Trainer Ross McDonald has labelled Saturday's George Ryder Stakes as Weekend Hussler's biggest test to date but believes only bad luck can beat him.
Taking on seasoned older horses at weight-for-age level on a rain-affected track and racing at Rosehill for the first time are all factors increasing the difficulty of the mission facing the champion three-year-old.
McDonald was typically bullish on Thursday about Weekend Hussler's hopes of defeating the likes of Racing To Win, Mentality and Desert War in the $404,900 race over 1500m.
"I'm quite happy with the horse. He's travelled up good. Just a bit of bad luck in the run could cost him the race," McDonald told Sportal.
But McDonald was aware the Ryder would not be a walk in the park for Weekend Hussler, which will join the great Kingston Town as the only horses to win six Group One races in the one season if he salutes on Saturday.
"It's his biggest test to date. Weight-for-age, taking the older horses, running the reverse way of going," McDonald said. "And we could have a wet track."
The track was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday morning but could improve to dead provided the forecast showers for Sydney stay away from Rosehill.
Rain will help star miler Racing To Win, which has two wins and a third from his only three starts on a slow track, upset Weekend Hussler.
Trainer John O'Shea expected his grey, which won the Apollo Stakes at Rosehill two starts ago, to run his best race this preparation in the Ryder but was not confident he could topple Weekend Hussler, which he said was the 'best horse in the country'.
"Racing To Win's record speaks for itself. He'll be competitive in whatever we step him out. We just hope we're good enough," he said.
Racing To Win will run in the Group One All Aged Stakes (1400m) on May 3 after the Ryder, while McDonald will wait until after Saturday's race before deciding on a start in next weekend's Doncaster Handicap for Weekend Hussler.