The rain had roared in from the Tasman Sea all week  in Sydney as the count-down to the 2008 $3.5m, Group I, AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) for the two-year-olds went on, with the vital barrier draw in the central city on Tuesday dumped on, and the showers spreading out west to Rosehill.

The track was naturally heavy as a consequence, and Saturday still had slate grey clouds overhead throughout the Sydney Turf Club’s race programme, occasionally releasing rain over the course, but it only added to the drama of the day.

The rain did not deter nearly 30,000 patrons packing Rosehill, and its new stand facility, and they saw some extraordinary racing for their efforts to attend the day.

The Golden Slipper itself was the usual mystery of not only which of the fragile, immature, juveniles would cope with the pressure of another race, yet alone one this big, but also who would be able to handle the track conditions. Both a very tough ask for youngsters.

That Sebring won for trainer Gai Waterhouse, her third Slipper win, and syndicator Denise Martin, and the owners who draped themselves brilliantly in the purple and white stars colours of their champ, was as much a testament to the toughness of the More Than Ready colt, as to the navigation of jockey Glen Boss.

Coolness under fire in Group I racing is what makes Boss tick. His style is all over the place and he had Sebring swerving at the 250m as he searched for the opening, with the two-year-old probably not having a clue what was going on. But he stuck to the task that Boss set, and when the gap came he had the acceleration to motor through.

It was just enough as Von Costa De Hero’s run from last at the top of the straight, after leaving from barrier 17, under the smoothness of Craig Williams, to get to a half-head of Sebring marks him down as something very special. Darley can be well pleased with their purchase of a share in the Encosta de Lago colt back just after Easter.

They paid plenty, but the colt is destined for a Group I of his own, perhaps next week at Randwick.

But the two performances of genius of the day belonged to Darren Beadman and Weekend Hussler.

Beadman, back for the third time from his Hong Kong base to ride in the NSW Autumn Racing Carnival, was outstanding on Tuesday Joy (NZ) in the $$2.25m, Group I, WFA The BMW (2400m).

The race starts in the main straight and the field head past the winning post for the first time manoeuvring for position as they take the bottom corner. Beadman took Tuesday Joy in hand after the left from barrier nine, and just after they had gone past the winning post he was slotted in against the rails with the mare asleep.

For mere mortals it would have taken traffic lights to have directed such a move, but for Beadman it is as natural as getting on the horse in the first place.

To completely shred the field he then used Tuesday Joy at the top of the main straight again to powerfully push forward to lead, racing in the middle of the field. Damien Oliver on Princess Coup had tracked Tuesday Joy all the way to that point, but suddenly he was stranded and having to go around heels to try to chase the mare in front. He had no show as Beadman had dictated and won the race well before the winning post for the second time.

Then it was to Weekend Hussler in the $400,000, Group I, WFA Cathay Pacific George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

The best demonstration of how good this race was, with Weekend Hussler giving a stupendous show of power galloping and Racing To Win gallantly chasing with all his heart, was the ovation that the crowd gave the horse and jockey Brad Rawiller as they returned to scale.

It was dramatic, and the red and black hoops of Rawiller’s silks stood out in the gloom as he stood high in the irons and waved his whip back to the crowd in appreciation.

Trainer Ross Macdonald conceded cautiously that his prime charge might be heading for world greatness. Weekend Hussler is currently rated as the top three-year-old in the world, but the top racing in the northern hemisphere is ahead so that may change, but since the horse is a gelding open to travel without having to consider stud options the world could be his stage after next spring in Melbourne.

That option is also open to Sebring, but he might have a stud career before that. Just as the connections of Weekend Hussler turned out millions for their horse, so have connections of Sebring. Already both have reaped their rewards for taking that decision, and not just for the stakes subsequently earned, but importantly for the life changing experience, as brief as it may be, of owning such wonderful gallopers.

Rosehill was a fitting place to view them in glorious action on Saturday.

One final word of praise, to the Sydney Turf Club’s racecourse manager Lindsay Murphy, and his staff. After the rain during the week the track could have been a nightmare, and spoiled the racing action, but it held up magnificently and the winners came from everywhere. Seems a bit of a mystery that they are not in charge of all Sydney’s tracks