Getting Hussled...And Loving It.
April 21st 2008 14:01
Weekend Hussler. What a name. What a horse. What a win. On Saturday, the 3-year-old gelding blitzed the field in the 1500m Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.
The so-called experts had been in a quandry. Apparently, there were reasons to doubt. It was his first go at weight-for-age, going the Sydney way, on wet ground, against older, seasoned, proven competition. It seemed clear to the experts that Racing To Win would do the business. But no one told the trainer, Ross Mcdonald. And no one told the jockey, Brad Rawiller. Most importantly, no one told Weekend Hussler.
He jumped well, and then sat comfortably just off the speed. As they neared the turn, it seemed that the Hussler lost a bit of ground but as they rounded the turn, he rounded them up. He went past the two leaders without too much fuss, and kicked on. Racing To Win followed. The only question remained - coudl this young upstart hang on against a proven champion? Like the horse himself, the answer came quickly. Very quickly.
Halfway down the straight Racing To Win was still following, while Weekend Hussler kept galloping. Watching him move it was hard to believe the track was rated slow. It seemed Racing To Win was racing for second. Try as he might, Racing couldn't take any ground of Hussler, and the margin was one and a half lengths on the line with Casino Prince another length aweay third. The rest of the field straggled in.
And with that, history was made. Or, at least, equalled. Weekend Hussler had tied Kingston Town's record of six group1 wins in a season.
What a privilege it has been to watch such a rapid rise of horse racing's newest super star. Just a shame Ross McDonald has decided to take him home instead of allowing us the opportunity of seeing him break the record in The Doncaster handicap next week.
Weekend Hussler. What a name. What a horse.
The so-called experts had been in a quandry. Apparently, there were reasons to doubt. It was his first go at weight-for-age, going the Sydney way, on wet ground, against older, seasoned, proven competition. It seemed clear to the experts that Racing To Win would do the business. But no one told the trainer, Ross Mcdonald. And no one told the jockey, Brad Rawiller. Most importantly, no one told Weekend Hussler.
He jumped well, and then sat comfortably just off the speed. As they neared the turn, it seemed that the Hussler lost a bit of ground but as they rounded the turn, he rounded them up. He went past the two leaders without too much fuss, and kicked on. Racing To Win followed. The only question remained - coudl this young upstart hang on against a proven champion? Like the horse himself, the answer came quickly. Very quickly.
And with that, history was made. Or, at least, equalled. Weekend Hussler had tied Kingston Town's record of six group1 wins in a season.
What a privilege it has been to watch such a rapid rise of horse racing's newest super star. Just a shame Ross McDonald has decided to take him home instead of allowing us the opportunity of seeing him break the record in The Doncaster handicap next week.
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