Weekend Hussler (LINK)
April 22nd 2008 07:01
Weekend Hussler
Weekend Hussler is now ranked as the best three year old in the world. Although the northern hemisphere horses are yet to swing into full stride, I can't disagree with this assessment. In my role of professional assessment of racehorses (this done on speedfigures) I was telling all and sundry after his first metropolitan win that this horse was something very special. His performances at practically every start demand that his rivals must race at the limits of their ability to get close. The exceptions (apart from his debut) were at the end of last campaign when he failed against open company (group 1) in the Emirates when he was a tired horse, and his narrow win at Randwick in the Royal Randwick Guineas when he won by a nose. On that occasion his speedfigures were well below his best or average, and this gave Sydney people a false impression of his true ability. Subsequently he ran again out of his age in Group 1 and demolished a very capable field. This time he was at his best and proved too good again (and the odds were generous).
What I had noticed though was the parochial nature of horse racing. Many in Sydney were quick to criticise and doubt his champion status. After all, he was from Melbourne and an intruder. The parochial battle between Melbourne and Sydney has raged since the days of settlement, and Canberra created to diffuse the tension. And of course in Sydney the horses run in the wrong direction (this the opinion of someone from Melbourne comfortable with anti-clockwise racing).
Weekend Hussler is now ranked as the best three year old in the world. Although the northern hemisphere horses are yet to swing into full stride, I can't disagree with this assessment. In my role of professional assessment of racehorses (this done on speedfigures) I was telling all and sundry after his first metropolitan win that this horse was something very special. His performances at practically every start demand that his rivals must race at the limits of their ability to get close. The exceptions (apart from his debut) were at the end of last campaign when he failed against open company (group 1) in the Emirates when he was a tired horse, and his narrow win at Randwick in the Royal Randwick Guineas when he won by a nose. On that occasion his speedfigures were well below his best or average, and this gave Sydney people a false impression of his true ability. Subsequently he ran again out of his age in Group 1 and demolished a very capable field. This time he was at his best and proved too good again (and the odds were generous).
What I had noticed though was the parochial nature of horse racing. Many in Sydney were quick to criticise and doubt his champion status. After all, he was from Melbourne and an intruder. The parochial battle between Melbourne and Sydney has raged since the days of settlement, and Canberra created to diffuse the tension. And of course in Sydney the horses run in the wrong direction (this the opinion of someone from Melbourne comfortable with anti-clockwise racing).
Weekend Hussler
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Comment by Harry
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Comment by Leonard Marlborough
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It wasn't so long ago that Makybe Diva was rated as best staying mare in the world. A great feat considering how good the European stayers are.
Comparisons, even by this measure, are not as effective as actual competition. But I think both Weekend Hussler and Makybe Diva would win anywhere on the world stage, as Miss Andretti proved in England.