Hussler opens Group 1 account

Several of the 14 runners in the G1 William Reid S. were chasing a first victory at the highest level, but while most market analysts expected the fair sex to dominate courtesy of Godolphin’s Earthquake (Aus) or John Sadler’s Vain Queen (Aus), it was the 5-year-old gelding Lucky Hussler (Aus) who landed the spoils at 11-1. The Darren Weir trainee was slowly away before recovering to race in mid-division, and jockey Glen Boss was able to angle his mount wide in the straight while some of the more fancied runners suffered hard-luck stories on the rail. Hitting the front with 100 meters to run, Lucky Hussler sprinted clear of his rivals to win by 1 3/4 lengths from the pace-setting Vain Queen. 

Weir praised Boss’s ride and pivotal role in allowing the horse to tackle this race as the owners leaned in favor of the G1 TJ Smith S. on day one of The Championships. “I actually had a five minute phone call to talk the owners into running,” said Boss. “I said there was [A$]240,000 there to take. I finally talked [the owner] into running because Weiry [Darren Weir] really wanted to run him here.” Lucky Hussler is the first and only foal out of the unraced Talaq Dancer (Aus), who is a half-sister to Australian and South African Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler (Aus) (Hussonet {Arg}). He is the first Group 1 winner for his sire, Vinery Stud resident Husson (Arg), himself a son of the multiple champion sire in Chile and now Arrowfield Stud inmate Hussonet. 
                                                               
Friday, Moonee Valley, Australia
BROWN BALDWIN WILLIAM REID S.-G1, A$400,000, MOO, 3-27, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.36, gd.
1–LUCKY HUSSLER (AUS), 129, g, 5, by Husson (Arg)
         1st Dam: Talaq Dancer (Aus), by Black Hawk (GB)
         2nd Dam: Weekend Beauty (Aus), by Helissio (Fr)
         3rd Dam: Not On Friday (Aus), by At Talaq
   (A$100,000 yrl ‘11 MMGC) O-G I Makauskas, Mrs C
   I Makauskas, A V Makauskas, Mrs P F Makauskas, C
   S Gall, Mrs S A Gall, Mrs C P Cook, B Gall & E C
   Gall; B-Distinct Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd (Aus);
   T-Darren Weir; J-Glen Boss. A$240,000. Lifetime
   Record: 26-6-4-3, A$886,600. Werk Nick Rating: C.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Vain Queen (Aus), 125, m, 5, Artie Schiller–Our
   Teneriffe (Aus), by Kenvain (Aus). (A$42,000 yrl ‘11
   INGCL). O-P Green, Mrs Z C T Green & M V Biasin;
   B-Mockingbird Hill (Aus); T-John Sadler. A$72,000.
3–Griante (Aus), 125, f, 4, Good Journey–Grand
   Strategy (Aus), by Strategic (Aus). O-D R Brideoake,
   G Noll, B J Lindsay & J E A Lindsay; B/T-David
   Brideoake (Aus). A$36,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NO. Odds: 11.00, 4.00, 30.00.
Also Ran: It Is Written (Aus), Earthquake (Aus), Rebel Dane (Aus), Angelic Light (Aus), Vezalay (Aus), Famous Seamus (NZ), Girl Guide (Aus), Fontelina (Aus), Peron (Aus), Bel Sprinter (Aus), Galaxy Pegasus (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree.