Husson (horse)

Husson was bred by Haras Firmamento, champion breeder in Argentina in 2000, 2002, 2003, and multiple years after.^[2] Husson's sire Hussonet stood in Chile and led the sire list there from 2000 to 2006 before transferring to Australia in 2003.^[3] Husson's dam, Villa Elisa, was a three-time winner who would go on to produce six winners including Husson.^[4]

Husson is a chestnut horse with a stripe and stands 16.0 hands high.^[5]

Husson debuted on March 10, 2006, in the Especial Parfait Amour, a 1200-meter maiden race on the dirt, at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, and won the race by eight lengths.^[6] His next race was the then first Group I race for two-year-olds in Argentina, the Gran Premio Raúl y Raúl E. Chevalier, a 1400-meter turf race at Hipódromo de San Isidro. He won the race impressively, with a margin of nine lengths in a time of 1:18.98, setting a new track record in one of the fastest times for the distance in the world.^[4] Husson's final race at age two was in the Group I Gran Criterium over 1600 meters, also at Hipódromo de San Isidro. Husson won by three-quarters of a length over Asiatic Boy, who would go on to win the G2 UAE Derby.^[4]

For these wins, Husson was awarded as the Champion Two-Year-Old Male in Argentina for 2006.^[1]

Husson then fractured his right knee, keeping him out of training for nearly a year. No other horse of the same generation was particularly impressive during that time, leaving many to suspect that had he been in good health, Husson would have won many of the premier races.^[7]

Husson returned to racing in the G2 Gran Premio Benito Villanueva, a 1600-meter dirt race. He closed to win the race by a head, despite tiring near the end.^[7] In his final race, Husson won the G1 Gran Premio de Las Américas, another 1600 meter dirt race, by a length and a half.^[4] These two victories were enough to earn Husson the title of Argentinian 2007 Champion Miler.^[1]

An asterisk after the odds means Husson was the post time favorite.