Winning Saturday's VRC Derby with Marching would give the John Hawkes operation a bigger thrill than Octagonal's Cox Plate success in 1995, stable foreman Wayne Hawkes said on Friday.
Marching will be the final runner the Hawkes stable saddles up in a Group One race for the Ingham brothers before the curtain closes on one of Australian racing's most successful partnerships.
"We've had some serious highs, probably none better than Octagonal's Cox plate but I reckon winning the race tomorrow will just about overdo that. It'll just be a great way to end a 19-year partnership," Hawkes said.
Octagonal was arguably the best galloper Hawkes trained for the Inghams, winning nine Group One races and nearly $6million in prize money.
By Hawkes's own admission, this spring has been a 'mellow carnival' for the stable due to the restrictions placed as a result of the EI virus but a win in the Derby would lift the stable's morale.
"We had so many good horses and on paper it looked like it was going to be our spring. It had our name written all over it," said Hawkes, who could have been saddling the Melbourne Cup favourite Fiumicino had it not been for the spread of EI.
"But it hasn't and it wasn't meant to be but Marching might turn it all around for us."
Hawkes did not have any doubts Marching would run a strong 2500m but was concerned a wet track could prove his undoing.
Marching's only failure thus far in his nine-start career came on a heavy track last April in the AJC Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick.
"That was a terrible track and it won't be like that before the Derby but I would still rather it be a good track," Hawkes said.
The Flemington track was rated a Dead 4 on Friday morning after 5mm of overnight rain but track manager Terry Watson was confident the rating would be upgraded provided there was no further rain leading into Saturday's race.
Nick Williams, whose father Lloyd owned last year's Derby winner Efficient, said Marching was definitely the one to beat.
"It's got the runs in the board. All its runs this time in have been good," he said. "I'd be having my money on the all cerise."
Jockey Craig Williams will ride second favourite Kibbutz, who ran a slashing second last start in the AAMI Vase behind Marching.
"I think he can nearly win the Derby," the hoop said. "I can't wait to see what he's going to turn into in another six months."
The distance will not be a concern for Corey Brown, who replaces Kerrin McEvoy aboard Stockade, an impressive winner of the Geelong Classic (2200m) last week.
"He's drawn the right gate (in barrier three), I should be able to pop in behind Marching somewhere and get the run of the race," he said. "I think the horse can race where I put him and I've got no doubt he'll see the trip out."