It’s been nearly two years since Mr Hussill last raced, but he’s set to return in the TAB Highway Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The five-year-old last raced in October of 2019, winning a benchmark 58 at Dubbo.
Since his win it’s been one injury after another, with his patient connections ready to reap the rewards when he returns on Saturday.
His trainer Cameron Crockett said the son of Husson is in good order ahead of his return.
“When he won at Dubbo, the next day he was lame behind and he actually had a fractured pelvis,” he said.
“He came back from that, and he went in the wind. So, he’s had a wind operation.
“Then we came back and tore a suspensory. He’s had the works.
“He’s had everything imaginable go wrong with him and he’s got some really good owners, so it was disappointing.
“We’ll just wait and see what happens from here, he seems to be in good order.”
The five-year-old has shown plenty of ability in his career thus far, placing on debut for Sue Grills before transferring to the Crockett stable.
He won his next two starts in impressive fashion, before the injuries began to mount.
Mr Hussill trialled just last week, turning in a nice performance when running into second under a strong hold.
Crockett said he couldn’t have the gelding any better.
“His first trial at Scone he was way too fresh after so long off,” he said.
“He blundered at the start, panicked, got his head up and did all sorts of things wrong.
“Then we got him back and trialled him at Muswellbrook with the earmuffs on the other day and he was actually the opposite, he was a little bit too switched off.
“But that was perfect because he did the right work and I’m confident that he’s as good as we can have him.
Crockett has also nominated three-year-old Commando Hunt for the Highway, but admits the gelding is only a 50% chance of starting.
The son of Time For War is also returning from a spell, finishing last campaign with an eye-catching fourth in Highway company.
Scone-based Crockett says Commando Hunt has the ability, but his race-craft still needs some improvement.
“He’s a really nice horse and he’s definitely got a highway win or two in him,” he said.
“He just lacks a race brain a little bit.
“He’s a bit of a worrier, so we’re going to try and get some racing into him this time in and try and make him into a horse.
“We probably mollycoddled him a bit the last couple of preps, but this time around he’s going to be a four-year-old.
“We’re just going to be a little bit tougher on him and try and make him a bit with some more racing and just being a little bit harder on him at home.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
