Maldivian continues to put a horror 2007 campaign behind him. After being a late scratching in the Caulfield Cup as favouraite, Big Mal returned in 2008 to take out the Cox Plate and has backed up the return to top honours taking out the G1 Orr Stakes over 1400m. This was Maldivians first win running first up, having been placed at the previous 5 attempts. In what was a swoopers track, Alamosa who was ridden well back just failing coming home strong in front of Theseo.
A little early but an important race for the 2009 to see how some of the Novemeber hopefuls fare after their summer break. Of note, Master O’rielly who finished 4th to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup doing enough, both Sirmione and Baughurst ran on well let postnig 34.34 and 34.47 for the last 600m respectively.
Weekend Hussler did just enough in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield on the 30th August 2008. After taking the length of the straight to run down a glant Maldivian some could question where Weekend Hussler is at this spring. Last season Weekend Hussler would get into the straight after sitting off the pace and just blow the opposition away. But things are different this year due to one factor as trainer Ross McDonald has pointed our, Weekend Hussler is training for further distances.
Last year 1200-1600 was right in Weekend Husslers zone, this year as the connections search for the big three, well at least the Cox plate (2050m) and the Caulfield Cup (2400m) Weekend Hussler is turning more into a stayer then a sprinter like Takeover Target.
