Dual Derby placegetter Littorio could miss the chance to mount his most serious challenge yet to Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.Ranked 21st in order of entry, Littorio is borderline to make the Group One field despite having finished third to the champion at his past two starts in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Underwood Stakes.On both occasions Littorio raced Weekend Hussler at level weights but under the set-weight and penalty conditions of the Turnbull, he wou

Dual Derby placegetter Littorio could miss the chance to mount his most serious challenge yet to Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Ranked 21st in order of entry, Littorio is borderline to make the Group One field despite having finished third to the champion at his past two starts in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Underwood Stakes.

On both occasions Littorio raced Weekend Hussler at level weights but under the set-weight and penalty conditions of the Turnbull, he would only carry 53kg, 4.5kg less than Weekend Hussler.

The Turnbull field is restricted to 16 runners with four emergencies to be named when final acceptances are declared on Wednesday.

Littorio's only win was a Sale maiden in May last year but he has since become the best class one horse in Australia.

His four Group One performances feature a second to Kibbutz in the Victoria Derby last spring.

In the autumn he was third to Dealer Principal in the Rosehill Guineas and third to Nom du Jeu in the AJC Australian Derby.

In the Underwood Stakes (1800m) he was less than three lengths off Weekend Hussler after finishing a similar margin behind him when first-up over 1600 metres in the Makybe Diva.

Trainer Nigel Blackiston said Littorio was getting towards his best distance in the Turnbull but conceded that beating Weekend Hussler was a formidable task.

"We have won a maiden, he has won seven Group One races," Blackiston said.

"The thing about Weekend Hussler is that he knows how to win and he has got a lot of class about him.

"He can sit off the speed, he can sit on the speed and he knows where the winning post is.

"Really he has got what only really top-class horses have."

Blackiston said Littorio's spring had been geared towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and it had been a bonus to see him perform so well at weight-for-age.

"He is certainly heading in the right direction," Blackiston said.

"This week I am hopeful that he can get a run and perform the way he has the first two runs this time in.

"He deserves to win one because is a such a trier and when he gets to the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, the handicap conditions will be more favourable for him."

Blackiston said Steven King was again booked for Littorio.

"Steven rides Littorio every single day and he is getting to know all his ins and outs," Blackiston said.

King's past Turnbull winners were Caulfield Cup winner Lets Elope (1991) and Makybe Diva (2005) who both went on to win the Melbourne Cup.

Besides Littorio and Weekend Hussler, the Turnbull's 24 entries include Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly, C'est La Guerre, Guillotine, Maldivian, Pompeii Ruler, Tuesday Joy, Viewed, Zagreb, Zarita and Zipping.

Turnbull nominations double-entered on Saturday include Alexander Of Hales, Extend, Gallopin, Largo Lad, New Spice, and Zavite.