by Mike Curry

Australian star sprinter Weekend Hussler needed every inch of real estate in the straight to collar runner-up Triple Honour in the $460,727 Thrifty Royal Randwick Guineas (Aus-G1) on Saturday at Randwick.

The Hussonet gelding overcame a wide trip to nip Triple Honour by a nose in a thrilling finish that required an extended delay to determine the victor from the photo finish.

Weekend Hussler entered off consecutive victories in the 1,100-meter (5.47-furlong) Ultra Tune Oakleigh Plate (Aus-G1) on February 23 at Caulfield and the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) Newmarket Handicap (Aus-G1) on March 8 at Flemington.

Stretching out to 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) for the Randwick Guineas, Weekend Hussler added a bit of distance to the trip when he went very wide on the turn.

"It couldn't have been any closer and he got a bit lost," winning trainer Ross McDonald told the Australian Associated Press. McDonald attributed the lost ground on the turn to a workout prior to the race in which Weekend Hussler was guided wide on the turn at Randwick.

“He did the same when we worked him the other day and he had to dig deep. I think he is a great chaser and he showed he could do that today. He really had to dig deep.”

Weekend Hussler, who won the 2007 Age Caulfield Guineas (Aus-G1), completed the distance in 1:36.60 on turf rated as dead.

He sustained an injury to his hock while being shipped to Randwick and had to pass medical examination in order to be permitted to run in the Randwick Guineas.

Owned by a partnership, Weekend Hussler is out of the Helissio mare Weekend Beauty.

Zarita edged Moment In Time by a neck to win the $229,951 Schweppes Australasian Oaks (Aus-G1) on Saturday at Morphettville.

The Pentire filly entered off a win in the Chubb A. V. Kewney Stakes (Aus-G2) at Flemington on March 8. Zarita also won the BMW Angus Armanasco Stakes (Aus-G2) on February 23 at Caulfield.

Trained by Pat Hyland for owner Pendant Equine Syndicate, Zarita completed 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) on turf rated as dead in 2:04.33.

Zarita is out of the Defensive Play mare Gin Player.

Also on the card, Juste Momente prevailed in a close finish in the $276,427 Robert Sangster Stakes (Aus-G1).

The Giant’s Causeway mare edged Zipanese and Serious Speed in a photo finish to win the 1,200-meter race by a neck in 1:09.71 on turf rated as dead.

The win was the first career group stakes score for Juste Momente, who is trained by Danny O’Brien. Out of the Danehill mare Skates, Juste Momente is owned by a partnership that includes O’Brien.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor