News

Hussler to face six in Australia Stakes

11th Feb 2009

Racenet - Brad Waters - Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Weekend Hussler will get no better chance to restore some pride in Saturday’s GI Pulse Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley after only six rivals accepted the challenge to face last year’s horse of the year.

Trainer Greg Eurell has accepted with Apache Cat with champion jockey Damien Oliver to take the reins despite Apache Cat looking nowhere near as sharp as his previous campaigns in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on January 31.

Another interesting runner is the three-year-old Time Thief who will take on open class for the first time and comes off the back of a solid win over Fravashi in the Zeditave Stakes.

A notable absentee from the Australia Stakes line-up is the Tony Vasil-trained Carlyon Stakes winner Lucky Secret.

“There’s no problem with him,” Aquanita’s Racing Manager Sam Doran said.

“Tony only entered him to see how the field shaped up and he wasn’t quite happy with it so he decided to not accept with him.

“He’ll be entered in the Oakleigh Plate and should get in very well at the weights with the amount of group one winners going into the race.”

With none of the horses that finished in front of him in the Lightning Stakes engaged in the Australia Stakes, there will be very little likelihood of black figures being bet on Weekend Hussler, particularly from his draw of gate three which will give jockey Brad Rawiller the opportunity to keep the superstar out of trouble.

For the final Australia Stakes field please click here.