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New Weekend Star Emerges
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He hadn't even won a listed race before Saturday, but now Weekend Hussler is a
Group 1 winner, dominating his rivals in the $1 million Caulfield Guineas. In just his fifth start,
the Ross Mcdonald trained gelding rounded up the field at the 600m, and accelerated away for a comfortable
3 length win.
Although jockey Brad Rawiller got going on the $2 favourite quite early, 'The Hussler' had more than
enough class to hold off the fast finishing Scenic Blast and Marching. Despite the
impressiveness of the win, McDonald ruled out the possibility of a last minute entry into
the Cox Plate, instead looking toward the Emirates on the last day of the Spring Carnival.
The Toorak Handicap also witnessed another impressive display, with Divine Madonna flashing home from
last to capture another Group 1 for in-form trainer, Mark Kavanagh. Equal favourite Wonderful World went to
the lead down the straight, but was run down by Divine Madonna in the last 100m, with Niconero
getting out late to steal second place. Kavanagh now has 3 potential Cox Plate runners with
Divine Madonna potentially joining Devil Moon and Maldivian in the hottest WFA race in Australasia.
Maldivian shortened considerably in Cox Plate betting after it's dominating performance in the
Yalumba Stakes, beating short priced favourite Miss Finland by over a length. Sitting just off the speed all race,
Maldivian cruised to the lead at the bend, and was never threatened, in a gallop that has seen his
odds slashed to $6.50 in the Cox Plate.
Miss Finland remains favourite but has drifted to $2.80, with Devil Moon, Haradasun and El Segundo still
well in the market.
In other races, sprinting star Gold Edition proved too good in the Schillaci Stakes, finishing ahead of
Royal Asscher and Let Go Thommo. Master O'Reilly showed he is a major Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
contender with a strong victory in the Winning Edge, and Gamble Me beat his more fancied rivals
in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
The Spring Carnival stays in Caulfield this week with the 1000 Guineas to be run on Wednesday,
followed by the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup on Saturday.
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