Hosting hustles rivals at Caulfield

Hosting treated Caulfield’s on-pace bias with contempt in the LR Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

The progressive son of Swettenham Stud sire Host (Chi) came from last with a whirlwind finish to nail the front-runners right on the line. “I was a bit worried and thought Kerrin (McEvoy) had him too far back,” Eurell admitted. “But the hot pace up front helped and I was very happy with the way he was travelling on the home turn.

“This horse has always shown ability and he’s overcome a serious leg injury to make his mark today. He’s right on song now and is certainly bred to get a 1600 metres.”

Hosting is well-catered for at that distance in coming weeks with the G2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley on October 25 and G1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 8.

Hosting (5g Host – Kali Smytzer by Zabeel) is from a NZ bred mare who has also foaled the Danewin stakes winners King Diamond (VRC Roy Higgins Hcp) and Elderly Paradise (Macau Derby).

He won on debut at Mornington and returned as an autumn three year-old for black-type placings in the LR Manfred Stakes at Caulfield and G3 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Resuming as a four year-old, he won at Sandown and Rosehill but his career was put on hold after fracturing a humerus bone at Flemington in April. “He was taken to the Werribee Vet Clinic and it didn’t look good,” Eurell recalled. “But the vets assured us he would make a full recovery and they were right!”

Host (Hussonet) has covered over 200 mares combined in his last two books at Swettenham Stud. He is standing for an $8,800 (inc gst) service fee this year.