Dunn ready for Melb premiership challenge

Having joined Craig Williams at the top of the Melbourne premiership, jockey Dwayne Dunn gets an opportunity to edge ahead at Caulfield.

A winning double on Wednesday took Dunn to 52 wins and he's expecting another enthralling premiership battle with 20 city meetings remaining this season.

Dunn was ahead of Damien Oliver and Williams by two wins but missed the final three meetings last season through a careless riding suspension and was overhauled.

He felt he'd let an opportunity to win a first Melbourne premiership slip by, but he's put himself in a position once again to challenge.

"It would be nice to put on my CV, for sure," Dunn said.

With Williams riding at the South Australian Derby meeting in Adelaide on Saturday, Dunn could take the outright lead at Caulfield where he is booked to ride in eight of the nine races.

Damien Oliver, who is five wins behind Dunn and Williams, is serving a suspension until June 4.

Dunn said he was going to ride in Brisbane on Saturday but that changed when Hawkes Racing sent Our Boy Malachi to the paddock.

He then took rides at Caulfield, and later knocked back the chance of a late call up to partner Cool Chap in the South Australian Derby because he had already locked in mounts in Melbourne.

"It wasn't a decision to stay here because of the premiership. It was just how things transpired," Dunn said.

"But I've obviously got some nice rides on Saturday and hopefully I can capitalise on it."