The boys are back in town

Auckland Cup Week celebrates the best of New Zealand racing, so it’s only fitting some of the sport’s stars make a guest appearance.

It’s likely no horse has been on as many billboards in Auckland as that of two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and $3.62 million earner, Mufhasa.

For a second consecutive year, “Mufy” has been the equine star of Auckland Racing Club’s ad campaigns, posing in photos with jockeys, models, Tiki Taane and even Harley Davidsons.

The gelding has also attended a number of milestones at Ellerslie too, celebrating his 14th birthday with Auckland Racing Club’s staff last year and attending the official opening of the Club’s new stabling complex in November, alongside stablemate and campaign co-star, Possum.

Thanks to his owner, David Archer, and dedicated, long-time strapper and carer, Amy Doran - Mufhasa is returning to Ellerslie for Auckland Cup Week where he will lead out the field of his namesake race, the Listed $60,000 Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes (2 March).

Having been described as a ‘cult equine hero’, Gingernuts captured the imagination of the racing public, thanks to his recognisable name, large and adoring contingent of owners and his feats on the turf.

Following his win in the 2017 Vodafone New Zealand Derby, the flashy ginger’s fairytale continued with an Australian campaign, where he won the Group I Rosehill Guineas and placed fifth in the Australian Derby. Sadly, as ”Jerry” made his way down to the starting gates before the Emirates Stakes at Flemington later that year, he freakishly fractured his pastern. Wanting to do whatever they could to save their beloved friend, his owners and the team at Te Akau Racing rallied, making the decision for him to undergo surgery. Following three months rehabilitation in Australia, Jerry then flew home to his “retirement” at Te Akau Stud where he has resided ever since.

Thanks to his owners and Te Akau Racing, Gingernuts is making his first official appearance post-retirement at Auckland Cup Week where he will lead out the field for the Group 1 $1,000,000 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2 March).