Veteran jockey Mathew Cahill has left himself less than 48 hours to ride at his lightest weight since returning from overseas as he bids for a belated Group One breakthrough.Desperate to make the most of a rare Group One opportunity when he takes the mount on Leica Larrikin in the $500,000 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, the bush jockey will be on a mission to shed two kilograms.The 42-year-old tipped the scales at 54kg when it was business as usual as he rode at a country NSW meeting on

Veteran jockey Mathew Cahill has left himself less than 48 hours to ride at his lightest weight since returning from overseas as he bids for a belated Group One breakthrough.

Desperate to make the most of a rare Group One opportunity when he takes the mount on Leica Larrikin in the $500,000 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, the bush jockey will be on a mission to shed two kilograms.

The 42-year-old tipped the scales at 54kg when it was business as usual as he rode at a country NSW meeting on Thursday but says he will be right to partner Leica Larrikin at 52kg.

His routine will include minimal food intake, 30-minute runs in his sweat gear and at least two sauna sessions.

"The last time I rode at 52kg was in Mauritius last year and the horse finished last so let's hope history doesn't repeat itself," Cahill said as he prepared to ride at Dubbo.

"Basically I'll be trying to keep my mouth closed and when I do eat it will probably only be some small portions of fruit."

Cahill, based at Cowra in central-western NSW, plies his trade on country tracks and his association with the Richard Freyer-trained brother to injury-riddled stayer Leica Falcon started in modest surrounds with an Albury placing in March.

"I've ridden a bit for Richard since I've been back and with Leica Larrikin I suppose I was in the right place at the right time," Cahill said.

Cahill has endured narrow misses in two Group One mile races at Randwick.

He finished second on Talaga in the 1994 Champagne Stakes and it took champion New Zealand mare Sunline to beat his mount Camarena in the 1998 Flight Stakes.

Cahill's only other Group One result of note since came with Normal Practice's minor placing in the 1999 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

"This is my first ride in an Epsom and I'm sure the sacrifice over the next few days will be worth it," Cahill said.

"The horse was supposed to run in the Shannon Stakes before he had a minor setback but I spoke to Richard the other night and everything is back on track.

"Riding him on Saturday is just as much about the future as it is about the race itself because he's bred to get over 2000 metres and even 2400 metres."

Leica Larrikin's lead-up runs in Melbourne include a luckless second in the Aurie's Star Handicap and a midfield effort in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

It's a hardly a traditional pathway to Epsom success but Leica Larrikin has been one of the best supported outsiders at $26.

Trusting, who will be ridden 0.5kg over at 52.5kg by Jim Cassidy, has firmed into outright Epsom favouritism with TAB Sportsbet after Wednesday's barrier draw.

A flag-bearer for multi-millionaire Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm, Trusting is solid at $6 while one-time favourite Neeson has drifted to share the second line of betting at $6.50 with New Zealand galloper Firebolt.

Once Were Wild, who will go to the barrier as one of the best-backed runners in pre-post transactions, has firmed again since the draw to $9.50.