It was feature racing at Caulfield on Saturday with the Group I Underwood Stakes and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes the highlights of the meeting.

Hussonet's outstanding son, Weekend Hussler simply confirmed his super-star status and became an even shorter priced Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate favourite with a tough and very hard victory in the first Group I feature of the day in the Underwood Stakes.

With the Group I winning imported stallion, Indio Glorioso taking up the running in the Underwood who was soon headed inside the 1200m by Maldivian (Zabeel) who ensured a strong tempo. With the wind howling as the field turned into the back straight Brad Rawiller on Weekend Hussler made the tough decision to come out three wide into the breeze as he could see Indio Glorioso tiring. At this point Steven Arnold on the high class galloper, Pompeii Ruler, got on to Weekend Hussler’s back as they edged closer to Maldivian as they cornered, with Light Fantastic under pressure and going backwards. 

Weekend Hussler strode up to Maldivian while Pompeii Ruler had the ‘cold’ sit on him. Arnold asked Pompeii Ruler for his effort at the 200m and it appeared he would give the reigning ‘Horse of the Year’ a fight, Rawiller, simply clicked up Weekend Hussler and he was brilliant in winning his seventh group one in the calendar year by two-and-a-half lengths.  Pompeii Ruler (Genuine – West With Night by Pompeii Court), was great in defeat when having his third run after a year lay off with a leg injury.   Littorio (Bellotto – Our Centasea by Centaine), worked home very well for third another two lengths away.

The win was Weekend Hussler’s first beyond 1600m in the 1800m weight-for-age feature with the Hussonet four-year-old making it 12 wins from 15 starts. 

Maldivian weakened over the last 100 metres to finish fourth with Zarita fifth.

"I thought it was pretty good. He sat three-wide all the way and did all the work," Weekend Hussler's trainer, Ross McDonald told TVN’s Bruce Clark.

"Maldivian got a kick on him but he ran him down in the end and did it pretty well."

The Caulfield trainer now plans to take the gelding to the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in two weeks time.  Two weeks later he'll run in the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) before a decision is made on backing up again in the $3 million Tatts WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

September 7th, 2008

Just occasionally a horse comes along who causes you to wonder at the power and courage and glory of the thoroughbred.  At Flemington on Saturday, Australia's Horse of the Year, Weekend Hussler, showed all of this when he galloped away with the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (registered name: Craiglee).

In doing so he lived up to his world-class rating.

While the previously unbeaten Light Fantastic finished fourth, leaving his trainer Mick Price at a loss to explain the flat run.

The group two feature is run under weight-for-age conditions over 1600m and the week leading up to the race it had been billed as a match race between the reigning Horse of the Year and Light Fantastic. 

Although the contest didn't eventuate, Weekend Hussler (ex Weekend Beauty by Helissio) underlined his versatility travelling sweetly for regular jockey, Brad Rawiller, just behind the Chilean 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) and Gran Premio Jockey Club (Gr.1) import Indio Glorioso (Honour And Glory ex Indianita, by Friul) who set a moderate tempo.   Rounding the home corner Weekend Hussler cruised to the front on straightening and immediately had his rivals under pressure.  Last seasons SAJC Derby and Oaks winner Zarita (Pentire - Gin Player by Defensive Play) tried hard but she was no match for Weeekend Hussler who drew away to win by a widening two-and-a-half lengths.  

Littorio (Bellotto - Our Centasea by Centaine) ran on strongly for third another three-quarters-of-a-length away.  Other good efforts in the Craiglee were turned in by last years' Melbourne Cup victor Efficient and Caulfield Cup winner, Master O'Reilly.

Ross McDonald told TVN's Bruce Clark, "We had a good week with him and the run last Saturday (when he won the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield) did him the world of good," 

"I was happy with his work on Tuesday and he did a little bit on Thursday and had a canter this morning and he was nice and bright. 

"We've got two weeks to bring him up for the 1800 metres (Group One Underwood Stakes on September 20) now."

Rawiller said Weekend Hussler was nearly back to the form he showed when he demolished Racing To Win in the Group I George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill last autumn, which the jockey rates as his best victory so far.

Weekend Hussler is Hussonet's first Australian Champion he has incredible lifetime progeny statistics of over 60% winners to runners with 62 stakes winners (part one cataloguing standards) and another 47 stakes placegetters on his resume.  Last season Hussonet covered 150 mares covering a number of group winners including Alinghi, La Bella Dame, Magical Miss along with Catnipped, Leica Smile, Princesa and Weekend Beauty who unfortunately missed.

Hussonet will serve his sixth Australian book at Arrowfield Stud this spring where his fee has been listed as $137,500 (inc gst).

Sunday, August 31st, 2008

Australian Horse of the Year-elect Weekend Hussler bounced back from his first-up defeat with a solid performance to win the Group Two Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. 

Sent out as the punters elect, Weekend Hussler, reaffirmed he will be one of the headline acts this spring, although he may not be showing the acceleration he had to win the Newmarket Hcp, as he is being trained to win one of the major's in Australia, the Caulfield Cup, W.S. Cox Plate and a well marketed two mile Handicap called the Melbourne Cup.   

Maldivian was sent along early to find the front and when he was high rollin' he pricked his ears forward setting a solid tempo.  Rounding the home turn Maldivian had his rivals under pressure and Brad Rawiller waited until he had Weekend Hussler balanced up before he asked him for his final effort.  And what an effort it was as he unwound a 22.8sec closing 400m split, Weekend Hussler produced to claim a long neck victory over Maldivain.  

Come back galloper, Pompeii Ruler produced a stunning return as he powered home to be a head away third in a run that only strengthens the depth of talent in our weight-for-age horses.  

The Memise also saw encouraging runs from Casual Pass (fifth), Sirmione (sixth), C'est La Guerre (seventh) and Tuesday Joy (eighth).  

Trained at Caulfield by Ross McDonald, the four-year-old suffered from a hoof abscess leading up to his first-up run this campaign in the Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16 when he was beaten by the unbeaten Light Fantastic. 

The win of Weekend Hussler will no doubt buoy his trainer and connections as he is bound to be named Australia's champion horse of last season in Melbourne tomorrow night at the Crown Casino.  His record now reads 10 wins and one second from 13 starts for prizemoney in excess of $2.5 million. 

Weekend Hussler was bred in partnership by Katsumi Yoshida and Arrowfield Stud on the Mr Prospector – Northern Dancer cross he was purchased for $80,000 by McDonald at the 2006 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of his dam, the unraced Weekend Beauty (by Helissio), a half-sister to two Group 3 winners in Saturday Fever (by Groom Dancer), seven wins including the Manion Cup, and, Phantom Thief (by Jade Robbery) six wins including the Group 3 Tasmanian Derby. 

Weekend Hussler’s grandam, Not On Friday, was a quality mare, at her best at around 1600-2000m, as shown by her win in the Group 3 Angus Armanasco Stakes and with placings in the Wakeful Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes, 1000 Guineas and South Australian Oaks, the family traces to New Zealand’s famous “Heights” family. 

His sire Hussonet has 62 stakes winners to his credit, with 25 of them being group one winners, he stands in the Hunter Valley at Arrowfield stud and his fee this spring will be $137,500.

April 20th, 2008

Until Saturday, only one horse in Australia had ever won six Group One races in a season. On a rain soaked track at Rosehill, Weekend Hussler, created another bit of history when he equalled that marvellous record set nearly 30 years ago by Kingston Town.

Weekend Hussler may have a long way to go before he deserves comparison with Kingston Town fondly known as 'The King', but after his demolition job of his older seasoned group one rivals in the weight-for-age Ryder Stakes, the horse deserves some lofty accolades.

This season, Weekend Hussler has won the Caulfield Guineas, Randwick Guineas, Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Hcp and Coolmore (Ascot Vale) Stakes and now the Ryder - all over varying distances with three of them against open class horses.

Trained at Caulfield by Ross McDonald who took special measures to ensure the trip went smoothly transforming his float so when he travelled up the Hume Highway Weekend Hussler would not rub skin off any part of his body. While the skin off didn’t hinder the horse when he won the Group I Randwick Guineas (1600m), any scrape could easily become infected and lead to a more serious situation.

Weekend Hussler did drift in the betting a little by race time on Saturday, with a flood of money for Racing To Win. However, the race was Weekend Hussler's as soon Brad Rawiller got the son of Hussonet away best from the barriers. 

Under heavy riding Stormhill was pushed ahead to take up the running as multiple group one winner, Desert War, was shown the whip to drive him forward. 

Rawiller easy as he liked popped over Weekend Hussler's neck and you could almost see the smile on his face with only a furlong of the race gone. 

The bay son of Hussonet relaxed beautifully and he handled the soft conditions well. Rawiller allowed Weekend Hussler to stride around the tiring pair as they rounded the home turn with the jockey on Racing to Win tracking him. Once Racing to Win got to within a neck of Weekend Hussler, Rawiller, gave his mount a kick and they simply left Racing To Win, who couldn't sprint with him.

Weekend Hussler had one-and-a-half lengths on Racing To Win (Encosta de Lago - Surrealist by Kenny's Best Pal) at the winning post with the Group I Chipping Norton winner, Casino Prince (Flying Spur - Lady Capel by Last Tycoon) another two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third.

McDonald said after the historic win that he wouldn't ask the young horse to carry 57.5kilos in next Saturday's Group I Doncaster Hcp (1600m) instead he will send him off to the paddock for a spell as he and his owners plan Weekend Hussler's spring campaign that will include all three majors - Caulfield Cup (Hcp 2400m), WS Cox Plate (WFA 2040m) and the Melbourne Cup (Hcp 3200m). 

Bred in partnership by Katsumi Yoshida and Arrowfield Stud on the Mr Prospector – Northern Dancer cross, Weekend Hussler was purchased for $80,000 by McDonald at the 2006 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of his dam, the unraced Weekend Beauty, a half-sister to two middle distance Group winners in Saturday Fever (Manion Cup) and Phantom Thief (Tasmanian Derby). 

Weekend Hussler’s grandam, Not On Friday, was a quality mare, at her best at around 1600-2000m, as shown by her win in the Group 3 Angus Armanasco Stakes and with placings in the Wakeful Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes, 1000 Guineas and South Australian Oaks, the family traces to New Zealand’s famous “Heights” family. 

Hussonet has nine yearlings on offer at the Inglis Easter select sale (April 20 - 24) and another seven on offer at the Classic session (April 27-29) and with 62 stakes winners to his credit and 25 group one winners his stock will be in keen demand.

April 2nd, 2008

This week STALLIONS looks at the deeds of Hussonet. 

Although the results from last spring may not have sat well with participants from New South Wales and Queensland who were unable to compete in the Victorian Spring carnival due to the outbreak of equine flu. Results from those feature races have stood up well with an Australian Cup winner coming off a career turning spring. So any questions that remained about the strength of the Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m) victor Weekend Hussler were answered after the thrilling finish in the $500,000 Group I Thrifty Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

Weekend Hussler had gone from a Group I Sprint (1200m) to progress straight up to a mile and he took the feature by the barest margin after over coming the clockwise challenge a horror float trip to arrive just in time to post his fifth group one win and in doing so he denied Triple Honour his finest hour at Randwick on Saturday.

Jumping from barrier five in the 17-strong field Brad Rawiller had Weekend Hussler in the perfect spot fourth one back and one out from the rail. A few strides later the perfect spot was lost when two outsiders kicked up on his outside to apply pressure in the event to the early leader Kingda Ka. Kingda Ka's rider was able to get rid of the outsiders by going a solid gallop and just before the home turn, Shinn drew the whip and gave Kingda Ka a hurry up. By doing this he broke the field up and gave Nash Rawiller on Triple Honour (Honours List - Myrth by Nassipour) the perfect run. 

Also making the most of the gap was Marching (Commands - Step by Grand Lodge), who raced to join Triple Honour and Kingda Ka as Weekend Hussler began to wobble and change legs. 

Marching had travelled on the speed and staked his claim and just as he did Triple Honour appeared to get his and Kingda Ka's measure. It wasn't until the last furlong that Weekend Hussler began to let down and with his giant stride he was able to gather in Triple Honour. 

Once over the line, Nash thought he had it on Triple Honour, while Brad wasn't sure. McDonald was standing in the birdcage opposite the winning post didn't know. 

A photo of the finish flashed up on the big screen, but it wasn't clear and it appeared the event could be a dead-heat. 

Two minutes later, Weekend Hussler's number one went into the frame as the winner along with a huge roar from the crowd.

Bred in partnership by Katsumi Yoshida and Arrowfield Stud on the Mr Prospector – Northern Dancer cross, Weekend Hussler was purchased for $80,000 by McDonald at the 2006 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of his dam, the unraced Weekend Beauty, a half-sister to two middle distance Group winners in Saturday Fever (Manion Cup) and Phantom Thief (Tasmanian Derby). 

Weekend Hussler's sire Hussonet has sired 62 stakes winners, 25 of them have won at the elite level and a number of his group one winners overseas have been capable of winning at middle distances. 

Weekend Hussler’s grandam, Not On Friday, was a quality mare, at her best at around 1600-2000m, as shown by her win in the Group 3 Angus Armanasco Stakes and with placings in the Wakeful Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes, 1000 Guineas and South Australian Oaks, the family traces to New Zealand’s famous “Heights” family. 

Hussonet is having a grand 2007-08 season with 29 individual winners from 68 starters. Along with Weekend Hussler he has another six stakes winners including, Reaan (ex Ribe by Danehill), Blue Diamond S-Gr.1; Huiskes (ex Bruschetta by Snippets), Elwick S-LR; Dirty (ex Weaver of Words by Danehill), Vo Rogue Plate-LR; Rios (ex Gussy Godiva by Last Tycoon) Wellington Guineas-Gr.2; Bon Pasteur (ex Usanza by Worldwatch) Clasico Seleccion de Velocistas-Gr.2 and Cremroyal (ex Cremcaramel by Roy), Clasico Constancio Silva Mandiola-LR. Husonic (ex Galroof by Maroof), Husson Lightning (ex Snip Snip by Snippets) and Noche Oscura (ex Nasty by Brothers Three) have picked up black-type placings and overall this season Hussonet’s progeny have earned $4million so far.

Hussonet yearlings that have been offered for sale this year have sold well with sales totalling $7.5million. With another nine yearlings on offer at the Inglis Easter select sale (April 20 - 24) and another seven on offer at the Classic session (April 27-29) this figure will continue to build.

March 30th, 2008

    The group one Randwick Guineas was an outstanding contest on Saturday as Weekend Hussler showed his champion qualities to claim his fifth group one in thrilling fashion.  

  Weekend Hussler went from a  Group I Sprint (1200m) to progress straight up to a mile as brothers looked to out fox each other but in the end there was only one winner the autumn carnival in New South Wales.

  Weekend Hussler took the feature by the barest margin he had over come the clockwise challenge a horror float trip and arrived just in time to post his fifth group one win and in doing so he denied Triple Honour his finest hour at Randwick on Saturday.

  The last two weeks in his riders career had been tough, Brad Rawiller had taken a heavy tumble at a night Moonee Valley meeting and broke a rib.  The doctors had told him he would be out for six weeks, ten days later he was riding Weekend Hussler work at Caulfield.  

  All had not gone well for his mount either as Weekend Hussler had not enjoyed the float trip up to Sydney.  His trainer Ross McDonald had got caught in a traffic jam and the son of Hussonet began to kick the back of the float.  Although McDonald had lined the float with rubber, Weekend Hussler took a large amount of skin off his near (left) side hock.  Then to make the trauma worse the trainer was unaware of how he could walk the gelding to the raceday tie up stalls at Randwick from his box on the course so he chose to float him and although McDonald's wife Margaret sat with Weekend Hussler in the box he kicked again during the five-minute trip and took more skin off his other hock and rubbed the top (dock) of his tail.  

  Watching from afar it was easy to see Weekend Hussler wasn't in a good mood as he began to sweat up walking around the birdcage before the race.  Something that had never happened at any of his race starts in Victoria.   

  Jumping from barrier five in the 17-strong field Rawiller had Weekend Hussler in the perfect spot fourth one back and one out from the rail.  A few strides later the perfect spot was lost when two outsiders kicked up on his outside to apply pressure in the event to the early leader Kingda Ka.  Kingda Ka's rider was able to get rid of the outsiders by going a solid gallop and just before the home turn, Shinn drew the whip and gave Kingda Ka a hurry up.    By doing this he broke the field up and gave Nash Rawiller on Triple Honour (Honours List - Myrth by Nassipour) the perfect run.  

  Making the most of the gap Marching (Commands - Step by Grand Lodge), raced to join Triple Honour and Kingda Ka as Weekend Hussler began to wobble and change legs.

  Marching had travelled on the speed and staked his claim and just as he did Triple Honour appeared to get his and Kingda Ka's measure.  It wasn't until the last furlong that Weekend Hussler began to let down and with his giant stride he grabbed Triple Honour.  

 Once over the line, Nash thought he had it on Triple Honour, while Brad wasn't sure.  McDonald was standing in the birdcage opposite the winning post didn't know. 

  A photo of the finish flashed up on the big screen, but it wasn't clear and it appeared the event could be a dead-heat.  

 Two minutes later, Weekend Hussler's number one went into the frame as the winner along with a huge roar from the crowd.

"Group One races are never easy to win and I was starting to think I wasn't going to win this one but it was as exciting as it gets when I saw the number go up," Rawiller told TVN's Richard Callendar.

"I had the stick in the left hand and probably should have left it in the left but I thought I needed to put it in the right to get the best out of him.

"I knew I was still coming and getting stronger but you can't just keep riding them with the whip," Rawiller said with a huge smile.

  McDonald told TVN's Racing Review program that Weekend Hussler would have an extra day in Sydney before he took him home to Melbourne.  This time with bags of straw tied to the back of the float to make him stand away from the back door and he would put a set of hock boots on the three year-old.  He'll wait and see how Weekend Hussler does before any decisions are made about the gelding's next assignment the Group I George Ryder Stakes (1500m) run at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day an event that's run under weight-for-age conditions.  

    For, the trainer and owners of the runner-up Triple Honour it was a case of so near and yet so far and he has to wait another day for his turn to claim a group one victory.  With that sort of effort reproduced again it won't be far away.

  The third placegetter, Arlington (Red Ransom - Savannah Success by Success Express) ran a huge race coming from well back in the field to be only 1-1/4 lengths away in third.   Kingda Ka (Flying Spur - Fizzi Lizzi by Royal Academy) showed plenty of courage to hold on for fourth after a tough hard run.

March 9th, 2008

  Star three-year-old Weekend Hussler lived up to the huge wraps placed on him by trainer Ross McDonald when he won his fourth Group One race in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. McDonald had been super confident the Hussonet gelding would continue on his winning way despite having to carry 56kg after weights were raised a kilogram at acceptance time in the historic sprint. 

The last three-year-old to carry as much weight in the 1200m feature was Baguette who won with 56kg in 1971.  The only other three-year-olds to carry more weight to victory in the race were Ajax (57kg) in 1938 and Cranbrook (56.25kg) in 1888.   

Weekend Hussler (ex Weekend Beauty by Helissio) was sent out as the punters elect and by winning the Hcp in 1:08.97 he became the shortest-priced winner of the sprint since Bernborough (4-9) in 1946.   Just to leave his hoof print all over the race he became the first three-year-old to complete the Group I sprint double of the Oakleigh Plate-Newmarket Hcp since the great sprinter Schillaci, fondly known as the grey flash, in 1992. 

Ridden by Brad Rawiller, who has been on the horse in six of his seven wins from nine starts including all four Group Ones, Weekend Hussler sat off the early speed set by Dance Hero who bounced quickly and had no problems finding the lead, with all runners heading to the grandstand side from Grand Duals.  Dance Hero kicked clear inside the 350m but was a spent force from there, with Magnus taking over as Weekend Hussler got into the clear and started to run on well.  

Magnus and Weekend Hussler had a great battle over the final 150m, with Weekend Hussler finding plenty to score by three-quarters-of-a-length from Magnus (Flying - Spur - Scandinavia by Snippets).  

Another 2-1/4 lengths away was Grand Duals (Marechal - Valentine's Gift by Ifrad) who fought on well for his career best performance.

"I think he's a superstar," McDonald told TVN's Bruce Clark as his wife Margaret wept as she tended to the star gelding. 

"You only have to look at what he did here today. You have to go back a lot of years to find a horse who has done what he has done. 

"We just didn't need any bad luck. Brad took off at about the same time as he did when he won the Ascot Vale and the result was the same." 

McDonald has indicated that racing fans in New South Wales will get to see the star gelding as he heads towards the $1.8 million Doncaster Hcp (1600m) at Randwick on April 26. 

Rawiller said the build-up to the race had been unbelievable - and told Clark "this is as good as it gets." 

"I knew what I had to do and it really hits you when you go across the line," he said. 

"The horse deserved that, he's such a champion." 

Hussonet has two yearlings on offer at the Magic Millions Adelaide sale (March 10 - 12); Another 27 on offer at the Gold Coast Magic Millions (March 24 - April 2nd) and nine at the Inglis Select session (April 20 - 24) with seven at the Classic session (April 27-29).

February 24th, 2008

When John Messara announced at the 2006 Arrowfield Stallion Parade that the stud had taken up sponsorship of the Melbourne Racing Club’s Blue Diamond Stakes, Arrowfield’s flagship stallion, the 1999 Blue Diamond winner Redoute’s Choice, had sired the two previous winners of the race, the now stallions Undoubtedly and Nadeem.

And with the win yesterday by Hussonet’s second crop son Reaan, it was not just jockey Dwayne Dunn who made it four in a row. Coming on the back of the Flying Spur filly Sleek Chassis’ win in 2007, the wisdom of Arrowfield’s decision cannot be faulted. Racetrack performance after all, particularly in its showcase events, is the best form of advertising you can get.

While Hussonet’s star three year old Weekend Hussler had looked awesome winning the Oakleigh Plate forty minutes earlier, the somewhat under rated Reaan had to battle hard for his victory, staving off the late challenges of the placegetters All American (Red Ransom) and the filly Burgeis (Catbird). To my eye, Reann just had the superior turn of foot at the top of the straight to get a winning advantage over his stablemate, an advantage which he bravely held to the line. Just.

The day was also a triumph for Katsumi Yoshida, of Japan’s famous racing and breeding family, who shared in the breeding of both Weekend Hussler and Reaan. The Blue Diamond winner realised $375,000 at Easter last year to the bid of Sheik Hamdan’s racing manager, Angus Gold.

Reaan’s dam, the Danehill mare Ribe, had carried the Yoshida colours, the red and yellow stripes, black sleeves, with distinction, winning three of her 16 races including the Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks over 2040m, the furthest distance she ever ran by the way. Ribe returned her owners $439,400 on the track to finish in the black against the $250,000 she had cost at the 2001 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Today, I doubt that money could buy her.

I remember liking Ribe’s dam Kapeskin (Kaapstad) as a yearling when she was sold at Easter in 1995 for $100,000 to the late John Morish. Kapeskin did not show a lot on the track, with a few placings at the provincials being her best form, but she was a nice type of mare and at stud she turned all that around.

Sadly, Kapeskin died in 2000 after foaling her third foal, the stakes-placegetter to be Gilded Youth. Her two earlier foals were Ribe and the Hennessy colt Acetate, the winner of six races including the Listed Tattersalls (Q) Cup. Significantly, all three of Kapeskin’s foals showed a fair degree of stamina, a legacy of their grand-dam, the very good NZ stakeswinning mare, Pontiac Lass.

By Busted’s very good racing son, Pevero, Pontiac Lass crossed the Tasman in the Spring of 1991, paying her way when demolishing her rivals in the Colin Stephen Quality-G3 over 2400m at Randwick to record her eighth win and to collect the biggest pay cheque ($40,870) of her career. A week later, Pontiac Lass was midfield in The Metropolitan-G1, and ended her Australian campaign when unplaced in Let’s Elope’s Melbourne Cup.

And if you went back another generation or two in Reaan’s female family, you would find a Melbourne Cup winner, the 1970 victor Baghdad Note.

But today, it’s hats off to all involved with Reaan. Sure it was one for the toffs, but you don’t need me to tell you that the principal players in yesterday’s Blue Diamond winner all have a major stake in the industry. Their time, efforts and financial backing filters through to oh so many levels in our industry.

And yesterday was pay back time.

- John Hutchinson.

February 10th, 2008

New South Wales has received a huge amount of rain and on Saturday the gloomy weather continued although it failed to dampen Paul Messara’s enthusiasm when his promising three-year-old filly Hussta La Vista defied the testing conditions at Rosehill on Saturday to score a game win.

Messara has just taken up the lease of 10 stables at Randwick and he intends to divide his stable between his Scone complex and keep city class horses at Randwick. Based on her victory on Saturday, Hussta La Vista will be spending most of her time at Randwick after she produced a stylish front-running performance on a heavy track to land the Handicap (1300m) by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

The win was the third for Hussta La Vista (ex Ruski Rose by Nureyev) from just four starts, and her second in succession after coming with a booming run in the straight to score at Rosehill over 1200m on January 19th. 

Bred by Wall Street Thoroughbreds and offered for sale by Mick Malone from his boutique Kitchwin Hills operation in the Hunter Valley, Hussta La Vista sold for $155,000 and she now races for the same partnership who own Miss Finland including John Leaver and broadcaster Alan Jones.  Hussta La Vista has now earned $110,250 and she looks destined for better things. 

Her sire Hussonet has 23 lots catalogued for the Premier Sale in Melbourne that commences on March 2.

January 27th, 2008

  Lightly raced Hussonet juvenile Reaan continued his good early impression with a bold win at Caulfield on Saturday in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview Stakes (1000m).

   Stepping up to the black type event after showing natural talent on debut at Bendigo where he sat three wide the whole trip to win. The David Hayes prepared colt then chased hard in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington last spring at his second start to finish less than a length behind Exceedingly Good. 

   On Saturday the bay-brown colt began nicely and under Dwayne Dunn and went straight to the lead and from there on in he had the race at his mercy. Rated nicely by Dunn, the son of Ribe quickly dropped off his only challenger, Palzago and proceeded to draw away to score a five-length win over Detroit Tiger (Hold That Tiger - Belle Ball by Jetball), who tried hard to catch Reaan. Palzago (Lago Delight - Pals by Palace Music) battled on well to hold on for third another half-neck away.
Dunn told the Melbourne Racing Club's master of ceremonies, Keith Hillier, "That was a nice track gallop for him."
"I was able to have a nice run and I knew he would have too much on them."
   Reaan was offered for sale as agent by the race sponsor, Arrowfield Stud. He was purchased by his owner Shadwell Stud Australia Ltd from the 2007 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where they gave $375,000 for him. Todate, Reaan has repaid his owners more than $100,000 of their outlay after three starts with promises to deliver much more as Hayes considers missing the Group I Blue Diamond over 1200m at the same course at the end of February. Hayes, believes the colt would be better suited in the Group I Sires' Produce (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the autumn instead. 

  Reaan is the second foal of the Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks winner, Ribe (by Danehill) a half-sister to Group 3 Tattersall's Cup winner, Acetate (by Hennessy) and the six time winning stakes placed Gilded Youth (by Gilded Time).

   Hussonet is enjoying a solid juvenile season with Reaan his only stakes winner amongst his 17 winners that have earnings of $1.6million from his 44 runners. Hussonets classic season so far has been very strong with wins at the elite level posted by Weekend Hussler (ex Weekend Beauty by Helissio) and Rios (ex Gussy Godiva by Last Tycoon).

  At tomorrow's New Zealand Bloodstock sales series at Karaka, Hussonet has four yearlings in the Premier session of the sale (January 28th-29th) a lone yearling in the WA Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Feb 15-22nd) and 23 are listed for sale at the William Inglis Premier Yearling Sale (March 1st-6th) in Victoria.

January 21st, 2008

  A winner on debut at Doomben last July, Hussta La Vista was resuming from a spell of 25 weeks and did a good job to win by a length and a half at just her third race start.

  Hussta La Vista is raced by Arrowfield and partners having been secured for them by Badgers Bloodstock at the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $155,000.

  Earlier in the month at the same course Del Lirio (ex Miss anna Louise by Brocco) won the Gardens Events Centre Hcp.  A chestnut like Hussta La Vista - Del Lirio was selected by Pedigree Dynamics from the 2006 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $90,000.

  On the same card Hussonet's son, Werd (ex Messenger Miss by Danehill), won the Golden Slipper Festival Handicap (1250m).  Another Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase Werd was selected by Tim Stakemire who paid $360,000 for him.

 Hussonet's juveniles might be a force this season as well if the win of Chilean Miss at her debut last Friday is anything to go by.  She made mince meat of her rivals when she gave them a galloping lesson to win by six lengths hard held.

Chilean Miss is trained out of Caulfield by Clinton McDonald, the son of Ross who trains Hussonet's headline act in Australia Weekend Hussler.  Chilean Miss was sent out as favourite and was never going to lose.

The win of Chilean Miss was so impressive she was immediately crunched in Blue Diamond betting.  

Owned by Damion Flower who is known to enjoy a punt but he has missed the $101 on offer with TAB Fixed Odds for next month's $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes and before her debut she was listed at $31 before she firmed to $10 after her impressive debut.

Flower, who burst on to the scene with Golden Slipper favourite Snitzel in 2005, said he made the mad dash from Sydney to Mornington.

Flower said if all was well he would continue on to the Slipper, but was not getting carried away.

"Anything can happen with two-year-olds," said Flower, who was forced to watch Snitzel crash to defeat to Stratum in the Slipper.

  Bred and offered for sale by Arrowfield Stud, Chilean Miss was knocked down to McDonald Racing for $310,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Lord Fuji from the Western Symphony (USA) mare Western Empress.

   At the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock sales series at Karaka, Hussonet has four yearlings in the Premier Sale (January 28th-29th) a lone yearling in the WA Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Feb 15-22nd) and he has 23 listed for sale at  the William Inglis Premier Yearling Sale (March 1st-6th) in Victoria.

November 4th, 2007

STALLIONS highlighted the exciting Weekend Hussler before he won the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas. And after an outstanding performance in the Guineas, he made it back-to-back Group One victories when he produced another classy performance to win the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered name Ascot Vale Stakes) coming back in distance at Flemington on Saturday. 

Trained at Caulfield by Ross McDonald the lightly-raced bay three-year-old who was making his Flemington debut in the stiff 1200-metre race, turned heads with a stunning display. After taking 200m to get into gear, he raced away and scored an impressive win.

Ridden again by the Brad Rawiller, Weekend Hussler followed the pack to the ‘grandstand’ side of the straight rail, settling behind another son of Hussonet, Husson Lightning who was keen to run early. 
The speedy Bel Mer took over the running coming onto the course proper at the 600m mark. Rawiller had Weekend Hussler travelling with cover and once he got to the famous clock tower he looked to get into the clear and once they did he quickly raced to the lead and drew away to win by a widening two-and-a-half lengths.

Bel Mer (Bel Esprit– Drop Anchor by At Talaq) showed her fighting qualities to hang on for second a head in front of Scenic Blast (Scenic – Daughter’s Charm by Delgado).
McDonald admitted to Flemington’s Rob Gaylord that he considered Weekend Hussler was at his most vulnerable in Saturday’s race than in any other he had contested, but simply added: “He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained.”
In a lovely twist the win for Weekend Hussler on Saturday coincided with the date of his birth, being foaled on November 3rd, 2004, and the trainer suggested his wife (Margaret) would buy the bay three-year-old a carrot cake.

Upon dismounting Rawiller told TVN’s Bruce Clark, "He got back a little bit and when it was time to go I said 'come on buddy let's get going' and he gave me more as he lengthened his stride and away we went." 

Ross McDonald may not be one of Melbourne's most fashionable trainers but he has an impressive group one record going back more than 25 years with horses such as Magari, the Caulfield Cup winners Imposera and Tristarc, and champion two-year-old Courtza, winner of the 1989 Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper Stakes. He has also a staunch band of owners behind him, including David Rush and, more recently John Bath, who put together the syndicate of owners.

Bred on the Mr Prospector – Northern Dancer cross, Weekend Hussler was purchased for $80,000 by Ross McDonald at the 2006 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of his dam, the unraced Weekend Beauty, a half-sister to two middle distance Group winners in Saturday Fever (Manion Cup) and Phantom Thief (Tasmanian Derby). 

Weekend Hussler's sire Hussonet has sired 59 stakes winners, 25 of them at the elite level and a number of his elite winners overseas have been capable of winning at middle distances. 

Weekend Hussler’s grandam, Not On Friday, was a quality mare, at her best at around 1600-2000m, as shown by her win in the Group 3 Angus Armanasco Stakes and with placings in the Wakeful Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes, 1000 Guineas and South Australian Oaks, the family traces to New Zealand’s famous “Heights” family. 

McDonald said it had not yet been decided if Weekend Hussler will back up next Saturday, November 10th, into the Emirates Stakes (1600m) against the older horses or if he would send him off to the paddock for a spell. 

"We'll let him tell us," he said. 

McDonald added that he was very happy that Weekend Hussler will get a chance to have a decent summer break with the New South Wales autumn carnival being put back next year due to the outbreak of equine influenza it will give him the opportunity to set the youngster for the million dollar Golden Rose at Rosehill.

October 30th, 2007

Hussonet's first Australian-bred crop can be credited with currently the best three-year-olds in both Australia and New Zealand. Weekend Hussler (ex Weekend Beauty by Helissio) claimed his tag as the best in Australia via his brilliant win in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Rios claimed his tag over the weekend when he won the Group 2 Wellington Guineas and is now the outright favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas on November 17. 

Rios is undefeated in three starts during his classic season. Saturday’s Group 2 Wellington Guineas at Trentham brought up his hat trick in a thrilling battle with Rios putting his head down at the right moment to prevail over red-hot race favourite Alamosa. 

“He’s a lovely horse and really needs more ground,” said his trainer Murray Baker.

“But this was his first race for a month and we kept him a bit fresh.” 

Jockey David Walsh has ridden Rios (ex Gussy Godiva by Last Tycoon) in all of his races and trials and has long been a fan.

“He’s got an amazing attitude and I’ve always liked him,” Walsh said. 

“He’s got a really unusual brain and even when he was a two-year-old he used to act like a five-year old. He’s got a great ability to relax and cruise and has kept stepping up on raceday. He’s only had four starts and has had a month between each of his last two starts - he’s still improving. He looks a pretty smart horse to me and a real chance for the Group I races.” 

Rios joined an illustrious group of past winners of the Wellington Guineas. In recent years the race has been won by multiple Group 1 winners Jokers Wild and Darci Brahma (who went on to win the NZ 2000 Guineas), as well as greats of the past such as Balmerino, Solvit, Vice Regal and Our Flight. 

“We are thrilled that Hussonet already has two outstanding sons from his first Australian bred crop,” said Arrowfield Managing Director John Messara. 

“His nine crops in Chile produced 22 Champions, four of them came from his last crop including undefeated Argentinian Champion Husson, and now he looks like adding new champions from his first Australian bred progeny – he is proving to me that he is one of the truly outstanding sires in the world today," said Messara. 

Last Wednesday three-year-old son Husonic secured his spot in the Group 1 VRC Derby when he ran a fast finishing second to Redoute’s Choice colt Stockade in the Listed Geelong Classic over 2200m. What augurs well for Hussonet is that his current crop of two-year-olds have got off to a flying start with two winners, Georgian Belle and Reann, from just three runners - both juveniles are prepared by leading trainer David Hayes. 

The global influence of seven-time Champion sire Hussonet continues to spread. In addition to Rios’ success, in just over a week, Hussonet has sired stakes horses in both England and Australia, his first winner in Japan, a 2YO winner in the USA and two winners from his current crop of 2YO's in Victoria. 

October 14th, 2007

It was The Age Caulfield Guineas day on Saturday and Hussonet's boom son Weekend Hussler stepped out a red hot favourite in the classic and duly saluted in awesome fashion.

Less than a month ago, the lovely bay, was merely the stuff of dreams of every racehorse owner, and after his effort on Saturday he is being compared to one of the greats of the Australian turf, Tulloch.

It just so happened in the year, that was Tulloch's 50th anniversary of his easy win in the race with no less of the authority than Weekend Hussler.  It was a cold, but sunny day at Caulfield and witnessing his win made it simply fantastic, the most dominant Guineas performance since Lonhro. 

Two weeks earlier, one of racing's leading figures, owner Lloyd Williams, compared Weekend Hussler to Vain and Manikato. "You don't see horses win by those sorts of margins and run those sorts of times. I can't recall a horse winning as impressively as that," Williams said after Weekend Hussler's third career win at Sandown.

As trainer Ross McDonald put it after yesterday's race: "We'll probably have to drop the word potential now" referring to his claim last week that Weekend Hussler was the best horse he had trained.

Weekend Hussler's first city win was over 1300 metres at a Sandown midweek meeting on October 19 and his star has been soaring ever since.

Certainly, there have been few, if any previous three-year-olds win the Guineas in their first preparation.

And Weekend Hussler did it in style, with jockey Brad Rawiller getting him away from the inside near the 600 metres and then taking over at the top of the straight.

As Rawiller put it: "All I needed to do was not to make a mistake, he was always going to be far too good."

As well as big team of owners and wives involved in Weekend Hussler, Rawiller had his own family cheer squad from Bendigo to see his biggest win.

Instead of the blistering sectional times the Hussonet gelding had produced in his previous two wins at Sandown, which followed a maiden success at Cranbourne, Weekend Hussler seemed in control from the outset.

The overall time of 1:36.42 was almost a second outside the race record and his final 800 metres of 48.06 was bettered by Marching's 48.04, but it was Weekend Hussler's Guineas a long way from home.

Weekend Hussler had two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length to spare over Scenic Blast (Scenic - Daughter's Charm by Delgado), with Marching (Commands - Step by Grand Lodge) a long-head away third.

As the horses returned to scale, some of the syndicate members broke out their specially made red and black Weekend Hussler caps almost as if they were reluctant to do so before the race in case it was a bad omen.

Ross McDonald may not be one of Melbourne's most fashionable trainers but he has an impressive group 1 record going back more than 25 years with horses such as Magari, the Caulfield Cup winners Imposera and Tristarc, and champion two-year-old Courtza, winner of the 1989 Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper Stakes.

He has also a staunch band of owners behind him, including David Rush and, more recently John Bath, who put together the syndicate of owners.

October, 1st, 2007

Exciting prospect Weekend Hussler strengthened his claims on Caulfield Guineas favouritism with another blockbuster display of speed and stamina at Sandown yesterday.

The long odds-on favourite, the talking horse of the Melbourne Spring so far, was ridden just off the pace this time, settling fourth, but Brad Rawiller allowed the gelding to stride up to the leaders three wide coming to the turn, confident of the horse underneath him.

This was, however, in contrast to the manner in which Weekend Hussler had raced and won at his previous start, when contesting a breakneck early speed before powering away from his rivals in that midweek race a fortnight ago to win by a widening 8 lengths.

The margin yesterday was 4 lengths over Viatorian, which had won its two previous starts around the provincials, with the well-exposed Morgan Dollar third, ahead of Emjay Hussey in fourth.

The latter two provide some evidence supporting Weekend Hussler’s claim to Guineas favouritism. Morgan Dollar had been beaten 5 lengths when 11th of 14 to Purrealist in the Guineas Prelude last week, while Emjay Hussey had been 9th in the same race, beaten 4.5 lengths. Both were beaten around 6 lengths yesterday, which certainly puts Weekend Hussler in the Guineas picture, as if he wasn’t already, but maybe not with the sort of margin his current quote of $2.50 suggests. 

And then, as we will no doubt read over and over again in the next fortnight, there is his unorthodox lead-up program to the Caulfield feature. Only one Guineas winner in the past 14 years has not been placed in a stakes race at its previous start. Try telling Ross that…. if you’re game. 

On pedigree, Weekend Hussler should have little troubling stepping up to the 1600m of the Guineas and there is a good case in favour of him going beyond that to boot. Now that IS an exciting prospect !

It is interesting to note that the majority of the Grade One winners sired by Hussonet overseas have been capable of winning at middle distances, and having the likes of Helissio, At Talaq, Grosvenor and Marceau as the sire of his first four dams will stand Weekend Hussler in good stead if he is asked to extend his speed beyond a mile. Between them those four stallions won an Arc, a Melbourne Cup, a Victoria Derby and a Doomben Cup.

A November 3 foal and bred on the Mr Prospector – Northern Dancer cross, Weekend Hussler was purchased for $80,000 by Ross McDonald at the 2006 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of his dam, the unraced Weekend Beauty, a half-sister to two middle distance Group winners in Saturday Fever (Manion Cup) and Phantom Thief (Tasmanian Derby). Photos of the then yearling colt show him to have been a slightly backward type, and possibly somewhat long in the pasterns. But what the heck.

Weekend Hussler’s grand-dam, Not on Friday, was a quality mare, at her best at around 1600-2000m, as shown by placings in the Wakeful Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes, 1000 Guineas and South Australian Oaks, while the family traces to New Zealand’s famous “Heights” family. 

Today’s news is often next week’s fish and chips wrapping, but I just think seeing is believing in this case. The boom of Weekend Hussler looks every bit justified right now. The test is about to come.

In what has been a pretty gloomy season for most of us, let’s hope Ross has got another good’un. 

Otherwise, I’ll have chicken salt on mine thanks. - John Hutchinson

Sunday September 30th, 2007

In New Zealand on Saturday, Rios grabbed Saturday's $55,000 Listed Hugh Green Bonecrusher Stakes winner at Ellerslie.

Rios, was named after former world No 1-ranked tennis player, Marcello Rios.  The classy colt's sire, Hussonet, was bred in the United States and became one of Chile's finest racehorses.  When Cambridge bloodstock agent Stu Hale bought Rios for himself and Hong Kong civil engineer Andy Chan, he asked his brother Gary to come up with a Chilean sportsman to name the horse after.

Gary Hale, a former topline tennis player, took just one breath before replying: "There's only one - Marcello Rios."

On Saturday, Rios was ridden by David Walsh, who told Hale he believed Rios is a potential Derby winner.  Walsh said as impressive as the horse looked, he would keep getting better right through into next year.

"This horse will end up so good, he'll be scary," were the comments after Rios comfortably beat the Bonecrusher field on Saturday.

They are not words normally used by Walsh, one of New Zealand's most widely respected and experienced jockeys.

Apart from being a magnificent individual, Rios has an exemplary temperament, particularly for a spring colt. Absolutely nothing bothers him.

"He got tightened up a couple of times on the rails today. Did he care? No," said Walsh.

"When I asked him to relax, he relaxed. When I asked him to quicken, he quickened."

Stu Hale is a horse trader and Rios is now worth huge money on the international market, but Hale says he is absolutely not for sale.

Trainer Murray Baker shares Walsh's absolute belief in Rios.

But the colt will not be heading to the premier spring classic, the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 17.  Instead, it is likely he will take on the Wellington Guineas, then possibly the Group One First Sovereign Trust Levin Stakes at Otaki

May 13th, 2007

At Caulfield on Saturday, trainer Ian Hutchins, unveiled a very smart juvenile when Emjay Hussey won the $100,000 Sapphire Classic (1200m) at Caulfield on debut.

Hutchins, whose been in the business of training thoroughbreds upwards of three decades told TVN's Bruce Clarke this is the horse he has been waiting for.  

"He's just one of the best horses in the world to train. He's a toff, I can do anything with him. He's a great eater. I have to feed him three times a day because he can't get enough.

"He's just one of those horses."

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Emjay Hussey began well and settled third behind Royal Charades to took them along at a good tempo.  Approaching the home turn Duric moved up beside Royal Charades and the chestnut son of Hussonet strode away from his rivals to win by 1-3/4 lengths from Masked Assassin (Danzero - Duk Duk by Claudius) with the previously unbeaten Diplomatic Force (Oamaru Force - Talk it Over by Umatilla), found the 58kg too much, a short head away in third.

Hutchins purchased Emjay Hussey from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling sale last year for $50,000, from the Arrowfield Stud as agent draft.  This year the stud sold a bay colt by Falbrav at the same venue for $35,000.  Emjay Hussey's dam, Amaranth (by Flying Paster), was sold by Bellerive Stud as agent at the 2006 Magic Millions Broodmare sale to the bid of Belmont Bloodstock for $66,000.

Hutchins told Clark "He trialled well earlier in the season but pulled up shin-sore and I turned him out, Vlad gave him another trial at Cranbourne where he won, and Vlad told me to go for this race as he had improved alot."

Hutchins said, "I'll put him (Emjay Hussey) out now and bring him back for the spring" 

"He's a (Caulfield) Guineas horse. I've waited 34 years to have a horse good enough to run in a race like the Guineas." 

Emjay Hussey is owned in the same interests as another of Hutchins' two-year-olds, Queen Falvelon, who has also shown promise with a city win at Sandown.

"We bought some nice yearlings, some of them haven't raced yet, and we have some very nice horses around us now," Hutchins said.

December 31st, 2006

  David Hayes' quest for his first win in the $1 million Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions 2YO Classic looked on track when Group winning colt Husson Lightning won the Tooheys New Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
  Despite playing up a little before the race and sweating up badly, the son of Hussonet was able to keep kicking well in the straight to win in great style.
  There were some anxious moments for connections when the colt veered off the track for a chute after crossing the finishing line forcing jockey Craig Williams to keep "working" a little longer than the 1100 metres of the race.
  But when the winning line was reached it was Husson Lightning (ex Snip Snip by Snippets) who held a length and a quarter margin over Solo Flyer (Belong to Me - Fly the Flag by Sir Tristram).
Validated (No Excuse Needed - Windsong by Danasinga) was third, another three-quarters-of-a-length away.
  Hayes was not surprisingly all smiles after the race when his colt by Hussonet was returning to the winner's stall.
"I love it when they carry the big weight and lead and do it that way," Hayes said. "The plan was to sit behind them, but he just jumped too well."
Hayes was glad to see Husson Lightning had not done any damage when he veered off the track after the post.
"He wanted to go back to Melbourne I think. He actually almost threw the Maribyrnong Plate away."
"He doesn't like winning posts at the moment. So we have to teach him to get used to them."
Hayes said the colt would be one of the horses to beat in the $1 million Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on January 13.
"He'll strip a lot fitter for that race. He'll be one of the favourites and hard to beat."
Runner-up Solo Flyer lost no admirers with his fast finishing second placing after getting back in the field and struggling to get a clear run for much of the home straight.
  Husson Lightning, the first foal from the winning Snippets mare Snip Snip, was purchased by bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington for $180,000 earlier in the year from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
His record now reads out at two wins and a second placing from three starts and stakes earnings of over $176,000.
  Husson Lightning is the current highest qualified for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and is among the favourites with bookmakers around the country.
  Arrowfield Stud, who as agent sold Husson Lightning, will present an attractive full sister to the juvenile during the second session of next month's sale on the Gold Coast.
The filly, a chestnut, is catalogued as lot 334, all up Hussonet will have 34 yearlings on offer at the Gold Coast.  He will also be represented with six yearlings in New Zealand at Karaka from January 29th

November 12th, 2006

On the last day of the Cup Carnival, David Hayes produced Husson Lightning to claim his sires first southern hemisphere stakes winner in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Husson Lightning, jumped away from barrier one and his rider Craig Williams had him close to the inside near the early leader Meurice.  Getting the upper hand of Meurice, Williams was able to get Husson Lightning clear and hold off a late challenge from Deferential (Royal Academy - Talent Time by Palace Music), who had been held up badly before flashing home late, to score by a short head.

Meurice (Strategic - Espadon by Danehill) held on for third 1-1/2 lengths further away.

Husson Lightning will now be prepared for the $1 million Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.  It is run at the the Gold Coast on January 13th, 2007.

Hayes said after the event, "I was very confident and I was a bit shocked when they got that close to him."

"He had to work very hard to chase the favourite. He did all the work and wore him down and just knocking up late."

"He did a lot wrong today in looking around. I think Craig will report the he's very green and still learning the caper."

A $180,000 purchase at this year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Husson Lightning, was selected by Mark Pilkington from Arrowfield Stud's draft.  With more than $135,000 in the bank it won't take his owners' long to break square.

The stakes win was Husson Lightning's broke his maiden status after a strong debut performance in the Breeders Plate at Randwick six weeks ago, which was a practice run for galloping the clockwise direction of the Magic Millions.

The win is a timely for the breeder of Husson Lightning who is offering buyers the opportunity to purchased his full sister at January's Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Catalogued as lot number 334 the filly is the second foal of the winning Snippets mare Snip Snip.

September 5th, 2006

Arrowfield Stud’s HUSSONET continues to dominate racing in his former homeland of Chile.

Last Friday he sired his 23rd individual Group 1 winner when his daughter Spontaneous won the Group 1 Polla de Potrancas Stakes for 3YO fillies over 1700m on the turf at Club Hipico de Santiago. In true dominant stallion style, Hussonet was represented by five of the 18 runners in the event and sired the first three past the post with his two-year-old group one winning daughter Shapira second and group two winner Gran Latour third.

Third in last month’s Gran Premio Criadores Dorana (G2), Spontaneous claimed her first stakes win in style winning the Group I event by 3½ lengths from race favourite Shapira who in turn finished 1¾ lengths ahead of Gran Latour.

Spontaneous is out of the Smooth Performance mare Galoise whose family has already produced the stakeswinners Wild Storm and Hospitably by Hussonet. 

Spontaneous is another example of the successful combination of the close relations Mr Prospector and Seattle Slew as her damsire Smooth Performance is a son of Seattle Slew.

The previous week at Hipodromo Chile, Hussonet’s daughter Desert Fight trounced her rivals by six lengths in the Group 1 Mil Guineas (Chilean 1000 Guineas) to win her fifth race in succession and her second at the elite level. 

In the space of a week, Hussonet demonstrated once again that he has no bias with his progeny having sired winners on both turf and dirt.

April 10th, 2006

With only a week to go before the biggest yearling sale in Australia at William Inglis Newmarket complex.  Arrowfield Stud's Mr. Prospector horse, Hussonet, produced a juvenile Group I winner in Argentina over the weekend.

Having only his second start the colt is known as Husson took out the first group one race of the season in the Gran Premio Raul y Raul E. Chevalier.  Run over 1,400-metres on turf Husson clocked a sensational 1:18.98 to win by nine-lengths!

Husson remains undefeated.

October 10th, 2005

Although Alinghi finished unplaced yesterday in the Group I Shadwell Mile on the grass course at Keeneland in Kentucky the news was not all bad for Arrowfield Stud.

The Encosta de Lago mare ran eighth of 10 in the American feature, won by Chilean import Host, who was resuming after a long spell. Host beat the English galloper Vanderlin by a neck with Gulch Approval another 2-3/4 lengths away in third place.

Host (ex Colonna Traiana by Roy) was the 2003 champion juvenile colt in Chile with victories in the Group I 2000 Guineas and the Criadores-Viña San Pedro Stakes. 

Hussonet is now serving his second local season at Arrowfield.

August 30th, 2005

Multiple Champion Sire of Chile, HUSSONET, added another Group One winner to his already impressive record when EL CUMBRES (ex Mascara Roja by Cresta Rider) took out the Polla de Potrillas by 8 ½ lengths at Santiago in Chile. 

On shuttle duties with Arrowfield Stud since 2003, Hussonet will have his first yearlings offered for sale in this season’s round of yearling sales. 

Hussonet’s progeny of racing age have been precocious, effective at all distance ranges and successful on both turf and dirt; showing class that's enhanced by his amazing statistic of 23.4% stakes winners to runners from his first six crops. 

September 14th, 2004

Hussonet sired, his 17th G1 winner when his 3yo son TROTAMONDO “sailed like a rocket” in the straight to post a decisive 3 1/4 length victory in the G1 Dos Mil Guineas Stakes (Chilean 2000 Guineas) over 1600m at Hipodromo Chile on Saturday.

Trotamondo made it back-to-back Guineas winners for Hussonet whose son Host won the race by six lengths in 2003 and Hussonet is also the sire of 2001 winner River Café.

In posting his first stakes win, Trotamondo faced 11 rivals in the Dos Mil Guineas including G1 winner Ayalon and G2 winner Pan Tostado.

Yet Trotamondo started favourite for the race having created a huge impression when breaking his maiden at his previous start by an incredible 20 lengths. Although the margin may not have been as great, the manner in which Trotamondo treated his opponents in the Guineas was nothing short of spectacular as he came from near the rear of the field at the 600m, ran to a clear lead half way down the straight and was eased down on the line.

Trotamondo is out of Movie Producer, a daughter of the Raise a Native line stallion Give Me Strength. A similar cross to Hussonet’s 2003 Dos Mil Guineas winner Host who is also out of a Raise a Native line mare via the Fappiano stallion Roy.

Fresh from being crowned Chile’s Champion General Sire for the fifth time and Champion 2YO sire for the fourth time, Hussonet has also increased his tally of champions to 14 with his two-year-olds Bollinger and Domaine being named Champion 2yo Colt and Filly on Turf respectively. And with only two months of the 2004-05 season gone, Hussonet has already added six new stakes winners bringing his total to 62 stakeswinners from just 275 runners – a stakes winners to runners ratio of 22.5%.

“If Hussonet’s progeny can make the same impression in Australia as they have elsewhere, I think we might well have a horse here which will be of invaluable assistance to local breeders” said Arrowfield Managing Director John Messara.

July 1st, 2004

Mr Prospector stallion Hussonet has sired his 16th individual G1 winner when his 2YO daughter Domaine prevailed in the Arturo Lyon Peya Stakes (1600m) on turf last weekend. 

Domaine joins no less than four previous Chilean G1 winning 2YOs by Hussonet including Mail Coach, Mar de Kara, Printemps, and National Park. 

It was Domaine’s first try in a stakes race and only her third career start yet she proved too classy for race favourite Bacana over the final 100m holding a comfortable length advantage on the line.

Domaine is Hussonet’s 56th stakeswinner and his third 2YO stakeswinner this season. She has capped off a great month for Hussonet with his 2YOs as he also sired Alma Guerrera, a filly who ran second in the G1 Tanteo de Potrancas over 1500m on May 19th.

Domaine is out of the Worldwatch mare Walkabout, a mare who has already produced two stakesplaced runners by Hussonet. The affinity between Hussonet and daughters of Worldwatch is extraordinary with the 74 runners bred on this cross yielding 70 winners (95% winners to runners) and 21 stakeswinners
(30% stakeswinners to runners).

In Australia, a very similarly bred stallion to Worldwatch (by Nijinsky) is Danehill as both stallions are by a son of Northern Dancer, carry Ribot up close and hail from Northern Dancer’s family.

Hussonet’s incredible lifetime progeny statistics of over 20% stakes winners to runners was further underpinned last week with the win of Madour (ex Dona Oli, by Settlement Day) in the Group 3 Premio Julio Subercaseaux.

Madour is Hussonet’s 55th individual stakeswinner.  Madour, a two-year-old won her debut on April 23rd over 1300m by an effortless 4 lengths. She kept her unbeaten record intact with an easy 2-1/2 length win in the 1600m Premio Julio Subercaseaux and is now rated amongst the best juvenile fillies to have stepped out this season.

Apart from his high percentage of elite runners, Hussonet boasts the very high winners to runners ratio of 91%. Hussonet is serving a Northern Hemisphere book at Vinery Stud in Kentucky at present and will again stand at Arrowfield Stud, Scone.

March 11, 2004

Arrowfield Stud’s sire son of Mr Prospector, HUSSONET, has joined the elite club of stallions to have sired 50+ stakeswinners. In the past four weeks, Hussonet has sired four new stakeswinners to take his tally of stakeswinners to 51 and then followed this milestone with a G1 quinella to register his 14th individual G1 winner. 

What makes his achievements all the more astonishing is that he has done so with only 227 runners from seven crops of racing age.

Hussonet’s latest G1 winner is his 5yo son Marzuk who captured the G1 Clasico Municipalidad de Viña del Mar (1900m) on Wednesday at Valparaiso Spor ting Club in Viña del Mar. Marzuk prevailed by a nose over race favourite Hipocrite, a 3yo daughter of Hussonet, who had earned her first stakes win at her previous start. It is worth noting that both of the horses are out of mares by sons of Nijinsky II.

Marzuk covered the 1900m on the turf in 1:54.40 to improve his record to nine career victories in 33 starts for owner/breeder Mr Oussama Aboughazaleh, who also campaigns Hussonet’s Grade 1 winner Wild Spirit in the United States.

Hussonet’s four newest stakes winners are all 3yo fillies including the above mentioned Hipocrite as well as Anick (ex Alleged line mare) a Listed winner and dual G1 placegetter, Holland (ex Roy mare) and Hortense (ex Worldwatch mare). 

Hussonet’s 7th Chilean crop are 2yos this season and he has had 4 winners from 9 runners including the filly Ete, a full sister to champion Printemps, who won on debut by 9.25 lengths.