Mick Price is not going as far as to say his stable star Pompeii Ruler can beat Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes, but at the same time believes he won't be far away.The big-striding six-year-old chestnut looks the main threat to Weekend Hussler who is chasing his eighth Group One success, and Price is happy with him going into the Flemington feature."He's going well, he worked on the course proper this morning. He didn't work as fast as Weekend Hussler but Craig (Newitt) was happy w

Mick Price is not going as far as to say his stable star Pompeii Ruler can beat Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes, but at the same time believes he won't be far away.

The big-striding six-year-old chestnut looks the main threat to Weekend Hussler who is chasing his eighth Group One success, and Price is happy with him going into the Flemington feature.

"He's going well, he worked on the course proper this morning. He didn't work as fast as Weekend Hussler but Craig (Newitt) was happy with him," Price said.

"He had a good blow, but he's where we want him to be.

"He'll run Saturday then the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup."

Trainer Ross McDonald said on Tuesday he could not be more happy with Weekend Hussler after his gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning with track rider Les Beer aboard and Price too is impressed with his rival.

"I must say Weekend Hussler looks great. I'm not saying we can beat him but we've got our horse ready to run well over 2000 metres," Price said.

"Unfortunately having had a suspensory we're not working him as (hard as) you normally would, but apart from his second up run, his runs have been good. It (the second up effort when caught wide when 12th to Guillotine in the Dato'Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley) would have been good but the right things didn't happen.

"He's fine, we're happy with him."

"He's getting better with each run. He went great when third (to Weekend Hussler) first up in the Memsie, second up didn't work out and third up his last furlong was a bit a doughy when he ran him to three-quarters of a length in the Underwood.

Pompeii Ruler hasn't raced at Flemington for more than two years but goes into the Turnbull with an unbeaten record in three appearances there, the latest in the 2006 Craiglee (now Makybe Diva) Stakes.

Weekend Hussler, who has won three of his four starts at Flemington, goes to 2000m for the first time on Saturday but the 200m jump up from the 1800m of the Underwood is not a concern for McDonald who has the Hussonet four-year-old on an identical path to Pompeii Ruler over the spring carnival.

The final field for the Turnbull will be decided on Tuesday morning followed by the barrier draw.