By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - It was only a midweek city meeting at Hawkesbury but the lightly-raced Maluckyday has announced himself as a possible Cups prospect with an impressive first-up victory.

The son of Zabeel, owned by Nick Moraitis and trained by John Hawkes along with his sons Michael and Wayne, took out the Soho Square Handicap (1400m) and is being prepared with the major spring Cups in mind.

Maluckyday sat just behind the speed with Jim Cassidy in the saddle and got right away in the run to the line to win the Benchmark 70 event by 1-1/2 lengths.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said Maluckyday had given every indication he was a carnival horse who would continue to improve.

"He's above average and showed last time in that he's got something," Hawkes said.

"He is still immature but he's taking the right steps. He's in the Cups, he's got to get there yet but he will tell us."

Maluckyday only had three starts as an autumn three-year-old, winning over 1600m at Hawkesbury at his second race appearance before highlighting his potential when third to Count Encosta and Descarado in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

Cassidy warned there was plenty of improvement still to come from the four-year-old.

"I think he's only half-wound up and his coat is not right yet, but I think Hawkesy has better things planned for him," Cassidy said.

"He's a real professional but he's still a baby and still learning, so whatever he does is going to be nice."

Maluckyday was the performance of the day at the Australian Jockey Club meeting that was transferred to Hawkesbury to allow the Randwick course proper time to recover for its major spring carnival days.

While connections of Maluckyday look like they have plenty to look forward to this spring, jockey Josh Parr also believes consistent filly Quidnunc could sneak under people's guards and capture a decent race this preparation.

Quidnunc came from back in the field to win the Purple Patch Handicap (1400m) against an above-average midweek field.

"She might have a decent race in her, she's probably sneaking under the radar a little bit," Parr said.

"Today she raced what I believe was a good little field and she was able to handle them well."

Tim Martin, meanwhile, is looking at the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) with three-year-old gelding Zakumi who led all the way to post a 1-1/4 length win in the Go Racing At Hawkesbury Maiden Handicap (1400m).