Weekend Hussler's Turnbull Stakes failure has raised a couple of questions but trainer Ross McDonald is confident he and his jockey have them sorted ahead of Saturday's Caulfield Cup.The headline horse worked impressively on Tuesday morning at his home track of Caulfield in front of a huge media contingent at what was his final public outing before the Cup."There are two ifs," McDonald said."If he can draw a good barrier and if he can run a mile-and-a-half (2400m)."But for a horse who has lost a

Weekend Hussler's Turnbull Stakes failure has raised a couple of questions but trainer Ross McDonald is confident he and his jockey have them sorted ahead of Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

The headline horse worked impressively on Tuesday morning at his home track of Caulfield in front of a huge media contingent at what was his final public outing before the Cup.

"There are two ifs," McDonald said.

"If he can draw a good barrier and if he can run a mile-and-a-half (2400m).

"But for a horse who has lost all form and can't stay there's a bit of press here this morning."

The seven-time Group One winner and Cup topweight with 57kg, Weekend Hussler galloped wide out on the track with stablemate Pacino over 1600m.

Weekend Hussler had a serious fast gallop four days ago and McDonald was happy with Tuesday morning's more leisurely workout.

The reigning Horse of the Year ran the worst race of his career when eighth in the 2000m Turnbull at his first start beyond 1800 metres.

With his regular trackwork rider Les Beer aboard, Weekend Hussler sat off Pacino but had the better of his stablemate by nearly a length on the line, coming away.

Weekend Hussler's race rider Brad Rawiller, who rode Pacino in the workout, was happy with what he saw.

"It was great work. For where he's at it was the perfect hitout," he said.

"He wasn't out to break any records. It was just to see that he's ticking over alright. He's right on track.

Last week McDonald said the champion would not run if he drew wide as he did in the Turnbull but has had a change of heart.

He said he was looking for a good gate, "around four I hope", at Wednesday's barrier draw.

"But seeing I said he wasn't going to run if he drew wide, he'll probably get 18," he said.

"We probably have to run. There's a fair bit of money riding on him and it probably wouldn't be right for the public to pull him out.

"I'm going to draw the barrier out. I thought if I let any of the owners do it and we get a bad alley I can go crook at them, but if I pull the wrong alley I can only abuse myself."

Rawiller was looking for an inside draw.

"It is no doubt important. It would be a great blessing if he could draw inside six. Six to 10 would probably be okay," he said.

"Outside 10 and we'd certainly be doing a lot of serious homework."

Weekend Hussler will wear a tongue tie for the first time in the Caulfield Cup but McDonald stressed that there was nothing amiss with the gelding's breathing.

"He hasn't got a soft palate. There's nothing wrong with his airways at all. I can guarantee that," he said.

"Sometimes a horse can get its tongue over the bit and chop his breathing a bit and it's just something we've tried on him.

"He doesn't seem to mind it so he'll go around with a tongue tie on.

"It's just a one percenter which might give us a little bit of an edge."

Weekend Hussler lost Cup favouritism after finishing eighth to new favourite Littorio when he had a torrid run three wide in the Turnbull Stakes last start at Flemington.

But McDonald believes it was not a true reflection of his staying ability.

"We watched the stewards' video and Brad knows where he went wrong on the horse and he won't make the same mistake again," the trainer said.

"We were disappointed he didn't win but at least we aren't going into the Caulfield Cup trying to win five on the trot."