David Hayes is happy to take on the colts and geldings with Sacred Eye in the lucrative Caulfield Classic, confident the three-year-old is an elite filly.

The Oaks-bound Sacred Eye was also nominated for the Listed $150,000 Ethereal Stakes against her own sex at Caulfield on Saturday but the daughter of High Chaparral will be the only filly in the $500,000 Caulfield Classic (2000m).

She is the early $4 favourite in the field of 13 which includes Caulfield Guineas runner-up Lizard Island ($5).

"I just have a theory that the fillies' form is better than the colts this year," Hayes said.

"I think people have thought that for quite a few weeks, and she's one of the elite fillies.

"And the temptation of the $500,000 versus the $150,000 - it was a pretty simple decision in the end."

Hayes, who trains in partnership with Tom Dabernig, said a decision would be made after Saturday whether Sacred Eye also runs in the Wakeful Stakes before the Oaks.

Sacred Eye won on debut at Geelong at the start of September and finished strongly for second in her next two starts including the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) on October 4.

Hayes and Dabernig also have Alkaashef, a last-start third in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m), in the Caulfield Classic.

"I thought he ran really well last start and he's probably a horse heading towards the Derby so I'd like him to be nice and competitive," Hayes said.