Weekend Hussler's handicap of 55.5kg was exactly what trainer Ross McDonald had been expecting prior to Tuesday's release of weights for this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
While Weekend Hussler will almost certainly carry at least 56.5kg in the Caulfield Cup should the top six weighted horses not run, which appears likely, McDonald told Sportal he had no qualms with the handicapper.
"That's what we thought we'd get," McDonald said.
"The handicapper does what he's paid to do, that's not our job. Everyone says they'd like a kilo less but that's what they get paid to do, it's their job," McDonald said.
"He's been weighted right up to what he's done seeing he hasn't raced over a trip. You wouldn't have wanted anymore than that."
Aidan O'Brien, who has two of the six horses allotted 57kg or more, has already declared his intention to bypass the race. Efficient was an unlikely starter and Japanese pair Delta Blues and Pop Rock have been ruled out due to strict quarantine regulations.
Richard Gibson, the trainer of French stayer Doctor Dino, has also told Racing Victoria Limited officials his galloper would not be coming to Australia this spring.
That means weights will be lifted one kilo to ensure the minimum top weight is 57kg, a requirement for all Group One handicaps in Victoria.
"But we won't worry about that. We'll worry about it when it comes along," McDonald said.
"It's not going to do you any good. It might give you ulcers."
Of more pressing concern to McDonald are the results from a precautionary blood test he has run for Weekend Hussler.
"(There's) a few little bugs getting around which a few horses are getting so just got to make sure everything's fine," he said.
Should nothing untoward be revealed, McDonald will press ahead with a start in this Saturday's G2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington with Weekend Hussler.