Trevor McKee is hopeful New Zealand's reigning Horse of the Year Mufhasa can prove the wild card in the Group One BTC Cup at Doomben.McKee, who trained champion mare Sunline, is in charge of King Mufhasa, as he is known in Australia, for the 1200-metre feature while his son Stephen recuperates from a mystery illness back in his homeland.Stephen McKee underwent tests in Waikato hospital and is now recovering at home after collapsing at a recent Te Rapa race meeting.King Mufhasa is being hailed as

Trevor McKee is hopeful New Zealand's reigning Horse of the Year Mufhasa can prove the wild card in the Group One BTC Cup at Doomben.

McKee, who trained champion mare Sunline, is in charge of King Mufhasa, as he is known in Australia, for the 1200-metre feature while his son Stephen recuperates from a mystery illness back in his homeland.

Stephen McKee underwent tests in Waikato hospital and is now recovering at home after collapsing at a recent Te Rapa race meeting.

King Mufhasa is being hailed as the likely frontrunner in the BTC Cup and will be ridden by regular jockey Sam Spratt.

The five-year-old is coming off a last-start third to Danleigh in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 3.

The son of Pentire was galloped on behind in the George Ryder which ended his autumn campaign in Sydney.

"He had some severe lacerations on his back leg so we had to take him back home after the George Ryder," Trevor McKee said.

"There were no stitches but he had a lot of skin taken off."

King Mufhasa won at Group One level for the third time at his previous start over 1600 metres at Otaki on February 28 after finishing third to Lord Tavistock in the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 13.

His two previous wins at elite level were in the Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham and Waikato Sprint last year which helped him claim the New Zealand Horse of the Year crown.

McKee blamed illness for King Mufhasa's loss of form after he was swamped in the shadows of the post on a heavy track in last year's George Ryder Stakes when third to Vision And Power and Black Piranha.

"He got a couple of viruses last year but he came right in time to win that Group One race at Otaki," he said.

McKee believes King Mufhasa is superior on firm ground and doesn't want any rain before the BTC Cup.

"He's got to have a good track to put his best foot forward," McKee said.

"He's a brilliant beginner and can run some good sectionals."

Meanwhile, jockey Larry Cassidy will be the new rider for Gold Coast sprinter Ghetto Blaster in the BTC Cup.

Trainer Gillian Heinrich had several riders to choose from as a replacement for Stathi Katsidis including Kiwi jockey Michael Walker and locals Chris Munce and Brad Pengelly.

Heinrich claimed she booked Katsidis for Ghetto Blaster in the BTC Cup following the six-year-old's comeback win in the Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on May 1.

However, stewards were forced to make a ruling after Katsidis' manager Trevor Lansky booked the jockey for the Chris Waller-trained Shellscrape.

Heinrich believes Ghetto Blaster is a great chance to give her a Group One victory for the first time following his Victory Stakes triumph.

Heinrich finished third with All Bar One in the 2006 BTC Cup won by Kiwi mare Gee I Jane.

"He's going great but he's a different sort of horse to All Bar One which was always left vulnerable the way he raced in front," she said.