Queenstown has emerged as a logical choice to be one of Gai Waterhouse's best prospects for the Sydney spring carnival's Group One handicap for stayers.

But that shouldn't count the mare out of matching it with a bunch of off-season sprinter-milers in the $100,000 Winter Challenge at Rosehill on Saturday.

Queenstown confirmed her rating as one of the most whole-hearted horses in Waterhouse's team when her Grafton Cup victory took her career record to five wins and eight placings in 16 starts.

And stable spokesman Mark Newnham has fallen into line with early market expectations about the mare's Winter Challenge prospects, declaring a sharp drop in distance won't affect Queenstown's strike-rate in the Listed race.

"She is well enough to sprint really well," Newnham said.

"She never runs badly. She is one of those mares who runs well in whatever you put her in."

In the three weeks since Queenstown strolled in by three lengths in the Grafton Cup, the stable has taken a relaxed approach to her work but Newnham says she will carry blinkers on Saturday to ensure she is sharp enough to cope with 1500m after racing at 2350m.

"She has had a fairly easy time of it and she has freshened up to run well," Newnham said.

Queenstown is being aimed at the Group One Metropolitan, a 2400-metre Randwick race Waterhouse will be trying to win for the ninth time in October.

Besides her Grafton Cup win, Queenstown's mile-and-a-half credentials include a Zipping Classic minor placing at weight-for-age behind Sertorius, making her an ideal Metropolitan candidate.

"She hasn't had a lot of racing and hopefully the best is yet to come," Newnham said.

A Tim Clark mount, Queenstown ($3.50) shades Scream Machine ($4) for Winter Challenge favouritism with He's Your Man and Romantic Moon attracting early support, firming into $5.50.

Queenstown joins Liberation as one of two horses favoured to give Waterhouse a flying start to the new season of racing.

Liberation dictated and ran smart closing sectionals in a first-up win at Rosehill on July 19.

He goes up 3kg but is already a well-backed favourite to give Tommy Berry his first Sydney winner since returning from Hong Kong.