Twenty years after he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with champion Jeune, trainer David Hayes has won it again with a horse he says could be just as good.

Criterion dominated Saturday's $4 million race at Randwick, holding a field rich with international runners at bay.

As has happened three times previously in Australia, it was left to English stalwart Red Cadeaux to try to make an impression as Criterion romped away in the straight.

The three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up got to within 2-1/2 lengths of Criterion who started the $5 second favourite behind Japanese visitor To The World ($3.90).

"He is a chestnut like Jeune and he reminds me of Jeune," Hayes said.

"The testing ground suited him and I was confident. I haven't gone into a big race for a long time as confident as I was.

"He has done everything asked of him."

Jeune won the 1994 Melbourne Cup the spring before his Queen Elizabeth victory and was that season's Horse of the Year.

And although Red Cadeaux ($21) didn't win, his trainer Ed Dunlop could not have been happier with his second vindicating the decision to run in the 2000m race in preference to the gruelling Sydney Cup (3200m).

"He got stopped three times in the run," Dunlop said.

"He is a pretty good horse.

"I don't know what will happen yet but we will come back for another Melbourne Cup."

That is not a race Hayes or owner Sir Owen Glenn have in mind for Criterion with the pair eyeing another clash with Red Cadeaux in the QEII Cup in Hong Kong on April 26 before a trip to England.

"I would like to take him to Royal Ascot for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes," Glenn, who also bred Criterion, said.

"It would be wonderful if he could win there."

Royal Descent recorded another Group One placing when she ran 1-1/4 lengths behind Red Cadeaux.

Criterion has now had four starts for Hayes and his training partner Tom Dabernig after beginning his career with David Payne who prepared him for wins in last year's Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby.

Hayes has re-established himself on a new property at Euroa in country Victoria after selling his South Australian Lindsay Park operation.

"Getting horses in big races is why I built the place and they are just starting to pop up more regularly now and running well," he said.

"Criterion has benefited from that life.

"He arrived with me in great order. All I've done is fed him and played with him."

His first start for Hayes was a third in the Hong Kong Cup in December behind Designs On Rome before his Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes placings.

While the English camp was thrilled with Red Cadeaux, the Japanese visitors had mixed fortunes with Tosen Stardom fifth and To The World second last of the 13 runners.

Yasutoshi Ikee, the trainer of both horses, said To The World had never been on a heavy track until Saturday.

Through an interpreter, Ikee told stewards he was disappointed but agreed with jockey Zac Purton it seemed to be the explanation for his performance.

Cox Plate winner Adelaide finished eighth with connections saying before the race the ground would not suit.

Sydney's richest race went ahead without the long-time favourite Contributer which was scratched on Friday due to lameness.