The Little Mate Who Softens A Champion's Heart
The Age
Saturday October 18, 2008
WEEKEND Hussler, the wonder horse, bites everyone who enters his padded stable box. Everyone except five-year-old Harry McDonald.
Harry, the product of four generations of racing blood, and the grandson of trainer Ross, has a unique relationship with the most popular horse in the country.He is the only person able to enter the stall of the favourite for today's Caulfield Cup without being bitten, butted or nudged. Not only does Weekend Hussler love Harry. Harry loves the Hussler, and he has predicted almost all of his wins and losses, and has even given the jockey some lip if he is not happy with the ride."I didn't ask him first up this time in, but every other start I've asked Harry, and he said, 'yeah, dad, he'll win, he'll win'," Harry's father, Clinton McDonald, said this week."I asked before the Turnbull 'will he win today, Harry?' and he said 'he won't win today dad'."The Horse of the Year's run in the 2000 metres Turnbull Stakes two weeks ago was a major disappointment, with the favourite failing to win a place. It gave the doomsayers a reason to say Weekend Hussler can't stay. But after the horse drew friendly barrier 11 this week, a flood of money from his legion of fans surged him into favouritism for the Caulfield run over 2400 metres.The horse may remove skin and leave teeth marks on minders at the McDonald clan's Caulfield stables, but Harry and the horse are one. "An adult walks in and the horse smells fear," his grandmother Margaret McDonald explains. "The small ones have no fear. Harry is just a natural around horses. He has a few generations running through him, and he loves animals. He is besotted by them."Margaret is of the Hoysted family, one of the most famed in the racing game. "You must understand Harry is a McDonald, a little bull," the matriarch adds. Listen to Clinton and he'll tell you Harry walks into Weekend Hussler's box and rubs the gelding down.The horse responds and will sniff the young tyro, for they are best mates."And don't worry about the tipping, for Harry is in fine form," Margaret said. "The family went to the local for a feed the other night, and Clinton had $100 in his pocket and asked Harry to pick a number. It was number one."Said Clinton: "It was the dogs, I backed it and it won. I asked him for another number and it was four, and it won the next. I walked out with $900 - can you believe it?" As for a sense of humour and a sharp tongue - what about Harry's introduction to Brad Rawiller, the man who navigated Weekend Hussler around the track? "He met him the other night," Clinton said. "Harry said 'you're the one that murdered the Hussler'." Margaret adds: "Lucky Brad has a sense of humour. He took it well."Of course, Clinton asked his son about Weekend Hussler's prospects today. "He'll win, dad," was the prophet's reply.
© 2008 The Age
