven't watched the race yet - don't really want to after hearing that.

I just went to the site and was about to watch the replay when that comment caught my eye so yeah... I did the same thing and didn't watch. I don't want to. :(

Nice for a horse (Dan Excel) who has consistently been second in the big races to finally win BUT I can't bear to see Mufhasa so yeah... same as you, hope he's okay and that whatever is best for him happens now.

From Mufhasa's Facebook page:

"Thanks to all my concerned fans. I bled yesterday. Unfortunately these things happen. On a bright note I have eaten all my dinner and looking for breakie this morning. I have been out for a walk, and I'm sound and happy :-)"

Hopefully it's not too bad, then. But it might still be career-ending.

Another update: http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...sion-to-owners

Also, Habibi - turns out she suffered a fracture in a leg in the Australian Oaks. Amazingly brave.
http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...ctured-pastern