Melbourne trainer Ross McDonald was the happiest man at Rosehill on Saturday for a couple of reasons but mostly because the day began with Weekend Hussler turning in a scorching gallop at home at Caulfield.Australia's reigning champion, Weekend Hussler has not raced since being unplaced in the Caulfield Cup in October and is being prepared for the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 31 and a crack at the rich Asian Mile Series.Adding to McDonald's good day was being trackside in Sy

Melbourne trainer Ross McDonald was the happiest man at Rosehill on Saturday for a couple of reasons but mostly because the day began with Weekend Hussler turning in a scorching gallop at home at Caulfield.

Australia's reigning champion, Weekend Hussler has not raced since being unplaced in the Caulfield Cup in October and is being prepared for the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 31 and a crack at the rich Asian Mile Series.

Adding to McDonald's good day was being trackside in Sydney to see Needlebox, trained by his son Clinton, win the Golden Slipper Festival On Sale Handicap (1500m).

"Things are going great today. I love coming here and taking their money," McDonald said.

"And the Hussler is flying, they said he could not possibly have gone any quicker than he did this morning."

Weekend Hussler galloped on the course proper over 800 metres with the Anthony Cummings-trained Turffontein who will run in next Saturday's Group One Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand.

"He gave Turffontein six to eight lengths and picked him up easily before going straight past him and he did it very quick time but I'm not going to say how quick but it was quick," McDonald said.

The seven-time Group winner is being aimed at three legs of the rich Asian Mile Challenge.

After the Lightning Stakes, McDonald said Weekend Hussler would head to the Australian Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on February 12 before taking on the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge the Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield.

"Then we'll go to the Dubai Duty Free (1777m) on March 29 and then the Champions Mile at Hong Kong in April," McDonald said.

"With bonuses and everything on offer we could end up coming home with $10 million in our pockets."

Needlebox, drifted out to $8 at one point before he was crunched into $5, was a little wayward around the home turn but he eventually balanced-up on straightening and kicked strongly to defeat Kings Pride by a half length.

"We figured that with the small fields it was worth brining him here and it's paid off for us," McDonald said.

"He got a bit lost there for a while, especially at the turn but once he hit the straight I thought he'd have too much for them and he did."