New Arrowfield-bred Hussler makes stakes-winning debut

Arrowfield Stud has already bred a champion ‘Hussler’ and today a second horse bearing that name made the best possible debut in the $120,000 MRC Debutant S. LR at Caulfield.

The champion was, of course, Weekend Hussler, 2008 Australian Horse of the Year and 7-time Group 1 winner. 2YO colt Moonlight Hussler has a way to go to match that record, but his opening move could not be faulted.

He jumped widest of the field from gate 11 and settled back in the field before charging home to take the 1000-metre dash by a half-length.

Jockey Nash Rawiller said afterwards, “He’s obviously a smart horse with a lot of upside.He’s got a really good future – he’s a horse with scope.”

There are no weaknesses in Moonlight Hussler’s pedigree either: he is related to three champion Arrowfield sires. 

He is the 90th stakeswinner by former Arrowfield resident Hussonet, now standing at Cornerstone Stud, and the 24th stakeswinner from a Redoute’s Choice mare.

Moonlight Hussler’s dam is the city winner Moonlight Music, a descendant of the great broodmare Fanfreluche, like champion sire Flying Spur.

Moonlight Hussler was bred by Arrowfield in partnership with the late Ron Croghan, reared at Bellerive Stud and sold from the Glenelg Park draft at the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale. The successful bidder at $42,500 was David Hayes whose stable reported on Twitter that the last share in Moonlight Hussler was sold only two weeks ago. 

He is the third Hussonet stakeswinner trained by Hayes following Reaan (another Arrowfield graduate) and Husson Lightning. Last year’s Debutant Stakes was won by Villa Verde, a daughter of Not Single Doubt who has already opened his 2013/14 black type account with Risen From Doubt, successful in the VRC Maribyronong Trial S. LR on 5 October.  

Moonlight Music has a yearling colt by Flying Spur.