When they were forced to change Mufhasa's name, his New Zealand owners were given a choice of prefixes and had no hesitation in selecting "King".Trainer Stephen McKee is now hoping the dual Group One winner can live up to the regal tag in Saturday's Doncaster Mile at Randwick."There were options and the owners chose King," McKee said."He is named after the king of the pride in the Lion King movie and he will be the king if he can win on Saturday."The reason for the name change could also be runn

When they were forced to change Mufhasa's name, his New Zealand owners were given a choice of prefixes and had no hesitation in selecting "King".

Trainer Stephen McKee is now hoping the dual Group One winner can live up to the regal tag in Saturday's Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

"There were options and the owners chose King," McKee said.

"He is named after the king of the pride in the Lion King movie and he will be the king if he can win on Saturday."

The reason for the name change could also be running at Randwick with Mufasa a late entry in the rating 91 support race on the program.

Trainer Grahame Begg had the gelding primed for his stable debut on Easter Monday but the last race was called off due to rain and deteriorating light.

"I rang and asked if he could go in as a late entry," Begg said.

"It was unfortunate the last race was called off yesterday because I thought he had a good chance."

Mufasa was formerly trained in Victoria by Pat Carey but was sent to Sydney in the hopes a change of scenery would prompt a return to winning form and allow him to live up to the regal name.

Begg has the Doncaster favourite in All Silent ($5.50) with King Mufhasa a $15 chance.

McKee was the co-trainer with his father Trevor of dual Doncaster winner Sunline.

Trevor McKee is no longer training but is being kept busy by his son around the stable and on race day and will not be in Sydney on Saturday.

"He has too much work to do," his son said.

"We've got racing at home and he has to look after the horses.

"Seriously though, he thought about coming over but in the end he and Mum decided to stay in Auckland."

Jockey Samantha Spratt arrives later this week having already had the experience of riding in Sydney, steering King Mufhasa to third in the George Ryder Stakes last Saturday week.

She returned home to win Saturday's Group One Easter Handicap at Ellerslie aboard the Richard Yuill-trained Prince Kaapstad.

While pleased Spratt is in form, McKee reckons she owes him.

"She beat my horse Irish Opera in the Easter Handicap so it would be nice if she could win the Doncaster for me," he said.