Stallion Barn Yarn

• Stallion name: Hussonet (USA) 1991
• Breeding: Mr Prospector (USA) – Sacahuista (USA)
• Stud name: Cornerstone Stud
• Fee: $16,500 Inc GST
• Key statistics and information:
  • Sire of 29 individual Group 1 winners, the leading active sire of Group 1 winners in Australia!
  • Sire of 90 individual stakes winners, 10% stakes winners to runners!
  • Sire of sires – Host, Husson, Reaan, etc. and a broodmare sire of 78% winners to runners!
  • Free from the Northern Dancer line!!

Questions:

1. Have you settled in well in the Barossa Valley since your arrival at Cornerstone Stud in 2011?

Absolutely, it is heaven on earth for horses in the valley. I have my own hedged paddock and tend to hide behind a big tree during the day. The wine here is fantastic, far better than it was in the Hunter Valley or Chile. I feel reborn again since the move and I had more mares visit me for some loving last year than I had had in the previous few years.

2. Do you ever think about retiring?

That’s crazy talk, retirement is for wimps! Did you not see me with all fours off the ground at the stud open day this year? My dad lived and courted the ladies until he was 29; I intend to follow the same path in life so breeders should expect my bloodlines to be very prominent in Australian breeding long into the future.

3. What do you continue to enjoy most about stud life?

Getting out of bed for a 6am visit to the serving barn, no better way to start the day!

4. Which of your progeny do you expect to be your 30^th Group 1 winner?

Hard to choose between my sons Karacatis and Woodbine. Karacatis is a recent stakes winner this season and he has improved a lot since he was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Goodwood earlier this year. Woodbine is the product of my celebrity relationship with his famous mother, Miss Finland, already a winner and Gai loves him.

5. What maiden filly would you most like to cover this year?

Everyone knows that I like a big butch type of girl, so I suppose the obvious answer is that fast one they call Nelly. I am a bit peeved however, that this new grey horse on the farm is getting in with Alcopop’s young maiden sister, I wouldn’t have minded a bit of that.

6. If you were a human what would your profession be?

Professional ultimate fighter, boxer or wrestler. I have incredible muscle tone and I am built absolutely rock solid, if I may say so myself.