Patrick Payne turns to Craig Williams to deliver Victoria Derby with his colt Criterion

TRAINER David Payne is relying on the genius of jockey Craig Williams to provide Criterion with the winning edge in the Victoria Derby on Saturday.

David Payne is ecstatic to have Craig Williams aboard and believes Criterion has become the forgotten runner in the Victoria Derby. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

TRAINER David Payne is relying on the genius of jockey Craig Williams to provide Criterion with the winning edge in the Group 1 $1.5 million AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

With so much focus on Sydney rivals Complacent and Savvy Nature, Payne believes Criterion has become the forgotten runner in the Derby.

"We are under the radar a bit but Savvy Nature's win last Saturday at Moonee Valley has franked his form," Payne said.

"The Sydney three-year-olds look superior and the 2500m won't bother my colt, he will relish it.

"We've got Craig Williams to ride him and he's a world class jockey. We don't have to improve a lot to be a winning chance and Craig might be the difference for us.

"We were actually waiting on Nash (Rawiller) to see what he was going to do when Craig phoned me to ask if he could ride Criterion in the Derby.

"As a trainer, it is always good to know that your jockey is keen to ride your horse and Craig has ridden him once before and won on him in the Todman Stakes."

Criterion split Complacent and Savvy Nature when second in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes last start at Royal Randwick.

The first two placegetters haven't raced since but Savvy Nature came out and romped home in the Vase at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

Complacent and Savvy Nature are now the $4 equal favourites for the Victoria Derby with Criterion next at $8. The race has attracted a healthy 24 entries.

Payne said the fact Criterion has never seen Flemington, never raced the reverse way of going and hasn't been tested beyond 2000m doesn't concern him going into Saturday's three-year-old classic.

"He has had plenty of practice galloping the reverse way back home (Rosehill) and since he has been at Caulfield, he hasn't had a problem working the Melbourne direction," Payne said.

"He's such a relaxed colt and I'm confident he will stay the trip but some of the others in the race might struggle to run it out.

"This is the race I've set Criterion for this spring. I've had a second placing in the Victoria Derby before (Praecido, 2010) but this colt is a better horse."

RAWILLER has picked up the Victoria Derby ride on the John Sadler-trained Pinstripe Lane.

The champion jockey, who missed the Cox Plate due to suspension, also rides in-form mare Red Tracer in the Group 1 $500,00 Myer Classic (1600m), last-start Toorak Handicap winner Solzenhitsyn in the Group 1 $1 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and Safeguard in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Rawiller is still without a ride in the Melbourne Cup.