Ross McDonald has labelled this Saturday's G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington as Weekend Hussler's greatest test yet this spring.
The race will see the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate favourite step up to 2000m for the first time and concede weight to many of his rivals under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Turnbull.
The rise in distance will not be a problem for Weekend Hussler judging by the comments made by his track rider Les Beer on Tuesday morning.
"Les rode him this morning and said he'd get two miles on his ear the way he worked this morning," McDonald said.
"I wouldn't swap him for any of them, or any two of them."
The latter comment was a cheeky jab at the Luca Cumani stable, which has travelled Mad Rush and Bauer from Europe for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Francesca Cumani, stable foreman for her father Luca, doubted on Monday whether Weekend Hussler would be as effective over two miles as he was over one.
"I've heard all sorts of amazing stories about him how he's the new wonder horse. But he's yet to be seen over further than a mile and one furlong (1800m)," she said.
Only Efficient, Zipping and Pompeii Ruler, with 58.5kg, will carry more weight than Weekend Hussler, who being a multiple Group One winner has copped the maximum weight penalty with 57.5kg.
Among Weekend Hussler's other Turnbull rivals will be star Sydney mare Tuesday Joy, front-runner Maldivian and the David Hayes-trained four-year-old Guillotine, who was an impressive last-start winner at weight-for-age level over 1600m.
McDonald said Weekend Hussler had improved since his win in the Underwood Stakes and was now between 80 to 90 percent full fitness.
"He's eating the place down so he can't go wrong there," McDonald said. "His coat's just starting to come through and he looks the part."
"He's had a nice prep. He's done everything we wanted him to do."