Wayne Hawkes believes lightly-raced three-year-old Most Immediate has done enough to justify his place in the Zeditave Stakes in which he will take on big gun Denman.Flemington-based Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and his brother Michael, was encouraged by the promising colt's two length win over subsequent Sandown winner At The Heads over 1200m at Moonee Valley when resuming on January 8."He won very well the other night. He probably beat a smart field but it's a big ste
Wayne Hawkes believes lightly-raced three-year-old Most Immediate has done enough to justify his place in the Zeditave Stakes in which he will take on big gun Denman.
Flemington-based Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and his brother Michael, was encouraged by the promising colt's two length win over subsequent Sandown winner At The Heads over 1200m at Moonee Valley when resuming on January 8.
"He won very well the other night. He probably beat a smart field but it's a big step up in class tomorrow (Tuesday)," Hawkes said.
"He's done everything right so he deserves a crack at the better stuff. Tomorrow will sort him out."
Most Immediate had one run as a late two-year-old, coming from second last to finish third to Alkhafif over 1000m at Caulfield in July.
At his first start as a three-year-old in August he finished a solid third to Cabeza over 1300m at Sandown before finishing last to Starspangledbanner in the Group Three McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield later that month.
"He'd just had enough by then, that's why he went to the paddock," Hawkes said.
Steven King, who has ridden Most Immediate at his past three starts, retains the mount on the colt who drew barrier two in the 10-horse field.
Group One Golden Rose winner Denman is the $1.70 favourite with TAB Sportsbet to win the Listed 1200m event at his first appearance since racing wide and finishing seventh behind Starspangledbanner in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last October.
Caulfield Guineas runner-up Carrara is at $6, True Persuasion at $8.50, Most Immediate at $11 with The Handsome One best of the rest at $12.
Denman is currently second pick in Australian Guineas betting at $5.50 behind Cox Plate winner So You Think ($4.20 fav).
Most Immediate was not nominated for the Group One Cadbury Australian Guineas (1600m) run at Flemington on March 6, but the Hawkes stable entered him for the $1.5 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 17.
Meanwhile former Horse-of-the-Year Weekend Hussler will have an exhibition gallop between races four and five on Tuesday.
The seven-time Group One winner is on the comeback trail after suffering a fetlock injury when fifth as an odds-on favourite behind Apache Cat in the Group One Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley nearly a year ago.
Weekend Hussler has been carefully managed by his trainer Ross McDonald who has yet to announce the race for the Hussonet five-year-old's much anticipated return.