Mahuta returns to the racetrack on Saturday after the best part of eight months off it, and connections are adamant he can get back to his speedy best after a winless but meritorious spring campaign out of his age grade.
The son of Flying Spur lit up the track in the 2015-16 season with a string of six wins, including the rich Magic Millions Guineas, plus four other stakes wins including dual Group 2 successes as he took care of his then fellow three-year-olds.
His winning run ended in the Group 1 Australian Guineas behind stablemate Palentino. While he picked up a G1 placing in the Memsie Stakes in the spring, his four-start campaign against the older horses didn't produce a win and an injury saw the entire head for a long spell.
Mahuta suffered a hairline fracture in his pelvis which was most likely sustained in his 12th-place finish in the Group 2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) behind Awesome Rock.
On Saturday, the Darren Weir-trained four-year-old returns in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m), and Leigh Saville, of syndication Roll The Dice Racing, said Mahuta is ready to roll in a campaign that could yet see him try and break through for a Group 1 win.
"The big boy is back and we're stoked to see him back at the track," Saville said.
"It's been a frustrating six months not having him out there for the spring after he got injured in the Dato at The Valley and missing the autumn but the time in the paddock has ensured that he is now 100 per cent.
"Brad [Rawiller] has been working the horse at Warrnambool and he has really come along the last four weeks. His action is great and Darren [Weir] couldn't be happier with him leading into Saturday."
The form around Mahuta is undeniable, given after the All Aged Stakes win of Tivaci, the horse can now lay claim to having beaten 14 Group 1 winners in race conditions despite being yet to reign at the absolute top level just yet.
Mahuta's Group 1-winning scalps
Holler (x2)
Takedown (x2)
Tivaci
Dal Cielo
Single Gaze
Set Square
Awesome Rock
Palentino
Tarzino
Sofia Rosa
Prince of Penzance
He's Our Rokkii
Marky Mark
Perfect Reflection
The long-term hope for Mahuta this prep, pending his performance Saturday, is to head to Brisbane, with the likes of a Stradbroke Handicap or the Kingsford Smith Cup (the old BTC Cup) on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the Roll The Dice 'hanging dice' silks will be on show at Caulfield for back-to-back Saturdays, with last-start winner Artie Dee Two to next race on April 29.
While he misses the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) after a small setback, Artie Dee Two will still race for some VOBIS money seven days later in his own age grade over 1200m back at The Heath.