The Stradbroke Handicap remains the aim for New Zealand's Horse of the Year King Mufhasa with connections banking on a dry track.Jockey Sam Spratt was confident of victory at the top of the straight in Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) after he cleared out by three lengths on the turn.But King Mufhasa started to struggle in the soft going and faded to finish ninth, with victory going to the classy Sydney mare Hot Danish."I thought on the turn he was home and even with 150 metres to go

The Stradbroke Handicap remains the aim for New Zealand's Horse of the Year King Mufhasa with connections banking on a dry track.

Jockey Sam Spratt was confident of victory at the top of the straight in Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) after he cleared out by three lengths on the turn.

But King Mufhasa started to struggle in the soft going and faded to finish ninth, with victory going to the classy Sydney mare Hot Danish.

"I thought on the turn he was home and even with 150 metres to go he was fighting back and I thought he might hold on, but over the last 100 he just fell out big time," Spratt told NZPA.

"It seems that every time I have been to Australia with him he has struck a bad track and he really needs a good track to show his best. He doesn't go up and down on a bad track but he is not at his best in it.

"Hopefully we will get a good surface for the Stradbroke."

King Mufhasa is trained by Stephen McKee and has 54.5kg for the Stradbroke (1400m) on June 12.

The Hombre continued his run of fine form at the Queensland carnival with a gallant second placing in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) behind Kutchinsky.

The Hombre's trainer, John Bary, was happy with the effort.

"He's getting better and better and he looks a lot more professional," he said.

"He keeps learning and puts his head out and has a go.

"We were beaten by a better horse on the day but I felt this run was a better performance than last start."

The Hombre was awarded the Group Three Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben on protest at his previous start.

He was elevated to favouritism for the Queensland Derby after that race but Kutchinsky has now replaced him at the top of the market.

The sole New Zealand success on the Doomben card came from the promising Roger James-trained Firebolt in the Guvera Handicap (1630m).