Trainer Patrick Payne views every outing Raposo has as a chance to learn more about the three-year-old.

Raposo has established he has ability as he showed with his debut win over older horses at Mildura before the gelding finished a head behind the promising Tan Tat Diamond at Flemington.

Payne thinks Raposo is handy but he is still trying to establish where Raposo sits among the many three-year-olds with Group One Caulfield Guineas aspirations.

Saturday's Joyann Erskine & Phillip Carroll Handicap (1400m) is another opportunity to assess the class of the New Zealand-bred son of Iffraaj.

"The best way to test them out in a race and see whether they can maintain a gallop against better horses," Payne said.

"We have just got find out where his level but I think he looks competitive in this race."

Raposo finished along the inside rail at Flemington when second last time out but Payne says the inner section of the course was inferior during the July 19 meeting.

Raposo has drawn the outside barrier in the nine-horse field that will contest Saturday's race but Payne respects the well-related Beluga Caviar, which finished a head behind his charge at Flemington.

"The third horse ran pretty well on the day as well. There wasn't much between them on the day so he has to be respected as well," Payne said.

Bookmakers agree there is little between Raposo and Beluga Caviar after assessing the pair as $7.50 and $8 chances respectively.

However, both runners have drifted from their opening quotes because of the support for the Robert Smerdon-trained Fontein Ruby, which has firmed from $6.50 to $4.20 while the Warracknabeal debut winner San Nicasio's price has tightened from $8 into $6.