For a horse whose earnings are just shy of $2 million, Lucky Hussler has been having a hard time of it of late but he was back to his brilliant best when edging Illustrious Lad in Saturday's Group III Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.
Coincidently the last win for Lucky Hussler came in the Magic Millions Cup on Magic Millions
But it was a close-run thing for the Darren Weir-trained Lucky Hussler who hooked up with the Peter Gelagotis-trained Illustrious Lad in a final furlong thriller.
With Brad Rawiller extracting all that Lucky Hussler had to give, the 7yo gelding defeated Illustrious Lad by a short-head with four lengths back to the third placed Super Cash.
"He's been going really well, but his last two runs he didn't run like he'd been working," Weir said.
"The boys
"He's been a great horse for connections and for us too since he came to us.
"He looks back on track now for the Magic Millions.
"He showed that today and he had to because the second horse has been in terrific form and they're always hard to beat when they're racing that good.
"There was nothing between them, just the bob of the head.
"We'll focus now on the Magic Millions and head up there for the race that he won last year."
A $100,000 purchase from the Monarch Stud draft at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale, Lucky Hussler advances his record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 39 starts for earning of $1,990,600.
The 6yo gelded son of Husson (ARG) is closely related to the champion Weekend Hussler.
While the former Australian Horse Of The Year is by Hussonet (USA) out of the Helissio mare Weekend Beauty, Lucky Hussler is by Hussonet's son Husson (ARG) out of Weekend Beauty's daughter Talaq Dancer a daughter of Black Hawk (JPN).
Lucky Hussler is the first and only foal out of Talaq Dancer who died in October 2011.
