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Jockey Rachel King believes the set up is right for Criaderas to be tried at 2000m for the first time at Randwick on Sunday.
The Godolphin galloper has been a little maligned by punters since exploding onto the scene with four wins from his first five starts but King said she has every reason to be confident the run of outs can be broken in the Group 3 $160,000 Schweppes Summer Cup (2000m).
Since his last win back in August 2020, Criaderas has raced eight times including a midfield finish in a Golden Eagle and he's landed third in the past two Group 2 Villiers Stakes over a mile.
"It's definitely the right time to try it. He's been looking like he's been wanting the extra distance,'' King said.
"After a strong Randwick mile run he couldn't be better conditioned to try the 2000m. I'm pretty confident he will run it out, he's a relaxed horse who doesn't overdo it."
While he hasn't yet raced beyond a mile, Criaderas is a half brother to a South Australian Derby (2500m) winner in Kidnapped and also to Hauraki who won a Tulloch Stakes at 2000m and ran second in an ATC Derby (2400m).
Criaderas posted the fastest last 600m of the Villiers on December 11, running 34.41 (Punter's Intelligence) as he charged from the back into third behind Brutality.
He was $5.50 with TAB on Wednesday with Stockman, who ran fourth in the Villiers and matched the last 200m of Criaderas (11.38), the $3.80 favourite.
The five-year-old meets Stockman half a kilo worse for the clash over the Randwick mile.
King is hoping the different tempo of a 2000m race, especially one with a smaller field, can bring the gelding's big sprint into play as few of his rivals possess the turn of foot he does.
"It might mean he can travel that bit better,'' she said.
"The stronger he travels the better he finishes off so the slower tempo should allow him to travel comfortably and within himself and hopefully he'll still be able to produce that really good finish he has.
"He's a very happy horse, James (Cummings) and the team obviously have him in really good condition at the moment. When you have a fit and happy horse that's when they run their best.
"He hasn't been running badly, he's been in competitive races, and I'm confident he can get back into winning form."
Among King's other Boxing Day rides is last start upset winner Sepulchre in the Midway Handicap (2000m) and she's quietly confident a firmer track won't harm her chances of going back-to-back.
The Joe Ible-trained mare started $26 as she revelled on a heavy 10 track at Rosehill a month ago but it's worth noting she has won five races on good tracks.
"It's not that she's just a wet tracker but she did excel on that heavy 10,'' King said.
"Joe has her in good form. I'm not too worried about the drier track, I think she can still handle that."
It's likely the seven-year-old is headed for the Magic Millions carnival next month and King said she was pleased with her work in a trial at Warwick Farm last week on a soft 5.
"She felt super in the trial. Hopefully she can run well again and Joe can continue her preparation up there in Queensland,'' she said.
