Ridden by Ken Dunbar as a rank, $81 outsider Subway Surfer fought for every inch in the 2018 Bathurst Cup, before being bested by just a long head by the highly-rated, Sydney-trained Hirokin.

He didn't contest the March edition of the $40,000 feature, but Hook continues his family's long and celebrated Bathurst Cup history in Sunday's second running, which comes after an agreement to move the race to spring.

Hook's father, also named Greg, trained 1968 Bathurst Cup winner Greg's King, which was piloted by celebrated Cowra hoop Reg Paine. They combined again to win the next year's edition, while Greg's King also won the 1966 Golden Horseshoe at Coonamble.

"My brother Carl Hook was the strapper but I was too young to remember much about those races," Hook said, he was just six at the time of Greg's King's first Bathurst Cup win.

Hook trained at Wellington for some time but for several years has prepared his small team at the old Rylstone track along with Bob Howe and Ross Lomax, with fast work being at Mudgee.

He trained his horses while also employed for 30 years at the Kandos Cement Works, which closed in 2010. A qualified fitter-welder, Greg is multi-skilled with various other tickers including crane driver and often works in the mining industry.

Apart from Greg's King, his father had other smart performers such as Laurie's Lad and Orange Lass, while his winners have included Tatibah Boy, Magic Dream, Blue Collar Boy and, of course, Subway Surfer.

Purchased from Queensland as a three-year-old, Subway Surfer after the gallant second in the Bathurst Cup won races at Mudgee and Scone and according to the trainer is getting better with age.

Hook epitomises the small-time country trainer, being the farrier, trackwork rider and strapper on race day for his horses.

With a classy field in this weekend's cup and several high profile trainers represented, Hook realises the gentle-natured, eight-year-old gelding Subway Surfer has a hard task ahead and likely to start a rank outsider again.

Racing in many ways is about dreams and there will be cheers and probably some tears if Subway Surfer gets to fight out the finish of the cup for the well-liked Hook, more than half a century after his father twice won.

Racing starts at Tyers Park starts at 1.19pm, the Bathurst Cup runs at 4.53pm and the newly-establised The Panorama closes the showcase meeting at 5.30pm.