TRAINER Guy Walter's long-time association with former bookmaking king and Sydney Turf Club chairman Bruce McHugh continues on Saturday at Rosehill when Little Shrek has his first run for the pair.

The six-year-old gelding was formerly prepared by Matthew Dale. "I've had horses like Ollie Vollie and Smart Maxie for Bruce and this horse goes well first-up," Walter said, adding the caution, "It appears he doesn't like it wet."

Nathan Berry is on the suspended list so Walter has engaged the apprentice's brother Tommy to take over on Summer Daze, which runs in the Lynch Flowers Handicap.

"Summer Daze has won two in a row and is stepping up to Saturday class, but I'm very happy with her," Walter said.

"She has 57kg but with the 3kg allowance for Tom, she'll carry 54kg. It is a nice weight."

Tommy Berry was fined $500 at Wyong on Wednesday for returning one kilogram overweight on Morning High, which finished third. Berry had attacked the hot food plate in the jockeys' room after weighing out.

Walter is a fan of the brothers and Nathan Berry won on Summer Daze at her past two runs. "They ride plenty of work for me and I'm happy to reward them," he said.

Portelli wants dry track

Trainer Gary Portelli is concerned about a drying Rosehill track going against Something Anything in Saturday's Winter Stakes.

"His win was good last start and obviously his best efforts have been on heavy tracks," Portelli said. "It looks like it is drying out which is a concern, but the horse has done well."

In the Harris Farm Handicap, Portelli saddles up the lightly raced Yoburg, which has won two from six starts and has had the benefit of a couple of runs back from a spell.

"He has a lot of ability and will have derived plenty of benefit from the run the other day," Portelli said.

Clark's sparkler

The return to Saturday metropolitan class for Delago Diamond is no concern for jockey Tim Clark. The John O'Shea-trained three-year-old ploughed through the bog at Hawkesbury to win a maiden over 1800 metres last time out and is aiming for back-to-back wins in Saturday's Gaypak Handicap at Rosehill.

"It was a good staying effort the other day at Hawkesbury," Clark said. "He ran well against similar competitors two starts ago and he'll definitely run the trip out on Saturday. He is a nice stayer in the making and a good barrier helps."

Clark is sweating on Noble Edict gaining a start in the Winter Stakes. The Kevin Moses-trained three-year-old is second emergency.

"He is racing in great form," Clark said. "He is making a step up in class but is down on the minimum weight-wise. He is racing well enough and deserves a shot. He'll be competitive."

Speed of essence

The finishing speed of Vision And Power at Rosehill last Saturday has convinced jockey Peter Robl the Joe Pride-trained five-year-old can win the Winter Cup at the same track this weekend.

"His last furlong was the best furlong in the race," Robl said. "The 2400 metres on Saturday will suit, I've no doubt he'll run that right out."

Pride was more than happy with the dead-four rating for the Rosehill track. "I know he is a wet-tracker, but I didn't want him having to go through a heavy track over 2400 for the first time," he said.

Pride will start Imtops in the Lynch Flowers Handicap and said: "She'll appreciate getting back on a firm surface."

Larry Cassidy is on Imtops, and Robl continues his association with Spectacular Bird, which is coming off a second at Rosehill last weekend. "The horse never stopped trying and from the one alley is going to be right in the action again," Robl said.

In the second race, Robl has stuck to the Bart Cummings-trained Paris Return, which is coming off a last on a heavy track behind Get Up Jude at Randwick last month. "Her form is good on firm tracks but woeful on wet ones," Robl said. "We'll pray it is good on Saturday. She can turn it around."

Bonus for punters

Tabcorp's "Jackpot Saturday" kicks off at Rosehill on Saturday with $75,035.89 pumped into the quaddie pool, and the First 4 on the final three races will have seed money of at least $50,000.

The Newcastle harness racing quaddie on Saturday night will kick off with $51,935.64 in the pool and the First 4 in the opening race has $37,205,83. At Wentworth Park dogs, the quaddie will be $34,617.23 and the First 4 on race 8 will be $12,094.60.

The carry-over funds were accumulated at race meetings where the bet types were not won on the final race. The jackpots have been collected over the past month.