Epsom Handicap aspirations for Queenslander Rudy will go on the line when the horse runs in the Bill Ritchie Handicap at Randwick.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy says the Helen Page-trained Rudy must stamp his class on Saturday's race if he's going to be competitive in next month's Epsom for which he is a $26 chance.

"Put it this way, if he's going to run well in the Epsom he's got to be running very well in this," McEvoy said.

"He has performed well in some good races at Randwick and he gets his chance."

Last year's Villiers Stakes winner, Rudy is the $3.20 second favourite behind Sadlers Lake ($3) for the Bill Ritchie on the strength of his last-start third in the Tramway Stakes behind Hooked and Ecuador.

The John Thompson-trained Hooked runs in Saturday's Group One George Main Stakes while Ecuador finished fourth in Friday's Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.

Rudy's Villiers win earned him a start in the Doncaster Mile and he showed he was up to that class with his fourth behind Kermadec, Real Impact and Royal Descent.

The winner of the Bill Ritchie is exempt from a ballot on the Epsom (1600m) on October 3 but more importantly cannot be rehandicapped with Rudy on 52kg for the Group One race.

McEvoy is also looking forward to reuniting with Shiraz who will bid to stretch his winning sequence to five when he takes on Group One winners Terravista, Hot Snitzel and Rebel Dane in The Shorts (1100m).

"It's a tough line-up but he's in great winning form and he deserves a chance in this race," McEvoy said.

McEvoy won on the horse in January and replaces Hugh Bowman who jumps onto favourite Terravista.