The Darren Weir-trained comeback galloper Lucky Hussler returned to winning form suited to a hot pace in the Crystal Mile 2017 on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day at The Valley.
Lucky Hussler was back in winning form dominating the 2017 Crystal Mile results at Moonee Valley. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The eight-year-olds on of Husson hadn’t won since November of 2016, but was too good for his rivals in today’s Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) in an effortless display at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
Improving on his third in the 2015 Crystal Mile results two years on, Lucky Hussler was settled off the pace by in-form jockey Blake Shinn who enjoyed his fourth win on Cox Plate Day.
“It’s been an amazing day. Pretty proud to ride four winner son this day,” Shinn said post-Crystal Mile win.
Weir’s other runner Burning Front began very quickly along with the Chris Waller-trained Religify, those two horses racing ahead putting a huge gap on the rest of the field and setting a blistering pace.
Going very hard early on, the two seven-year-old speed makers held six lengths mid-race over Sound Proposition who was third on the outside of the autumn’s Doncaster Mile winner It’s Somewhat.
Coming into the turn Religify, ridden by Hugh Bowman in his final tune-up before riding Winx in the Cox Plate 2017, still held the lead.
Ambling up on the outside though and poised to strike was Lucky Hussler, the injury-prone veteran enjoying the return to WFA after carting 61.5kg to a brave 11th after getting caught-up last start at Caulfield in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m).
“He hasn’t had all that much luck throughout his career,” Shinn said of Lucky Hussler after the race.
“But he’s a really good, honest horse.
“Things just went perfect today.”
Lucky Hussler always looked the winner from the corner, gliding past the rest of the field and taking the lead at the top of the straight before bolting home for a two and a half length win over Religify who held for second.
In an improved run second-up after finishing 10th in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on October 1 was the James Cummings-trained It’s Somewhat, rounding out the Crystal Mile trifecta in third.
The Crystal Mile serves as a possible lead-up into next Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day or the Group 1 $2 million Emirates Stakes (2000m) on November 11 during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“He looked like he was back today,” Weir said of Lucky Hussler.
“He loves Moonee Valley and the speed was on.
“On the corner, he looked to be jogging and he ran away with it in the end.
“The crew have done a great job to get him back to winning form.”
To back the impressive Crystal Mile winner Lucky Hussler next race at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Crystal Mile Results & Finishing Order
Moonee Valley Race 8 – 28/10/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | LUCKY HUSSLER | Darren Weir | Blake Shinn | – | 5 | 59kg | $9 |
| 2 | 4 | RELIGIFY | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 3L | 3 | 59kg | $5 |
| 3 | 1 | IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 4L | 1 | 59kg | $4.40F |
| 4 | 8 | SOUND PROPOSITION (NZ) | Kris Lees | Corey Brown | 4.3L | 4 | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 5 | 3 | BURNING FRONT | Darren Weir | Mark Zahra | 5.8L | 8 | 59kg | $6 |
| 6 | 10 | WYNDSPELLE (NZ) | Michael Kent | Beau Mertens (a) | 6.2L | 7 | 58.5kg | $17 |
| 7 | 7 | ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 6.95L | 9 | 59kg | $11 |
| 8 | 9 | CALDERON (IRE) | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 7.7L | 6 | 59kg | $31 |
| 9 | 6 | PETROLOGY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Cory Parish | 8.45L | 2 | 59kg | $19 |
| – | 5 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | – | 0 | – | – |
