The first time Jim Cassidy rode Hawkspur, the Caulfield Cup favourite was beaten in a Sydney midweek race offering a small purse in front of a modest crowd.

It took another 12 months for the horse and jockey to be reunited but when they did, Cassidy knew straight away he wanted the relationship to continue to a much bigger stage.

Cassidy's timing has turned out to be every bit as precise as it was in his memorable last-to-first win on Kiwi in the 1983 Melbourne Cup.

With Cassidy on board, Hawkspur's potential has been crafted into serious results with an unbeaten run through the Brisbane winter carnival, claiming two Group Three wins on his way to collecting the Queensland Derby.

"I was very keen to stick with him after Brisbane because I thought there and then he would be my Cups horse in the spring," Cassidy said.

And Hawkspur has repaid Cassidy's faith in a Caulfield Cup preparation that couldn't have gone any smoother for a horse who has been favourite to win the $2.5 million race since a stunning Chelmsford Stakes victory last month.

Even without Cassidy, Hawkspur stayed on target for one of the country's biggest handicap races when he finished with a full head of steam in the Turnbull Stakes.

As far as Cups trials go, there have been few better during the spring.

"I thought his run in the Turnbull was excellent," Cassidy said.

"With a touch of luck he probably could have."

Cassidy won his first Caulfield Cup when he led all the way on the free-running stayer Might And Power.

He claimed his second when he brought Diatribe from the back of the field with a series of inside runs that only enhanced his reputation as a big-race rider.

A third would deliver Cassidy the 100th Group One of his career.

"As I've said all along it will happen but it would be nice to bring it up in one of the majors and let's hope it happens on Saturday."