Hussler a definite Caulfield Cup starter
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Weekend Hussler goes into the Caulfield Cup as the topweight. (Getty Images: Mark Dadswell)
Weekend Hussler's trainer Ross McDonald says the track star is a certain starter in this Saturday's $2.5 million Caulfield Cup.
Weekend Hussler was the main attraction at Caulfield this morning as he galloped impressively on the course proper ahead of Saturday's race.
The gelding came a disappointing eighth in the Turnball Stakes at Flemington earlier this month, and McDonald had threatened to pull the seven-time Group One winner out of the Caulfield Cup if drew an outside barrier.
But McDonald says while he is still hopeful about drawing well tomorrow, Weekend Hussler will definitely start on Saturday.
"We've probably got to run him, there's a fair bit of money on him and [it] probably wouldn't be right for the public to pull him out," he said.
"But I'm going to draw the barrier. I thought if I let any of the owners draw it and we get a bad alley, I could go crook at them, but if I pull the wrong alley - well I can only abuse myself."
McDonald said he was hoping to draw around barrier four for the race.
Jockey Brad Rawiller admits Weekend Hussler has little chance if McDonald draws an outside barrier.
"It would be a great blessing if we could draw inside six, six to 10 I think we'd be probably still be OK," he said.
"Outside 10, well, we're going to be certainly doing plenty of serious homework."
Weekend Hussler lost Cup favouritism after finishing eighth to new favourite Littorio when he had a torrid run three wide in the Turnbull Stakes last start at Flemington.
But McDonald believes it was not a true reflection of his staying ability.
"We watched the stewards' video and Brad knows where he went wrong on the horse and he won't make the same mistake again," the trainer said.
"We were disappointed he didn't win but at least we aren't going into the Caulfield Cup trying to win five on the trot."
Strong track work
Weekend Hussler, the field topweight who will carry 57kg in the 2,400m feature, galloped wide out on the track this morning with stablemate Pacino over 1,600m.
Having had his final fast gallop before the Cup on Saturday morning, McDonald was happy with this morning's more leisurely gallop in which Weekend Hussler worked home the last 600m.
Ridden by regular track work rider Les Beer, Weekend Hussler sat off Pacino but had the better of his stablemate by nearly a length on the line, coming away.
Rawiller, who rode Pacino in the workout, was happy with what he saw.
"He was just ticking over on the bridle, but it was still strong work," he said.
McDonald said Weekend Hussler would wear a tongue tie for the first time on Saturday.
-ABC/AAP
