Oliver handles Spillway, favourite for the Naturalism, outstanding weight-for-age mare Silent Achiever (Underwood) and Samaready, the class mare in the Sprint Series.

Spillway, from the David Hayes–Tom Dabernig team, looks the best as there are queries about the other two.

A win on Saturday would  get Spillway into the Caulfield Cup and Hayes told AAP: "I'm pretty confident that he'll go very close."

Ridden by Oliver, Spillway was beaten 1.6 lengths by Dissident in the weight-for-age Makybe Diva (1600metres) at Flemington last Saturday, after which stewards questioned the jockey about his "level of vigour". Like Spillway, others will attempt to use the Naturalism as a springboard to the Caulfield Cup, making Our Voodoo Prince and the Gai Waterhouse import Bonfire worthy of attention.

However, Our Voodoo Prince eased from $6.40 to $8 on Betfair on Friday, while Spillway ($3.50 to $3.15) and Bonfire (7.20 to $6) firmed.

Entirely Platinum, a victim of a heavy Randwick track last start, preferred the Naturalism to the Hill Stakes in his home town.

Verdict:  Spillway – bet of the day.

Mare to defy trend

Silent Achiever, top rated by Racing Victoria handicappers, has to buck history in the Underwood. "Mares have not been successful in the Underwood since Tristarc in 1985," said Isaac Ling (Ladbrokes.com.au). "It isn't the best edition of this race but there's enough quality to make the favourite a risk." Hayes and Dabernig have Crackerjack King and Stipulate, both with good prospects, against Silent Achiever.  "I think Crackerjack King is a lot better chance than his odds [$51] suggest," Hayes said. "I reckon he made massive improvement from his first run to his second, so I'm expecting him to be competitive." The Offer will indicate his progress for the Melbourne Cup although the 1800m journey is short of his best, but Ollie should bring the best out of Silent Achiever, a Ranvet and BMW winner in the autumn.

Verdict: Silent Achiever.

Class advantage

Despite top weight, 59kilograms, Samaready looks placed to advantage in the Sprint Series, but the use of a barrier blanket for the first time indicates some risk.  However, the mare is a good fresh horse, usually  comfortable on her home circuit. The form of her rivals is well exposed. It's just a matter of Samaready producing a clean break at the start and that's up to Ollie.

Verdict:  Samaready.

She's my valentine

Four of the eight Randwick races have fewer  than eight starters, sacrilege for a Saturday and even more so for such an important spring meeting, but the George Main is a worthy feature. Lightly raced three-year-old Panzer Division, the possible leader, is the most favoured in the Racenet poll of leading betting houses. While three-year-olds have a reasonable George Main record overall, only five have raced in the weight-for-age event since 2001, notching one placing. With the rail eight metres out, frontrunners are usually favoured, but with Randwick nothing is certain. A trackwalker on Friday reported: "It's drying out reasonably but you wouldn't want it to be your backyard." Horses returning to a firmer surface after the recent clag could contribute to form reversals, and the better ground raises a query about promising mare Lucia Valentina, which glided across the mud to take the Tramway at Randwick last start. Wallerism, the mass representation of trainer Chris Waller, is evident with Sacred Falls, Hawkspur and Royal Descent, fitter for recent racing on rain-affected tracks. "Royal Descent looks stronger this preparation and has the power to sprint home on a drier track," said Michael Wood (theraceguide.com.au). "Drawn perfectly in barrier two and loves the Royal Randwick circuit. Top pick."

Verdict:  Lucia Valentina.

Firmer ground fits criteria

Improved surface conditions could help Criterion in the Hill Stakes. Criterion, winner of the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby, has handled the wet but flopped behind Hawkspur in the Chelmsford on September 4. Trainer David Payne reported the entire pulled up with muscle soreness across his back and it has been treated. Waller has three top hopes: Moriarty, Bagman and Junoob, which will be suited by a good track.

Verdict:  Criterion.