First leg of Asian Mile Challenge test for champion Hussler
February 17th 2009 06:06
The last four starts from Weekend Hussler have failed to register him with even a place result. Only once (these 4 times) did he not start as favourite – this being when tested over 2400m in the Caulfield Cup. On that occasion he did still start second favourite at 6/1 (Littorio started favourite at 7/2).
(photo: Mark Dadswell Getty Images)
In the Australia Stakes (1200m) last Saturday at Moonee Valley it would be the distress of watching (talented, but not champion) Orange County run past Weekend Hussler in the straight that caused most concern to connections.
The reports are now that jockey Brad Rawiller suspects that Weekend Hussler jumped a shadow during the race on Saturday that may have rendered him sore and unable to compete at his best. Trainer Ross McDonald has found only a general soreness across his back after Weekend Hussler underwent a complete and comprehensive veterinary test after his failure.
Sydney chiropractor Roger Noles has been requested to fly to Melbourne and cast a healing hand over the Hussler this week. Ross McDonald met Noles after he worked on his talented filly Tahni Girl a few years ago.
"I've had some very good results with Roger. He mainly works on humans but he's been able to turn horses around, so that's why we are flying him in.”
"I just found he (Weekend Hussler) had some soreness across the back, which he's had before during his career and it just needs a little bit of work on it. We've been over him pretty closely and all of the veterinary tests have come back negative and the only problem has been his back.”
"Brad (Rawiller) said he'd jumped a shadow during the race on Saturday — that could've been it or he's kicked out in the float and hurt his back that way.”
"He doesn't give the float just a tap with his legs, he really means it when he lashes out, but that will be explained to Roger when he gets here.” - Ross McDonald in comments reported to The Age.
Weekend Hussler has been an amazing horse – a sensation and a revelation – even accounting for his recent fall from grace. In my business of assessing horses on speedratings he is one of the very few who betters par values at almost every racetrack appearance (14 times from 19 starts). And the speedfigures would also suggest that he is at his best at distances longer than 1200m.
The peak speed performance by Weekend Hussler was set over 1500m at Rosehill on a heavy track in the Group One George Ryder Stakes when he defeated Racing To Win by 1.5 lengths.
Only 28% of his speed performances come from races at 1000 to 1200m. His third-best speed performance was set over 1800m.
Ross McDonald was planning a world-wide-mile onslaught with Weekend Hussler. This will now be dependent upon how well he runs in the Group One Futurity Stakes (first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge) over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday week.
I think it is fair to assess Weekend Hussler as a miler now. His precocious sprinting days may be only relevant to a fresh first-up performance in future.
Weekend Hussler has produced two puzzling performances at his two Autumn runs. He has since had his joints and knees x-rayed; had a lung wash, scoping, and blood tests. Everyone is looking for a reason as to why Orange County could catch and race past Weekend Hussler last start. It does not ring true.
Orange County is a 6 year old grey gelding by Volksraad out of Saffie. He has won $A793,875 and is a Group One winner of the 2008 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 1400m at Caulfield. No slouch indeed – but on this occasion a catalyst for a barrage of tests – and his performance in passing Weekend Hussler poses this question: Will Weekend Hussler be capable of returning to his brilliant best?
The Futurity Stakes will tell the tale.
Weekend Hussler winning Ryder Stakes his best speed performance
(photo: Mark Dadswell Getty Images)
In the Australia Stakes (1200m) last Saturday at Moonee Valley it would be the distress of watching (talented, but not champion) Orange County run past Weekend Hussler in the straight that caused most concern to connections.
The reports are now that jockey Brad Rawiller suspects that Weekend Hussler jumped a shadow during the race on Saturday that may have rendered him sore and unable to compete at his best. Trainer Ross McDonald has found only a general soreness across his back after Weekend Hussler underwent a complete and comprehensive veterinary test after his failure.
Sydney chiropractor Roger Noles has been requested to fly to Melbourne and cast a healing hand over the Hussler this week. Ross McDonald met Noles after he worked on his talented filly Tahni Girl a few years ago.
"I've had some very good results with Roger. He mainly works on humans but he's been able to turn horses around, so that's why we are flying him in.”
"I just found he (Weekend Hussler) had some soreness across the back, which he's had before during his career and it just needs a little bit of work on it. We've been over him pretty closely and all of the veterinary tests have come back negative and the only problem has been his back.”
"Brad (Rawiller) said he'd jumped a shadow during the race on Saturday — that could've been it or he's kicked out in the float and hurt his back that way.”
"He doesn't give the float just a tap with his legs, he really means it when he lashes out, but that will be explained to Roger when he gets here.” - Ross McDonald in comments reported to The Age.
Weekend Hussler has been an amazing horse – a sensation and a revelation – even accounting for his recent fall from grace. In my business of assessing horses on speedratings he is one of the very few who betters par values at almost every racetrack appearance (14 times from 19 starts). And the speedfigures would also suggest that he is at his best at distances longer than 1200m.
The peak speed performance by Weekend Hussler was set over 1500m at Rosehill on a heavy track in the Group One George Ryder Stakes when he defeated Racing To Win by 1.5 lengths.
Only 28% of his speed performances come from races at 1000 to 1200m. His third-best speed performance was set over 1800m.
Ross McDonald was planning a world-wide-mile onslaught with Weekend Hussler. This will now be dependent upon how well he runs in the Group One Futurity Stakes (first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge) over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday week.
I think it is fair to assess Weekend Hussler as a miler now. His precocious sprinting days may be only relevant to a fresh first-up performance in future.
Weekend Hussler has produced two puzzling performances at his two Autumn runs. He has since had his joints and knees x-rayed; had a lung wash, scoping, and blood tests. Everyone is looking for a reason as to why Orange County could catch and race past Weekend Hussler last start. It does not ring true.
Orange County is a 6 year old grey gelding by Volksraad out of Saffie. He has won $A793,875 and is a Group One winner of the 2008 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 1400m at Caulfield. No slouch indeed – but on this occasion a catalyst for a barrage of tests – and his performance in passing Weekend Hussler poses this question: Will Weekend Hussler be capable of returning to his brilliant best?
The Futurity Stakes will tell the tale.
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