McDonald family mourns death of iconic ‘horse of a lifetime’ Weekend Hussler
Australian Horse of the Year winner Weekend Hussler has died from colic.
Clinton McDonald, whose father Ross trained the champion horse, announced the news on Sunday.
Ross died in 2014 while his wife Margaret, Clint’s mother, died just two months ago.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Weekend Hussler was named 2007-08 Horse of the Year after winning six Group 1 races as a three-year-old.
“Hopefully he’s now up with Mum and Dad,” Clinton said.
“He took our family on one hell of a ride; he was the horse of a lifetime.”
Weekend Hussler’s iconic run kicked off with the Caulfield Guineas and continued at Flemington with a win in the Ascot Vale Stakes.
Brad Rawiller, in the seat for the first two Group 1 wins, returned to the saddle to win the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap.
The pair then teamed up in Sydney to win the Randwick Guineas and George Ryder Stakes.
Weekend Hussler’s feat remains rare.
Only four other horses — Winx, Black Caviar, Kingston Town and Via Sistina — have won six or more Group 1 races in a single season.
Two Group 2 wins and one last Group 1 triumph followed in 2008-09 before Weekend Hussler was retired in 2010.
Weekend Hussler’s death follows the loss of McDonald’s 2024 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi in January following complications from surgery.
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
