For trainer Clinton McDonald, there is a lot more significance to the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield than just the prize money.

The name Weekend Hussler evokes fond memories in the McDonald household with Clinton's father Ross training the horse to seven Group One wins including the Caulfield Guineas, the Newmarket Handicap, the Randwick Guineas and the Underwood Stakes.

He was named the Australian horse of the year in 2007-08.

So it means a lot for McDonald junior to have a runner in the 1200m race named after the horse who won more than $3 million in prize money and who is now a nine-year-old living in retirement at Edinburgh Park on the NSW mid-north coast.

He is pinning his hopes on Second Effort, a sprinter who has made a name for himself as the winner of successive Wangoom Handicaps at Warrnambool.

"Weekend Hussler was a terrific horse for the stable and it would be lovely to win it with Second Effort," McDonald said.

"But we also need the right weather for us to do that, a good bit of rain to put some cut in the ground."

McDonald said Second Effort's 60kg would be a great leveller because he gives 6kg to half of the 14-horse field, including the $3.60 favourite Richie's Vibe.

"We need the track to be in our favour to beat those horses but Second Effort is in terrific form and was sensational in work at Caulfield on Tuesday," McDonald said.

"If he gets the right track he will be very competitive."