WEEKEND HUSSLER WINS AGAIN.

AUSTRALIAN superstar Weekend Hussler is on the verge of greatness after recording his seventh Group 1 win in the last 12 months with a stylish victory as he raced beyond a mile for the first time in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

The Ross McDonald-trained four-year-old again reigned supreme as he took his overall record to 12 wins from 15 starts. Named horse of the year after a record-equalling six Group 1s as a three-year-old, the gelded son of Hussonet's feat in winning seven in a 12-month period has only previously been achieved by Vain.

Although the final margin was only three-quarters of a length, Weekend Hussler put in a totally dominant performance, never looking in any real danger against a field of proven Group 1 horses.

He will now bid to match Rising Fast, who in 1954 became the only horse to complete the coveted Caufield Cup-Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup treble, at trips between 1m2f and 2m. “With this horse, you never have any doubt,” said McDonald.

In the Underwood, regular rider Brad Rawiller settled odds-on shot Weekend Hussler third and on the outer of Light Fantastic. With five furlongs to run, he angled his mount out three wide and was poised to challenge front-running Maldivian approaching the home turn.

Maldivian sprinted strongly on the point of the home turn and put a break of two lengths on Weekend Hussler, but Rawiller wound his mount up and edged to the front inside the final furlong, hotly pursued by Pompeii Ruler.

In the end, the champion scored a cosy, but decisive, victory in the $A350,000 (£158,000) feature. Littorio finished well to take third two lengths behind Pompeii Ruler, with Maldivian a weakening fourth.

“I thought it was a pretty good effort – he sat three wide most of the way, did plenty of work and was still too good,” said McDonald. “He was always going to get Maldivian – he just keeps improving and there's more to come. There is always pressure on him to win, but we know what he can do and how good he is.”

Rawiller added: “Going around to the gates he's not 100 per cent there yet but looks a million dollars. This was a good field but once again he's out on top.

“It there was ever a horse to win the big three then this is the one – he's still improving and Ross is a great trainer who will get the best out of him.”

Attached files

Hi, read this below in response to this horse.....


TIM HABEL, ADAM HAMILTON, MELBOURNE
September 20, 2008 12:30am
ONE of Australia's biggest punters has unleashed with a $1 million bet on Weekend Hussler to win today's Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

The bet is the biggest of the spring so far and has left Darwin Sportsbet desperately hoping for an upset to escape a $1.65 million payout.

"We wouldn't normally let the guy on for so much, but he's our best client, it's a Group 1 race and the odds were short enough at $1.65," Darwin Sportsbet's Matt Tripp said.

"We've slashed his odds to $1.58. The punters are only interested in one horse."

Tripp said he was "hoping more than confident" Weekend Hussler could be beaten.

"We're expecting very big improvement from Light Fantastic," he said. Weekend Hussler firmed into $1.55 with TAB Sportsbet. Weekend Hussler will join Vain as only the second horse to win seven Group 1 races in a calendar year in their first year of racing if he scores in the $350,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

Vain won seven Group 1s from March 1969 to November 1969 in a 14-start career.

Weekend Hussler's Group 1 streak started last October in the Caulfield Guineas and he's racing for the 15th time today.

Clinton McDonald, son of Weekend Hussler's trainer Ross McDonald, said the stable was looking forward to today. "The horse is great. The scary thing is he isn't four yet (until November 3).

"People are potting him because he had an easy run (in the Makybe Diva). But he's got the attribute he can race anywhere. If the speed is on he'll be even more devastating," he said.

Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said Weekend Hussler rated 121 in his last start Makybe Diva Stakes win, marginally below his career high 122.

"If he wins tomorrow by a blowaway margin he could surpass that," he said.