Hussler dominates big race markets

Weekend Hussler has firmed even further in early betting for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.

Weekend Hussler has firmed even further in early betting for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup following his dominant win in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is also second favourite for the Melbourne Cup despite never having raced beyond 1600 metres.

After his victory in Saturday's Group Two race at Flemington, Australia's newly crowned Horse of the Year is now at $3 for the Cox Plate (2040m) on October 25 and $3.20 for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) seven days earlier.

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, who ran home strongly for fifth in the Makybe Diva (1600m) to finish 4-3/4 lengths from the winner, is the $7 favourite to repeat the Cup win with Weekend Hussler at $13 alongside Irish stayer Septimus.

The Makybe Diva was supposed to be a clash between Weekend Hussler and Light Fantastic who defeated him in the Liston Stakes but while the champion was back to his brilliant best, Light Fantastic had little at the end of the race battling to finish fourth.

"We had an incident-free week with him," Weekend Hussler's trainer Ross McDonald said.

"He's a terrific horse. You can jump him out, put him on the pace, grab hold of him and bring him back and then he's got a sprint.

"We've got two weeks to bring him up for the 1800 metres now."

The Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) will be the next step for Weekend Hussler and his first over a distance.

Jockey Brad Rawiller said the Makybe Diva rated with Weekend Hussler's victory over Sydney star Racing To Win in the George Ryder Stakes during the autumn.

Maldivian, who led the Memsie field last Saturday and was only caught late by Weekend Hussler, is at $7 with TAB Sportsbet for the Cox Plate and $6 for the Caulfield Cup.

Maldivian was favourite for last year's Caulfield Cup but was scratched in a dramatic race prelude when he hit his head on a piece of camera equipment inadvertently left in the barrier stall.

The Caulfield Stakes winner had three starts in the autumn for a second and two unplaced runs but has come back this time around in fine form with a third in the Liston and second in the Memsie.

Dual Derby placegetter Littorio, third in the Makybe Diva, is in to $15 for the Melbourne Cup.