Trainer Mark Kavanagh acknowledges Saturday's Turnbull Stakes field is considerably stronger than the one his imported stayer December Draw beat last year.

But he also believes the horse is bigger and better coming into this year's running of one of the most traditional Cups lead-up races on the calendar.

"It's a stronger field than he raced against last year but he's going a lot better than he was last year," Kavanagh said.

A "scrawny, hairy" December Draw had his first spring preparation for Kavanagh in 2011, racing his way to Caulfield Cup favouritism, largely on the strength of his Turnbull Stakes win, only to be injured in the run.

Despite having got December Draw to the point of greatness a year ago, Kavanagh said he was always at a disadvantage due to import's low handicapper rating.

"This time last year I had him really cranked up," Kavanagh said.

"We needed to qualify to get into the big races.

"This year I can just idle along behind and have him ticking over the way I want."

December Draw resumed with an eighth of 11 behind Southern Speed in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) having put himself into the race at the 400m.

He then finished an outstanding third behind Ocean Park in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) and will be exactly where Kavanagh wants him for the 2000m of Saturday's Group One race.

While Kavanagh has difficulty hiding his satisfaction with December Draw's progress, he is slightly coy about the horse's spring goals.

The Caulfield Cup is the obvious choice, but the trainer maintains nothing is set in stone.

"We'll just wait and see and each day we'll see how he pulls up," he said.

"There's plenty of targets around."