Trainer Darren Weir has confirmed that Lucky Hussler will contest the 2015 The Goodwood at Morphettville on May 16 and bypass the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) a week later.
Lucky Hussler recorded the biggest win of his racing career to date in the 2015 William Reid Stakes. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Lucky Hussler was set to return to Queensland for both the Doomben 10,000 and the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Doomben on June 6, but Weir told Sky Racing HQ this morning that he was weary of keeping the Husson gelding away from his Warrnambool base for so long.
Weir said that Lucky Hussler would instead head to South Australia for the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) and would return to Warrnambool before he is sent to Queensland for another tilt at the Stradbroke Handicap.
“We were going to go up for the Doomben 10,000 and then the Stradbroke, but he is just not the easiest horse to train on a track, so what we have decided to do is go to The Goodwood and then he can go back to Warrnambool before he heads up for the Stradbroke just a couple of days before with all the work done,” Weir said.
“That is the plan and that is what we are going to try to attack.
“It would be a month between runs.”
Lucky Hussler returned to the races in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 27 and he hit the line strongly to record maiden win at Group 1 level in impressive fashion.
The five-year-old was sent to Sydney for the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 18 and he had absolutely no luck in running, but he was still able to hit the line strongly to finish sixth.
Weir said that Lucky Hussler had taken a while to recover from his tough run in the All Aged Stakes, but he is confident that the five-year-old will freshen-up nicely for The Goodwood.
“He ran great,” Weir said.
“It took a little bit out of him and the plan is to obviously go to Brisbane at some stage.
“He is over it now, but he was a little bit jaded for a week with the trip up there and that, but he has bounced back now and he will be nice and fresh for The Goodwood and then three weeks into the Stradbroke.”
Lucky Hussler is currently available at 2015 The Goodwood odds of $5 with Ladbrokes and is currently locked in a battle for favouritism with Hucklebuck ($5).
