Trainer Gerald Ryan has labelled Ortensia and Whobegotyou as false favourites for the Group One Doomben 10,000 and predicts his star filly Melito can topple both in the 1350-metre feature on Saturday.The Doomben 10,000 was a graveyard for fillies as a handicap for 64 years after its inaugural running in 1933 and the curse continued when the race switched to weight-for-age in 1997.However, Ryan believes Melito, who will wear winkers for the first time in her career, has the right credentials to b

Trainer Gerald Ryan has labelled Ortensia and Whobegotyou as false favourites for the Group One Doomben 10,000 and predicts his star filly Melito can topple both in the 1350-metre feature on Saturday.

The Doomben 10,000 was a graveyard for fillies as a handicap for 64 years after its inaugural running in 1933 and the curse continued when the race switched to weight-for-age in 1997.

However, Ryan believes Melito, who will wear winkers for the first time in her career, has the right credentials to break the fillies' hoodoo.

"I think Whobegotyou and Ortensia are false favourites," Ryan said.

"Whobegotyou is a good horse, but it'll be very hard for him to win a Group One first-up from his wide barrier (19).

"He has better form in Melbourne than he does right-handed."

Ryan believes Ortensia, who suffered a shock defeat last start when fifth to Albert The Fat in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben two weeks ago, may also struggle under the weight-for-age scale.

"Ortensia has won at weight-for-age in Perth, but that race was nowhere near as strong as this race," Ryan said.

"She just hasn't beaten this class at weight-for-age before."

Ryan selected Sydney mare Hot Danish, Shellscrape and local hope Albert The Fat over Whobegotyou and Ortensia as the main threats to Melito.

In latest fixed odds betting for the Doomben 10,000, Ortensia heads the markets at $4 with Hot Danish at $5 while Whobegotyou and Melito are on the third line at $6.50.

Albert The Fat is a $21 chance.

"Hot Danish is arguably the best mare in Australia and is my main worry," Ryan said.

"Apart from her and Shellscrape I give Albert The Fat a good hope. I think he's a very good horse."

Ryan believes the fillies' hoodoo can be overcome in the Doomben 10,000 if his gear change with Melito works.

"I'm putting winkers on her in the hope she can find half a length or more," Ryan said.

"She's never worn winkers before, but she did race in blinkers in the Golden Slipper and in Melbourne last spring but they made no difference.

"I think the market order should have Hot Danish as favourite followed by Melito and Shellscrape."

The scorecard between Hot Danish and Melito is all square at one-all.

Melito beat Hot Danish convincingly in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April before the Les Bridge-trained mare got her revenge when she reversed the result in the Group One All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick three weeks later.

Ryan rates Melito the best three-year-old filly he has trained and is hoping a Doomben 10,000 victory will sew up Filly of the Year honours.