Weekend Hussler was named Australia’s Horse of the Year on Monday after a three-year-old campaign in which he equaled the record of 1979 Horse of the Year Kingston Town with six Group 1 victories in a single season.

Weekend Hussler became the first three-year-old to win Horse of the year since Octagonal in 1995-’96.

Trainer Bart Cummings was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame during the award ceremony on Monday in Melbourne. Cummings won the first of his 11 Melbourne Cups in 1965 with Light Fingers.

Weekend Hussler cemented his status as Australia’s top horse with a string of Group 1 successes in 2007-’08. He earned victories in the Age Caulfield Guineas (Aus-G1), Coolmore Stud Stakes (Aus-G1), Ultra Tune Oakleigh Plate (Aus-G1), Newmarket Handicap (Aus-G1), Thrifty Royal Randwick Guineas (Aus-G1), and Cathay Pacific George Ryder Stakes (Aus-G1).

Other Australian champions were: Group 1 Jockey, Corey Brown; Group 1 Trainer, Ross McDonald; International performer, Takeover Target; Sire, Encosta de Lago; Two-year-old, Sebring; Three-year-old filly, Heavenly Glow; Three-year-old colt/gelding, Weekend Hussler; Sprinter, Apache Cat; Middle Distance performer, El Segundo; and Stayer, Efficient.