Hussonet (Mr. Prospector–Sacahuista, by Raja Baba), a leading international stallion of no fewer than 20 champions and 30 Grade/Group 1 winners on four different continents, passed away Monday from a stroke at Cornerstone Stud in South Australia. He was 25 years old.
Bred in Kentucky by Peter Brant and Julian Schnabel, the second foal and first to race from 1987 U.S. champion 3-year-old filly Sacahuista won twice and was not out of the top three in seven trips to the races and although he never scaled the heights as a racehorse, Hussonet retired to stud in Chile, where he was represented by three horses of the year and 17 of his champions. Wild Spirit (Chi), the 2003 Chilean Horse of the Year, made her way to the U.S. and took out the 2003 GI Ruffian H. in New York for trainer Todd Pletcher, while Trotamondo (Chi), the 2005 HOTY, annexed the 2005 GIII Native Diver H. in California. Hussonet's son Host (Chi) also made his way to America, winning the GI Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Race Course for Pletcher and owner Eugene Melnyk. He now stands stud in Australia.
The three-time leading sire in Chile, Hussonet was relocated to John Messara's Arrowfield Stud in 2003 and from his first Australian crop, sired Weekend Hussler (Aus), who won a remarkable seven Group 1 events en route to being named champion 3-year-old colt and the Horse of the Year in 2008.
The stallion's reach extended as far as Hong Kong, where he was represented by G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile winner Glorious Days (Aus) as well as Contentment (Aus) (ex Chilton County {Aus}), recent winner of the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and a leading local chance for the G1 Champions Mile in May. Stepitup (Aus) has flown the flag for his sire in recent years in Singapore, earning champion 3-year-old honors in 2013, and was crowned that jurisdiction's Horse of the Year in 2015 after annexing the first two legs of the older horse Triple Crown.
Hussonet's influence as a broodmare sire has also been seen recently through the exploits of Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), winner of the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield last month and unlucky in the run when favored in the G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. Mar. 19. Hussonet spent the last five years at Cornerstone Stud in the Barossa Valley, SA.
“The team at Cornerstone Stud would like to thank shareholders and clients very much for their support of Hussonet and the Stud over the past few years,” the farm said in a release. “Whilst he has lived to a great age of 25, it is always difficult saying goodbye to a legend who was so dear to all our hearts here at Cornerstone. We welcome visitors to call by the farm any time if you wish to pay your respects to a very special horse.”
According to statistics from The Jockey Club, Hussonet is the sire of 840 career winners who have amassed earnings of over US$63 million. He has accounted for 97 black-type winners (9% SW/starters), 61 of those at the group/graded level, and another 79 runners who have earned black-type.
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