Lucky Hussler has landed the first Group 1 for Husson (Arg) with a power-packed victory in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
The Darren Weir trained sprinter is a first-crop son of Vinery stallion Husson who was Australia’s Champion freshman sire by winners in 2011-12. “Our track riders have been giving me glowing reports since he returned from a spell,” Weir said on Friday evening. “He’s better than ever this time in.”
Lucky Hussler (5g Husson – Talaq Dancer by Black Hawk) stormed home from midfield to win going away from class mare Vain Queen. “He’s a pretty good horse and I was pretty confident,” jockey Glen Boss admitted. “The owners wanted to wait for the T J Smith at Randwick next month but I told them there was $240,000 just waiting for us here tonight.”
The William Reid prizemoney elevated the gelding’s record to 6 wins from 26 starts and over $886,000 in earnings. He was a $100,000 buy for managing part-owner Glen Makauskas at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions and is from a half-sister to Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler.
Husson was an undefeated Champion 2YO in Chile before his arrival here in 2008. He and Weekend Hussler are both sons of champion sire Hussonet.
Standing well over 16 hands, Lucky Hussler graduated to his first black-type victory in the 2012 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben and he returned to the same circuit for second Group 3 in the 2013 George Moore Stakes.
Connections transferred him to Weir last year and he added another Group 3 in the Moonga Stakes on Caulfield Cup day. His spring campaign finished with a close second to Hucklebuck in the G1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
Husson has three colts and filly catalogued for the Inglis Easter yearling sale starting on April 7. The first to parade is Lot 214, a colt from Sun Classique, a Group 1 winner in South Africa and Dubai.
Another of his regally bred youngsters is Lot 303, a colt from Bel Mer who carried Vinery’s colours to a Group 1 victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.
