A decision on whether Weekend Hussler will start in the Caulfield Cup or the Cox Plate, or possibly both races, will not be made until after next month's Underwood Stakes, trainer Ross McDonald has said.
September 20 is shaping as a key date in Weekend Hussler's spring program. That is when McDonald's superstar four-year-old will step beyond the mile for the first time in his racing career when he tackles the G1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield.
Weekend Hussler will run in Saturday's Memsie Stakes then have his first race start at Moonee Valley a fortnight later in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) before tackling the Underwood, McDonald said.
"Once he's gone out beyond the mile that's when you'll sort of see what's going on," McDonald said.
"After the Underwood we'll get some idea. The Yalumba, we'll know a bit more about him."
McDonald said Weekend Hussler had recovered from the foot abscess which interrupted his preparation for the Liston Stakes a fortnight ago.
With plenty of time left until his main spring goals, Weekend Hussler was only somewhere between 75 to 90 percent fit for the Memsie, McDonald said.
"He's not cherry ripe at the moment," he said. "(But) he's fit enough for what he's got to do."
McDonald nominated the Mick Price-trained Alamosa, which will have blinkers for the first time this Saturday, and WA galloper Scenic Blast as Weekend Hussler's two main dangers in the Memsie.
Alamosa, a multiple Group One winner in New Zealand, ran a slashing fourth when first-up in the Liston, while Scenic Blast was twice placed behind Weekend Hussler last spring.