ATC Derby winner Criterion will resume in Saturday’s Group 2 $175,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

“Yes, he will run on Saturday, we’ve got to start somewhere and this is the right option,” trainer David Payne told Racing Network. “He’s ready to go.

"He’s much more mature now after his break, he’s put on about 25kgs and he’s definitely carrying a bit more beef,” Payne said.

Criterion is being aimed solely at this year’s $3 million W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

“That has always been his race.

"He won’t go to the Cups because I don’t think he’s a strong stayer,” Payne explained.

“He won the Derby in the autumn because of his class, not because he’s a great stayer – it happens a lot with the better three-year-olds, they can win the longer races on sheer class,” he said.

Payne will plan Criterion’s path to the Cox Plate after her runs in the Warwick Stakes on Saturday.

“He’ll either go straight to Melbourne, or run in the Chelmsford Stakes here first, then go to Melbourne,” Payne said.

“We’ll just see how he performs on Saturday then we’ll make a decision.”

Payne said Hugh Bowman will partner Criterion in the Warwick Stakes on Saturday.