Spillway might have won the Australian Cup but Criterion still has top billing in David Hayes' Sydney autumn carnival squad.

The four-year-old runs in Saturday's Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on his way to the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

"I think he's our apex horse for the (Sydney) carnival," Hayes said.

"I reckon he's our number one.

"I reckon Criterion's first-up run was better than anything Spillway has done this year. So when he hits 2000 metres he'll be pretty good."

A jockey for Criterion will depend on whether Australian Cup-winning rider Michael Walker is successful in getting a careless riding suspension reduced on appeal.

Hayes and his training partner Tom Dabernig have only had last year's Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby winner Criterion in their Victorian stable since the end of the spring.

The four-year-old's two starts for Lindsay Park have netted third placings in the Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December and the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up on March 7.

Hayes broke a four-year Group One drought when Spillway edged stablemate Extra Zero in a photo finish to Saturday's Australian Cup at Flemington.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is also on the radar for Spillway while Extra Zero is headed to The BMW.

On Saturday Hayes and Dabernig also have Reemah and Haybah in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill while Fast `N' Rocking runs in the Group One Galaxy.

Reemah and Fast `N' Rocking both went close in Group One races at their most recent starts, in the Blue Diamond Stakes and Oakleigh Plate respectively.

Kerrin McEvoy rides Reemah while Stephen Baster will be aboard Haybah.

Reemah finished strongly from back in the field for second to Pride Of Dubai in the Blue Diamond (1200m) while Haybah has kept stepping up to earn a crack at the Slipper.

In her past three starts she has finished second to Fontiton and Thurlow in Group Three races before winning the Listed Cinderella Stakes in Adelaide.

"I've under-rated her," Hayes said.