The champion qualities of Weekend Hussler will undergo their biggest test at Rosehill on Saturday when he strives to become the first horse since Kingston Town to win six Group One races in a season.
The Ross McDonald-trained Victorian will take his place in a star-studded George Ryder Stakes (1500m) field headed by outstanding galloper Racing To Win, heavyweight Desert War, last-start winner Mentality and Honor In War.
Weekend Hussler, recently rated the best three-year-old in the world, has already claimed the Caulfield Guineas, Ascot Vale Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap and Randwick Guineas, all at Group One level, this season.
But the Ryder will present a unique challenge - it will be his first start at weight-for-age.
"This is probably his toughest test," said regular rider Brad Rawiller.
"It's against older horses, it's virtually as good a field as you could get and it's run the Sydney way.
"This will be no easy race but at the end of the day I wouldn't want to be on any other horse."
Further complicating the picture is the increasing likelihood of a slow track which the gelding has raced on just once for a fourth in a Sale maiden on debut.
However, he has posted four victories on dead ground and Rawiller doesn't expect the gelding to have any trouble with a rain-affected Rosehill.
"I'm not really concerned to be honest, but in saying that you never know until they've raced on it with pressure," Rawiller said.
"He's given every indication when he has been on softish ground before that he's got no dramas with it."
Weekend Hussler tuned up for the Ryder with a hitout at Rosehill under regular trackwork rider Les Beer.
However, Rawiller didn't let the star gelding too far out of his sight, partnering his galloping companion before giving the track a solid workout himself.
"I worked with him this morning, he looks in terrific order and worked super," Rawiller said.
"He's settled in good and I had a fairly good look at the track, I had a little jog afterwards to get my own bearings on it as well.
"Rosehill might suit him better (than Randwick) for mine."
Weekend Hussler was wayward at his Sydney debut in the Guineas, hanging out on the home turn and in the straight before knuckling down to his task and arriving in the final bound to nose Triple Honour out of victory.
Rawiller said the fact he was able to win after doing everything wrong only underlined his quality.
"What happened at the furlong (200m), the way he ducked out, that would normally be the end of any horse but not for him," Rawiller said.
"He was just too good."
Kingston Town claimed his record of six Group One wins in a season during his three-year-old year and if Weekend Hussler can emulate him on Saturday, he might even earn the chance to go one better.
The gelding is among entries for the Doncaster Hcp (1600m) at Randwick seven days later but connections will wait until after the Ryder to decide whether he will start.
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