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Exciting three-year-old Weekend Hussler cemented his place as Caulfield Guineas favourite when he overcame difficulties to score an easy win at Sandown on Sunday.
Sent out the $1.24 favourite in the Lord Dudley Hcp (1400m), Weekend Hussler lost his near front shoe as he jumped out of the barrie.
"He wasn't brilliant for the first three strides but it was nice that he came back underneath me and relaxed when they were going a bit steady, before quickening and he had a bit on them," jockey Brad Rawiller said.
"He did it beautifully and cruised the last 100 metres. He was just way too good for them.
"I can't wait for the Guineas. He's a very, very nice horse."
Weekend Hussler went on to score by four lengths from Viatorian ($21) with Morgan Dollar ($14) two lengths away third.
Emjay Hussey, second pick in the betting at $7, was a neck away fourth.
Weekend Hussler, who has won the last three of his four career starts by a combined total of 15-1/2 lengths, tightened up even further from $2.80 to $2.40 for the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 13.
Trainer Ross McDonald was pleased with Weekend Hussler who doesn't actually turn three until November 3.
"I said to Brad not to get caught in a speed battle. He has another dimension," McDonald said.
"He can stop and start, he can take up a position. He's got gears."
McDonald said Weekend Hussler had a bad habit of kicking a lot which forced him to put him out in a rubber yard as a precaution against injury.
The gelding will be among the first Victorian horses vaccinated against equine influenza (EI) when he is inoculated on Monday morning.
McDonald said Weekend Hussler would then be able to have a few quiet days while he was monitored with the Caulfield Guineas almost two weeks away.
Meanwhile Lee Freedman posted a winning treble at the Sandown meeting.
He combined with apprentice Willy Hernan to win with Post Thyme ($2.60 fav) in the Solution Hcp (1700m) and with Cefalu ($4.20 fav) in the Gaine Carrington Hcp (2400m), while Corey Brown rode diminutive mare Satin Robes ($5) to victory in the Snippets Hcp (1000m).
Freedman has the Melbourne Cup in mind for Cefalu, winner of the 2005 Group One El Derby (2400m) in Chile.
Cefalu has won two of his 16 starts since arriving in Australia for the OTI 2005 syndicate, managed by Terry Henderson and Simon O'Donnell.
"My ambition is to get him into the Melbourne Cup. He's fully qualified so he could get into the race and run really well," Freedman said.
"He took a long time to settle but he still ran a couple of good races last spring and his form is getting better and better.
"He could run in the Benalla Cup next Sunday or The Bart Cummings or the Winning Edge Presentations Stakes, but that might be a bit of a hot race."
The Dushyantor six-year-old has 50kg in the Melbourne Cup and he is currently at $101 with TAB Sportsbet.
© 2010 Published 30/09/07
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