The bookmakers' faith in Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Turnbull has not been shared by rival trainers Mick Price and Mark Kavanagh.
Not even a wide barrier draw in the Turnbull stopped bookmakers from installing Weekend Hussler a red-hot $1.60 favourite for the race.
"They'd take $1.60 in the Warrnambool to Melbourne bike race for Weekend Hussler," TAB Sportbet's Glenn Munsie said.
"The only sort of new element realistically is Tuesday Joy."
Munsie said he expected Weekend Hussler to start no shorter than $1.50 in the Turnbull.
"The only reason he would be a whole lot shorter is if all the races before him were dominated by horses on the speed with the rail out," he said.
However, Price said he saw no reason why Pompeii Ruler could not reverse the placings from the Underwood Stakes when he ran second to Weekend Hussler.
Pompeii Ruler would be suited by the extra 200m of the Turnbull, Price said, despite weakening in the closing stages of the Underwood.
"If you look at the sectionals you'll see my horse, his last furlong is slow because he's peaked on his run," said Price. "I'm not saying he can't win."
Price said Pompeii Ruler would head straight into the Caulfield Cup after the Turnbull.
Kavanagh said Maldivian had improved significantly since his weakening fourth in the Underwood but warned he would get better with more racing.
He declared Weekend Hussler beatable in the Turnbull.
"I'm going to her aces aren't I? Sooner or later he's going to bet beaten. He can't win every race," he said.
"I'm going to keep going to the races and hope it's me that turns up on the day that he's going to get rolled."
Meanwhile, a punter laid a $5000 bet on Wednesday with TAB Sportsbet for Efficient to win this year's Melbourne Cup.
Despite the wager, Efficient, last year's Cup winner, remained a $7 co-favourite with Septimus for the race.