Tribute to Champion Sire Hussonet
Champion sire Hussonet, responsible for 30 Group 1 winners among 96 lifetime stakeswinners, died at Cornerstone Stud, South Australia on Monday morning.
The 25-year-old son of Mr. Prospector leaves an imposing stud record in Chile and Australia, and son & daughters creating a wonderful legacy in both countries.
Hussonet was bred by Peter Brant & Julian Schnabel from the 1987 Champion US 3YO Filly Sacahuista, the grand-daughter of a sister to US Hall of Famer Shuvee and later the dam of Group 1 winner & sire Ekraar.
Trained by Bill Mott for Sheikh Mohammed, Hussonet achieved the modest status of stakes-placed winner on the racetrack, but proved a spectacular success at stud, winning seven premierships in Chile before his purchase by Arrowfield Stud in 2003. He stood seven seasons at Arrowfield before his 2010 sale to Cornerstone.
His ten Australian-bred crops of racing age have produced the winners of more than $53 million, including 36 stakeswinners headed by six Group 1 winners: Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, Eagle Falls (MRC Oakleigh Plate G1), Gold Trail (ARC Railway H. G1), Hong Kong stars Glorious Days & Contentment and MRC Blue Diamond S. G1 winner Reaan, as well as multiple Singapore domestic Group 1 winner Stepitup.
Given that Hussonet’s progeny tend to improve with age, the runners to come from his last few crops, his sire sons Husson, Host & Rios and his excellent broodmare daughters (49 stakeswinners, including 10 Group 1 winners), his record is well short of final.
Arrowfield Chairman John Messara says, “Hussonet was probably the most left-field stallion purchase Arrowfield has ever made – even I took some persuasion to consider a Champion Sire from Chile! However, when I analysed South American racing, his performance and his pedigree more closely, I realised he was something special.
“His very significant contribution to Australian breeding and racing remains evident this season, when he’s been represented by Hong Kong Group 1 winner Contentment & Singapore Horse of the Year Stepitup, and as a damsire by 2YO Group winner Honesty Prevails, Listed winner Selenia and, of course, the Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice. He’s also the damsire of our exciting new stallion Panzer Division.
“From all of us at Arrowfield, thank you Hussonet for a great job well & truly done.”
