A tilt at the C F Orr Stakes in Melbourne is among the options for New Zealand's reigning champion Mufhasa.

The eight-year-old, who races as King Mufhasa in Australia, defied his age to score a comprehensive win in Saturday's Group Three Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

The Stephen McKee-trained gelding has claimed two of his 10 Group One wins - the 2011 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and this year's Futurity (1400m) - at Caulfield, the venue for the Orr Stakes in February.

He finished fifth in his attempted defence of the Toorak in October and had had two runs on unsuitable rain-affected tracks before Saturday's race.

"He was back on a good track and his sprint lasts that

bit longer," McKee said.

"He was very fit and with that bit of age in his legs

he's better suited by the drop back to 1400 metres."

Sam Spratt steered Mufhasa to the front and he cruised around the home turn before unleashing his customary turn of foot to kick away and beat Better Than Ever by 2-1/2 lengths.

"I was swinging on him turning for home and it was a

huge effort. It's like a Group One," Spratt said.

"It's just a privilege to ride a horse like him."

McKee said the gelding would not race again until February 9 in either the Waikato Draught Sprint or the Orr Stakes.

Mufhasa ran second to Veyron in the Waikato Sprint in February then beat Pinker Pinker at his next start in the Futurity.