Rock Hero will have to emulate one of the greats of the turf if he is to complete the Dulcify Quality-Spring Champion Stakes double last won by Tie The Knot.

The David Payne-trained colt emerged as a contender for Saturday's 2000m Group One at Randwick with an unlikely win over Liberty's Choice in the Dulcify after bungling the start.

Punters have opted for the Gloaming Stakes form from September 28 with runner-up Savvy Nature holding sway over the winner Complacent and Rock Hero on the third line of betting.

It's A Dundeel completed the Gloaming-Spring Champion double last year while Tie The Knot won the treble in 1997 when there was an extra week between the Gloaming and the Dulcify.

Tie The Knot ended his career with 13 Group One wins.

Payne is keen on Rock Hero's chances although he admits he still has much to learn but has no concerns about the seven-day back-up.

"He was a big, gangly yearling and no-one would look twice at him in the sale ring," Payne said.

"And he is still a big baby. But he has a lot of talent and will be given his chance in the Spring Champion."

The John O'Shea-trained Savvy Nature will be ridden by Jim Cassidy who has been marooned on 99 Group One wins for the past three weeks.

With Darley's No.1 jockey Kerrin McEvoy in Melbourne to ride Long John in the Caulfield Guineas, Peter Snowden has Josh Parr and Christian Reith ready to partner Complacent and Shikra but has not yet decided which jockey rides which horse.

Complacent won the Group Three Gloaming (1800m) two weeks after breaking his maiden at Hawkesbury.

Shikra finished eighth in the Gloaming, 10 days after his maiden win at Newcastle.

Peter Robl will stick with the Anthony Cummings-trained Drago who overcame an early check to finish third in the Gloaming and is on the fourth line of betting.

The Spring Champion Stakes is the final Group One in Sydney for 2013 with the focus shifting completely to Melbourne after Saturday.