Jockey Dwayne Dunn has been booked for talented galloper Huxssen who steps up to his favourite distance in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington.Huxssen has won five races, three of them around Saturday's distance of 1400m, and trainer Jim Conlan is hopeful he can rebound from his down-the-track first-up performance in the Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day.Stable foreman Jason Jordan said Huxssen had been a frustrating horse who needs luck because of his backmarker r
Jockey Dwayne Dunn has been booked for talented galloper Huxssen who steps up to his favourite distance in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington.
Huxssen has won five races, three of them around Saturday's distance of 1400m, and trainer Jim Conlan is hopeful he can rebound from his down-the-track first-up performance in the Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
Stable foreman Jason Jordan said Huxssen had been a frustrating horse who needs luck because of his backmarker racing style.
"Some of the sectionals he can run you would think he could win anything," Jordan said.
"He gets back and because of that he is a horse who has to get everything to go his way."
Dunn replaces suspended jockey Ben Melham on Huxssen who looks well treated on the minimum 53kg at Flemington.
Topweight is dual Group One winner Scenic Shot (61.5kg), who is having his first run in 13 months, while Vigor (59.5kg), Orbit Express (56.5kg) and Chasm (56kg) are other notable entries.
Meanwhile, the emergence of seven-year-old Crabs as a quality stayer last campaign has trainer Chris Hyland contemplating a crack at next month's Tasmanian Cups.
Hyland said Crabs doesn't find his form until gets to 2400m and is second-up in Saturday's Rain Lover Handicap (2000m) at Flemington with a view to longer races.
He said that the Hobart Cup (2200m) on February 13 was an option but the Launceston Cup (2400m) was a better target.
"Realistically he probably isn't good enough under 2400 metres or 2500 metres," Hyland said.
Last campaign the gelding's rating soared with a win at Swan Hill in June and four in a row, at Morphettville twice in August and Moonee Valley twice in September.
"It is going to get hard for him this time around because his rating has gone from 72 to 98," Hyland said.
"He might be at his level now but we will see what happens."
He said the Adelaide Cup in March could be another assignment for Crabs.
Crabs has 58.5kg on Saturday with only Rabbuka weighted above him on 59kg.
Country Cups specialist Red Buttons, Canberra Cup placegetter Fast Future, Ballarat Cup placegetter Allanthus and in-form galloper Cabeza are also among the entries.