You're right there HW. He was posted 3-wide only in that part of the race where you don't want to be 3 wide, and at that stage he also had no cover and was sitting on a strong speed set by Maldivian. PR had the drop on him and would have beaten any other horse in Australia under similar circumstances.

I expect we agree that WH was the better run and better than the margin reflects.

.

My comments were only based on the fact i had read in so many different places that Weekend Hussler was 3 wide the entire trip but he wasnt. My thoughts were if Pompeii ruler hadnt come in on Weekend hussler and had to rebalance slightly it would have been a very good race between the two. This weekend will be the deciding race on how good this horse is stepping up to 2000m and against probably the best field he has faced. Im not a knocker of the horse but i would love to see it get beaten, just for the simple fact that im an aussie and i love to see the underdog get up Just like i was barracking for Hawthorne last week for the same reason

He did run the first part of the race outside of Indio Glorioso who in turn was outside of Maldivian...it's really a matter of perspective.

But both of those horses went around the outside of Weekend Hussler after they jumped?? He never went around Indio Glorioso untill the 800?

Try this -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4gzrusADoM

He doesn't get past Indio Glorioso until around 1:13 into the race. Before that he sits behind Indio Glorioso, and probably wider than that horse (which is one of the fence outside Maldivian).

There is a clear picture of him racing 3 wide between 0:47 and 0:49.

It is a matter of perspective as to whether he was racing 3 wide before that - you just can't tell with the camera angle.

What was impressive about the run was that he raced wide without cover on the speed for a significant portion of the race and was still too good for Pompeii Ruler, who had the sit on him.

Tomorrow should be much the same pattern - with Maldivian leading from Weekend Hussler and Pompeii Ruler sitting back 3rd or possibly 4th if Extend pushes up. The advantage to these three runners, compared to Caulfield, is that Indio Glorioso is not in the field. This takes some pressure out of the speed.

Barring some crazy track bias (remember this meeting last year) Weekend Hussler should win.

Your right Filante it is a matter of perspective. I also agree with you on where the horses will be placed tomorrow. Tuesday joy should be back around 6th or 7th and Littorio 12th or 13th. They come roud the turn and the Hussler kicks clear. pompeii ruler chasing hard and goes past him around the 100m with tuesday joy closing hard and littorio coming from the clouds. Tusday Joy and Littorio get past Pompeii ruler in the last 20m (ala the cox plate 2yrs ago :P) and a photo finish between Tuesday Joy and Littorio keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. The Hussler a galant 4th after being 3 wide on the fence the entire trip (your honor i retract that final comment)

No but in all seriousness I cant wait for this race tomorrow and if the Hussler i wont be to upset knowing i have finally witnessed one of these greats everyone talks about before i began following the GG's.

I fear there is an aweful lot riding on what really is a lead-in race..... it is a very good field but, IMHO it's really not a defining race for the "making" of a horse. It's more a good lead to where all these horses are at after their last couple of starts have been neither here-nor-there and also been on rather interesting tracks patterns and of course has lead to some interesting results....looking forward to a good race and for the record I'm on the Ruler, which for the place represent better value than the Huss for the win.

Theis meeting up until about 4 years ago was just a run of the mill lead in meetings, until Makybe ran through and the Media (and VRC) ran with it and all power to them.

Good Luck to those having a punt, or just watching and looking for their "thrill"

Peace

__________________
Stix
.......Giddy Up..... !!

8 of the last 20 winners have started from barrier 12 or further out.

12 of the last 20 winners have started from barriers 1 - 11

Touche !