With a kiss on the nose and a purposeful look into the eye of Hawkspur, jockey Michael Walker got acquainted with the horse he hopes can land him a breakthrough Melbourne Group One win.

Walker rides the Chris Waller-trained Hawkspur for the first time in Saturday's Turnbull (2000m) at Flemington and the jockey paraded Hawkspur on Friday, giving him a kiss for the cameras.

Former champion New Zealand jockey Walker says a Group One win in Melbourne is an ambition he's keen to tick off.

"Hopefully I can achieve it tomorrow," Walker said.

"It's something that has eluded me and something I'm going to strive to get.

"And picking up rides like this bloke only gives me the opportunity to achieve my goals."

Walker's most recent success at racing's elite level was in the 2010 New Zealand Derby on Military Move while his only Australian Group One victory came in the 2004 Brisbane Cup on Danestorm.

Hawkspur's regular jockey Jim Cassidy has elected to stay in Sydney to ride Golden Rose winner Zoustar in Saturday's Roman Consul Stakes so Walker got the nod to ride the Queensland Derby winner and Caulfield Cup favourite in the Turnbull.

He's confident the four-year-old is a genuine chance in a field which includes Australian Oaks-winning stablemate Royal Descent, eight other Group One winners and also the Melbourne Cup favourite and second favourite in Puissance De Lune and Fiorente.

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. Obviously I would have preferred a bit more rain for him but he's in a Group One race, Chris Waller is the trainer and I'm confident I can do the job," Walker said.

"He's got a bad barrier but I don't worry about barriers. I'll sort it out."

The race will have a big bearing on the major spring races including the Caulfield Cup with six of the top nine in the Caulfield Cup market running in the Turnbull.

"His main goal is obviously the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but hopefully I'm the man that can pick up this one along the way," Walker said.

Hawkspur won the Chelmsford Stakes in Sydney second-up before running on for fourth in the George Main Stakes last start.

Walker expects there is more improvement to come from Hawkspur heading towards the Caulfield Cup.

"But looking at him today, I always look at a horse's eye and the eye always tells you how well they are and how fit," he said.

"And just looking at him in the eye, he's ready to go."