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MELBOURNE: Ross McDonald says star three-year-old Weekend Hussler has improved since his comprehensive victory in last Saturday's Coolmore Stakes which augurs well for his prospects in today's A$1 million ($1.2 million) Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
The Hussonet gelding will be shooting for his third successive group one victory, and his sixth straight win from seven starts, in the 1600m feature.
Weekend Hussler will carry 51.5kg, half a kilogram over the minimum and half a kilo above weight-for-age for a three-year-old.
The Emirates hasn't been a race for three-year-olds over the last three decades - the last of that age to win the race was the Bart Cummings-trained Skyjack in 1974.
Cummings also won the 1973 Emirates with star three-year-old Taj Rossi who had already won the Cox Plate and the Victoria Derby that spring, and with outstanding filly Storm Queen in 1966.
Jim Moloney's champion Vain also won as a three-year-old in 1969, scoring by a race record margin of 12 lengths.
But last night McDonald felt the lack of a three-year-old winner in the race in 34 years was inconsequential and he didn't seem fazed by the wide barrier draw (13 of 16). "It's out of my hands," he said.
The Caulfield trainer is clearly happy with the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) hero who went back to 1200m in the Coolmore and won easily again.
"He was better on Monday and Tuesday than he was on the Saturday and back up to the mile (1600m) will suit him ideally," he said.
Danny Nikolic will ride Weekend Hussler for the first time, replacing heavyweight rider Brad Rawiller who could not make the weight.
Nikolic yesterday appealed an 11-meeting careless riding suspension imposed on him on Melbourne Cup day and has applied for a stay of proceedings which would allow him to ride Weekend Hussler today.
The strongest opposition is likely to come from the 2006 Caulfield Guineas winner Wonderful World who is coming off his second to El Segundo in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
The Agnes World entire drew barrier 10 and will be ridden by Steven Arnold who will be looking to make amends after suffering the anguish of giving up the ride on Melbourne Cup winner Efficient.
Cummings is looking for a record seventh win in the race, his most recent victors being Catalan Opening (1997), Shaftesbury Avenue (1990) and Maybe Mahal (1976). David Hayes, who trained three straight winners of the race before starting his 10-year stint in Hong Kong, has topweight Niconero, who was runner-up under 54kg to Divine Madonna last year.
Niconero finished 11th of 13 in the Cox Plate, but Hayes is expecting a big improvement on that performance.
"He wasn't suited by the farcically-run Cox Plate and that form has been turned upside down," Hayes said.
"He wasn't far behind Divine Madonna (seventh) in the Cox Plate and she came out and won at group one level on Derby day.
"But he has a big job with the weight (57kg) from the (wide) barrier (15)," Hayes added.
Rival trainer Lee Freedman is cautious about Weekend Hussler being able to maintain his winning run today.
Freedman, who will line-up last-start Jayco Crystal Mile winner Sonic Quest said Weekend Hussler had form against three-year-olds that could be suspect.
"There is a question mark over the three-year-old form this spring so it is hard to gauge him," Freedman said, referring to an apparent lack of depth in that age group this spring.
"He is a very good horse and looks to have a great future but I think it is a test for him going into this at the end of a preparation when his only form is against three-year-olds."
Freedman said he couldn't be more pleased with Sonic Quest who would become the second horse to win the Jayco Crystal Mile-Emirates Stakes double after Dazzling Duke in 1985.
"He has really done well since his last run," Freedman said.
"His work has been good and he comes into this race on only his fourth run in so he should be right at his peak."
Freedman has won the Emirates twice but not since Pontormo in 1991. Warned also won for him in 1987.
Caulfield Cup-winning trainer Danny O'Brien is confident Valedictum can run well again after winning the 2005 Emirates and finishing third last year.
He has since had stem cell therapy for an injured tendon and missed the autumn, but O'Brien was encouraged by his runs this campaign.
O'Brien said the gelding was "anchored" when eighth to Count To Zero in the Ellerston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
"They outsprinted him with his big weight last week but he drops in weight and is up to a mile (1600m) so I can't see why he won't run well," O'Brien said.
"He's a seven-year-old but I reckon he's going as well this spring as he was last spring."
Brian Mayfield-Smith said Orange County had no luck when second to Sonic Quest at Moonee Valley but needed luck to turn the tables in a crack field. "His runs have been honest and I'm just hoping we can get lucky," Mayfield-Smith said.
"I will have to do a big turnaround on recent times to pull this one out of the pack."
Caulfield trainer Mick Price believes Shinzig could figure in the finish at big odds after his last-start fourth in the Ellerston.
"His run was really good the other day," Price said.
"He will be having his third run for the stable and from gate one will settle in the first four.
"I think he will give a really good account of himself."
- NZPA /AAP
