Weekend Beauty
10yo b m Helissio (FR ) – Not On Friday (by At Talaq (USA))
Fame is not something a thoroughbred broodmare knows much about unless they were a Champion on the racetrack. Weekend Beauty never saw the racetrack so the flurry of cameras and guests that quickly attached themselves to the mare and her subsequent foals following the feats of her 7-time G1 winning son WEEKEND HUSSLER no doubt came as some surprise; we often say Weekend Beauty probably only remembers the plain bay colt who went on to be crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year andWorld Champion 3YO Sprinter (Turf) as the foal that was just a bit more aggressive than any other of her offspring.
WEEKEND HUSSLER didn’t win his first race appearance on 19 August 2007 – but he won his next 5 including 2 at G1 level. After finishing 10th in the G1 Emirates S. he went out for a 15 spell and returned to win the G1 Oakleigh Plate, the G1 Newmarket H., the G1 Randwick Guineas, and the G1 George Ryder S. A 2nd in the J J Liston S. preceded another 2 G1 wins in the Memsie S. and theMakybe Diva S.
He won hearts, broke records and rewrote history books. His dam, meanwhile, went on to produce a full sister to Weekend Hussler in 2008 – the yearling filly also raised at Arrowfield Stud.
Hussler’s full sister born at Arrowfield
One of the most anticipated foals of the 2008 season arrived at Arrowfield Stud just after 7pm on Wednesday 1st October. By Champion sire Hussonet (USA) out of the unraced Helissio (Fr.) mare Weekend Beauty, the new arrival is a full sister to the reigning Australian Horse of the Year and Champion 3YO Colt/Gelding – Weekend Hussler.
“She’s a lovely filly,” reports Operations Manager Sam Fairgray. “She’s leggy, tall and correct. We couldn’t be happier with her.”
Hussonet has taken little time in translating his international success to Australia. The pre-eminent sire-son of Mr. Prospector at stud, Hussonet was Champion Sire of Chile six times and last year was crowned Champion Second Season Sire in Australia. From just two crops of racing age he has produced, in addition to Weekend Hussler, G1 Blue Diamond winner Reaan, G2 winner and G1 placegetter Rios(NZ), G3 winner Husson Lightning, stakeswinners Huiskes and Dirty, plus stakesplaced Husonic, Brazen Hussey, Atomic Huss, My Sweet Cookie etc.
The bay filly has significant commercial appeal well beyond the immediate ties to her famous sibling. Her female pedigree is littered with black type. Weekend Beauty is a half sister to G3 winners Saturday Fever and Phantom Thief. Their dam is the multiple Group winner and G1 placegetter Not On Friday. This is the immediate family of Gold Heights, Battle Heights, Arctic Heights etc.
Weekend Beauty has produced two winners from three to race including Weekend Hussler, the winner of 12 races – seven at Group 1 level and more than $3 million in prizemoney. This weekend the 4YO steps up to the 2000m of the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Trainer Ross McDonald remains confident that his stable star will handle the extra distance and the 57.5kgs he has been allocated.
Hussonet will cover a full book of mares at Arrowfield for the 2008 season at a service fee of $137,500 incl. GST.
