Champion three-year-old Weekend Hussler became the first horse since Kingston Town to win six Group One races in a season with a breathtaking victory over Racing To Win in Saturday's George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.
However, the gelding is unlikely to be given the chance to go one better with trainer Ross McDonald ruling out a start in next Saturday's
Doncaster Handicap 
.
The Victorian gelding has captured the heart of Sydney racegoers who cheered and applauded their new champion as he returned to scale for jockey Brad Rawiller after his demolition win.
Weekend Hussler's Group One wins came in the Caulfield Guineas and Ascot Vale Stakes last spring and the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap, Randwick Guineas and Saturday's George Ryder (1500m) this autumn.
Kingston Town also achieved the feat during his three-year-old season in 1979-80.
McDonald has trained his share of top horses including 1989 Golden Slipper winner Courtza and Tristarc but said there was none better than Weekend Hussler.
"He's the best that I've got," McDonald said.
"He's got a great cruising speed, he can quicken off a fast or slow speed and he's got a great motor.
"I think he might be (rated up there with Kingston Town) now."
Weekend Hussler ($2.90) jumped smartly for Rawiller who eased him back behind the speed set by Stormhill and Desert War.
The gelding ranged up to join the leaders on straightening and while Racing To Win ($2.60 fav) tracked him into the race and looked set to lay down a serious challenge he couldn't pull any ground off the three-year-old who held him at bay by 1-1/2 lengths.
When asked about a start in next Saturday's Doncaster, in which Weekend Hussler has 57.5kg, McDonald quickly dismissed the idea.
"No, he's not going there. He's going home and we'll bring him back for the spring in Melbourne," he said.
Racing To Win's owner, former bookmaker and form student Trevor Stuckey, was taken by the winner and said he deserved his recent rating as the best of his age group in the world.
"Weekend Hussler might just be the best three-year-old in the world," Stuckey said.
Nor was trainer John O'Shea too disappointed with Racing To Win's defeat.
"It's no disgrace, look where the others finished and look at the winner's record," O'Shea said.
"He had a lovely run, he followed the winner, he just wasn't good enough."
Casino Prince ($19) turned in a good trial for next Saturday's Doncaster with a game third, prompting his trainer Anthony Cummings to declare: "I'll buy him (Weekend Hussler) his bus fare if he wants to go home,", before learning the three-year-old would not be pressing on to the Randwick mile.
For Rawiller, who has faced a constant battle with weight throughout his career and has been Weekend Hussler's regular rider right through, the victory was sweet.
"It's what you live for in racing, to be aboard a horse like him is an absolute honour," Rawiller said.
