Hot Snitzel's dud second-up record doesn't faze trainer Gerald Ryan but he is wary of Group Two Hobartville Stakes rival Manawanui.Hot Snitzel held Manawanui at bay by a long head when the pair clashed first-up in the Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.They will meet again on Saturday, this time over 1400m at Rosehill.Hot Snitzel has drawn well in gate four while Manawanui has barrier 10 in the field of 13 plus one emergency.But not even Manawanui's awkward alley was enough to snuff

Hot Snitzel's dud second-up record doesn't faze trainer Gerald Ryan but he is wary of Group Two Hobartville Stakes rival Manawanui.

Hot Snitzel held Manawanui at bay by a long head when the pair clashed first-up in the Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.

They will meet again on Saturday, this time over 1400m at Rosehill.

Hot Snitzel has drawn well in gate four while Manawanui has barrier 10 in the field of 13 plus one emergency.

But not even Manawanui's awkward alley was enough to snuff out Ryan's respect for his rival.

"If the track is heavy it might be advantageous to be wide," Ryan said.

"Manawanui is the horse to beat."

Hot Snitzel is no slouch, as he proved in the Royal Sovereign.

However, if statistics are any guide his second-up form is a concern.

He has missed a place just three times in his career - all of them when second-up from a spell.

"There have been excuses," Ryan said.

"He did heaps wrong at his second start in a race.

"His next second-up start was in the Golden Slipper and then the other one was in the straight race, the Coolmore."

There is also another major difference this preparation.

"That (Coolmore) was his last run as a colt. He was gelded the next day," Ryan said.

"It has made a huge difference.

"He's stronger now than he was in the spring. He's got stronger every preparation."

The Hobartville has attracted a talented field including Moment Of Change, who was third in the Royal Sovereign, and Rekindled Alliance who was a fast-finishing fourth in the same race.

Peter Snowden will play a strong hand with four runners - Induna, Galah, Free Wheeling and Ambidexter.

Snowden will also start highly-rated juvenile Meidung in the other feature, the Group Two Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) in which Ryan will be represented by Assassinate.

Assassinate was sensationally backed from $101 in to $26 with TAB Sportsbet to win the Golden Slipper prior to his first race.

He showed that money might not have been misplaced with an impressive debut win at Wyong on February 19.

It is a sharp rise in grade on Saturday against the likes of Breeders Plate winner Pierro and impressive colt Faustus but Ryan says Assassinate has shown enough to suggest he will be up to the task.

"He's pretty professional now. He made heaps of improvement from his trial to his race and I reckon he's come on since," Ryan said.

Rosehill was rated a dead (4) on Wednesday but heavy rain has been predicted for Sydney in the coming days.