Lucky Hussler returned to racing with a fast-finishing victory in the 2015 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley tonight.
Lucky Hussler was slow out of the gates in the William Reid Stakes and jockey Glen Boss was forced to settle the talented gelding at the tail of the field in the early stages of the race before he weaved his way through the field.
Lucky Hussler has recorded her maiden Group 1 victory in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell
Vain Queen received the run of the race just behind the leaders and she looked like the winner when she hit the front at the 150 metre mark, but Lucky Hussler stormed down the outside late to record a maiden win at Group 1 level.
Lucky Hussler returned to his best form when he joined the stable of Darren Weir during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and Boss said after the race that he couldn’t believe that the Emirates Stakes placegetter started at such lengthy odds in the William Reid Stakes.
“I think that Weiry should have had him two seasons ago, he would have won a few more Group 1s,” Boss said.
“I was pretty confident and I said to Weiry that I could not believe the price that this horse is because he is a pretty dynamic sprinter.
“I actually had a five minute phone calls with the owners to convince them to run, they weren’t going to run and were going to go to the T.J. First-up, but I said that ‘there is $240,000 here for someone to take and I reckon he is the horse’.
“I finally talked them into running and he drew the right barrier, got the right run and I am so happy to get this result.
Boss admitted that he had some problems with Lucky Hussler in the barriers, but he said that he was not worried when the five-year-old missed the start as he was always going to be settled towards the tail of the field in the early stages of the race.
“He just wouldn’t stand up for me, but it worked out and he was always going to be in that spot where he was regardless of how he jumped,” Boss said.
“I had a lot of faith in this horse, he has a very good turn-of-pace when you let him go and once he worked himself into the clear he put them away pretty quickly and it was an establish group of sprinters.”
Lucky Hussler took great strides under the care of Weir last preparation, but the leading Victorian trainer believes that the Husson gelding has come back as an even better horse this preparation.
Weir was quick to pay credit to the ride of Boss and he was thrilled that the talented hoop had convinced Lucky Hussler’s owners to run him in the William Reid Stakes.
“I would just like to thank Bossy for the terrific ride and for talking the owners into running him here tonight,” Weir said.
“He ran terrific (in the Emirates Stakes) and he came back better this prep.
“He worked terrific on Monday and he brought that work here tonight.
“It has been a great thrill.”
Lucky Hussler is a chance of backing up in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick next weekend before he heads to Queensland for a 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign.
