by Mike Curry

Australian star sprinter Weekend Hussler scored his record-tying sixth Group 1 victory of the season with a clear win in the $378,339 Cathay Pacific George Ryder Stakes (Aus-G1) on the AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes (Aus-G1) undercard on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.

The Hussonet gelding has won nine of his last ten starts and equaled the record for Group 1 victories set by Kingston Town in 1979-’80. Weekend Hussler won the 2007 Age Caulfield Guineas (Aus-G1) and Coolmore Stud Stakes (Aus-G1). He added victories in the 2008 Ultra Tune Oakleigh Plate (Aus-G1) and Newmarket Handicap (Aus-G1) and entered off a victory in the Thrifty Royal Randwick Guineas (Aus-G1) on March 29 for trainer Ross McDonald, who conditions Weekend Hussler for a partnership.

"He's the horse you wait a lifetime for and most people don't get one," McDonald told Australia’s The Age. "We're lucky to have him. He's just something out of the box.”

McDonald thought the George Ryder Stakes would be a difficult task for his standout sprinter as he took on champion Racing To Win in the 1,500-meter (7.46-furlong) race.

"Of all the races this time in, this was always going to be the toughest—at weight-for-age, against Sydney's best horse [Racing To Win],” McDonald told The Age. “But we knew he was up to it."

Weekend Hussler stalked the pace under Brad Rawiller, accelerated to the lead in the stretch, and comfortably held off Racing To Win by 1 1/2 lengths to prevail in 1:31.72 on turf rated as heavy.

Eskimo Queen closed gamely in the straight to win the $598,857 Tad Kennedy/Coolmore Classic Stakes (Aus-G1) by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.

Trained by Michael Maroney for a partnership, the Shinko King mare reeled in runner-up Hot Danish in the last 100 meters. Eskimo Queen covered 1,500 meters in 1:33.51.

Jockey Robert Thompson earned his first career Group 1 victory when he guided Heavenly Glow to a three-quarter-length score in the $378,152 Storm Queen/Arrowfields Stud Stakes (Aus-G1) on the Golden Slipper undercard.

The Spinning World filly completed 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:09.21.

Runner-up Galileo’s Daughter edged Pentura by a neck.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor