Racing: Hussler has chance at second Oakleigh

Brad Rawiller says Weekend Hussler can win the Oakleigh Plate and he would not want to be riding any other horse.

Rawiller admitted there was an element of the unknown with the 5-year-old after a year off the scene going into today's big Caulfield sprint, but Weekend Hussler's hefty weight of 58.5kg was a reminder of his class.

"Obviously he got the weight for what he has done but he's a good horse and I know which one I want to be on," Rawiller said.

Weekend Hussler, who won the 2008 Oakleigh Plate, has barrier 11 in this year's 13-horse field and has 3.5kg more than the next highest-weighted runner, Lucky Secret, who was beaten a lip in last year's Oakleigh Plate.

Trainer Ross McDonald has been gentle with Weekend Hussler while bringing him back from a leg injury which threatened to end his racing career.

TAB Sportsbet has generously quoted the seven-time Group One winner and 2008 Australian Racehorse of the Year at A$13 to make a successful return to racing.

Rawiller will be looking to slot in as quickly as possible with cover to give Weekend Hussler his chance to win his second Oakleigh Plate.

"It would have been super to have drawn a gate where you can just put him to sleep straight away but there will be good speed anyway and hopefully they will break up a bit," Rawiller said.

Michael Rodd, who will ride in-form sprinter Here De Angels, said he was expecting a cracking early pace, which could decide the result of the race.

The winner of 11 of his 28 starts, Here De Angels was trained by Lee Freedman when he finished seventh to Weekend Hussler in the 2008 Oakleigh Plate.

He joined Mark Kavanagh's stable last year.

He has posted three wins, all at Caulfield, and two seconds from his last five starts.

He earned another crack at the Oakleigh Plate after winning the Group Three Rubiton Stakes (1100m) on February 6 and is one of the top fancies at A$7.

- AAP