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Mufasta handed baton to continue winning roll.

10 June 2019

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By Glenn Davis

The winning run of The Candy Man may have ended in Saturday’s Brisbane Cup but his trainer Barry Baldwin is hopeful the baton will be handed to stablemate Mufasta at Doomben on Wednesday.

Unlike The Candy Man who won seven straight before his Brisbane Cup defeat, Mufasta is aiming to extend his winning sequence to three in the Cascade Handicap (1650m).

Mufasta has started only five times for two wins and a second and will jump from an awkward barrier 10 from the notorious 1650-metre Doomben start.

Mufasta was bred by The Candy Man’s part-owner “Lucky” Pippos and won his maiden over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on May 1.

The three-year-old son of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award then raced out of his grade easily winning in class two company over 1600 metres on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast on May 19.

“He’s won his last two but his biggest problem is his awkward barrier from that start,” Baldwin said.

“He’s another one of “Lucky” Pippos’ and he won well at his last two starts.

“He improved a lot after winning his maiden to win a Class Two last start and he’s well placed in this race except for his barrier.

“I don’t think he’s like The Candy Man but he’s done everything we’ve asked him too.”

Mufasta is out of the General Nediym mare Athanea, who won two of her 11 starts when trained by Baldwin.

“His mother was well bred being by General Nediym and she showed a lot of ability,” he said.

“Unfortunately, she only won two races and had to be retired after she developed a few problems.”

Meanwhile Baldwin has sent The Candy Man to the paddock to prepare for a spring campaign in Sydney following his Brisbane Cup failure.

“I wasn’t too disappointed with his run in the Brisbane Cup,” Baldwin said.

“He had no luck from the alley and we made the wrong decision to go forward on him.

“In hindsight, we should have gone back as he was never comfortable racing so close.

“He went to the paddock on Monday and we’re looking at the revamped Sydney carnival in the spring with him.”

Racing Queensland webnews   June 11