Take me on at your peril. That was the ominous warning Weekend Hussler's raceday jockey, Brad Rawiller, issued to his rivals on Tuesday morning.
A bold Rawiller declared he had learnt the lessons from his ride in the Turnbull Stakes when he had Weekend Hussler caught three-wide at his first try at 2000m, and will not make the same mistake in this Saturday's $2.55 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m).
If rival jockeys wanted to gang up on Weekend Hussler like they did in the Turnbull, they would pay the consequences, Rawiller said.
Darren Beadman on Tuesday Joy, and Dwayne Dunn on Zagreb both seized the opportunity to keep Weekend Hussler wide in the Turnbull and finished 10th and 11th respectively.
Coincidentally, Tuesday Joy was subsequently found to have bled in the race.
"The two horses and riders that caused us the most grief in the Turnbull ran accordingly. They cost their own chances of beating mine," Rawiller said.
"If they're going to want to be running 2400 themselves I think the focus will be off us to some extent."
"If they're out to do that I'll be a little bit smarter this time and not get involved in it."
Rawiller said it was wrong to say Weekend Hussler could not stay based purely on his effort in the Turnbull.
"Last start wasn't ideal. We didn't get the guide we wanted going into 2400," he said.
"In saying that I think with the run that we had he's done what he was entitled to. He wasn't going to be able to sprint."
"He still held his speed in the straight, just wasn't able to quicken and that's what you've got to expect on the Flemington course rail out nine metres and without cover."
"Basically for mine, the run was inconclusive and everything else he's shown us I'm full of confidence for Saturday."
Weekend Hussler galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, working over a mile in even time on the course proper with the Clinton McDonald-trained gelding Pacino and sprinting home the final 600 metres.
Partnered by regular track rider Les Beer, Weekend Hussler gave his galloping companion a length start at the 600 but had him covered by the same margin by the finish.
"For going into where he's at I think it was the perfect hit out he needed," Rawiller, who was aboard Pacino, said of his Caulfield Cup mount.
"He wasn't out to set any records. Just make sure he was ticking over right and it seems like he's right on track."