David Hayes has declared Shrewd Rhythm his best chance to topple odds-on favourite Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Hayes will also line up Husson Lightning and Cecconi in the Group One feature but believes Shrewd Rhythm will be his preferred choice of the trio with a good gate at Tuesday's barrier draw.

Weekend Hussler is dominating the Guineas market at $1.75 with no other contender under double figure odds.

Shrewd Rhythm is on the second line of betting at $11 along with Group Two Stutt Stakes winner Barbaricus and Marching while Husson Lightning is $18 and Cecconi $21.

Hayes said Weekend Hussler was clearly the horse to beat after spectacular wins at his last three starts by an aggregate of 15-1/2 lengths.

But the master trainer still believes his team can make a race of it.

"I don't think the market has quite got it right," Hayes said.

He pointed out that all Weekend Hussler's wins had been in midweek class at Cranbourne by 3-1/2 lengths and at Sandown by eight lengths on September 19 and four lengths on September 30.

"There is no question he looks like a superstar but if I had run Shrewd Rhythm in a midweeker I would expect him to look like a superstar too," Hayes said.

A Blue Diamond Stakes placegetter, Shrewd Rhythm has raced twice for Hayes since being switched from the Greg Eurell stable following his first up win in the Listed Vain Stakes ((1100m) at Sandown in August.

He didn't fire when eighth in the McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield but ridden more aggressively last start finished third to Purrealist and Marching in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 22.

"He is a good horse and he is the stable elect if he draws well," Hayes said.

Hayes believes Husson Lightning has got under the guard of many judges and that he too can figure in the Guineas finish.

"He's an underrated horse who hasn't had much luck," Hayes said.

The Hussonet three-year-old was competitive at weight-for-age in the Group Three McEwen Stakes (1000m) and Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley before fighting on strongly with 58kg to finish second to Dandy Dollar in the Listed Concept Sports Stakes (1410m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Cecconi was second-up when he finished third to Barbaricus and Davcon in the Stutt Stakes and Hayes believes he is an emerging Derby contender.

"He will be running on strongly at the end of the Guineas but I think he is more like a Norman Robinson Stakes and Victoria Derby horse," Hayes said.

© AAP 2010 Published 08/10/07