Gold Coast trainer Bruce Hill and his Villiers Stakes contender Hey Elvis have settled into Sydney well this week and are enjoying the hospitality of a person they are both familiar with - horseman Gerald Ryan.Hill was foreman to the Rosehill trainer for 10 years at his Gold Coast stables before Ryan closed them last year and settled permanently in Sydney.Hey Elvis raced twice for Ryan as a juvenile but the owners kept the horse with Hill, who branched out on his own in August last year.Ryan has

Gold Coast trainer Bruce Hill and his Villiers Stakes contender Hey Elvis have settled into Sydney well this week and are enjoying the hospitality of a person they are both familiar with - horseman Gerald Ryan.

Hill was foreman to the Rosehill trainer for 10 years at his Gold Coast stables before Ryan closed them last year and settled permanently in Sydney.

Hey Elvis raced twice for Ryan as a juvenile but the owners kept the horse with Hill, who branched out on his own in August last year.

Ryan has Synonym lining-up against Hey Elvis in the 1600 metre summer feature on Saturday.

"We're both surrounded by a familiar face, it's great of Gerald to take us in and it certainly helps when you're travelling," Hill said.

"Gerald is a great horseman and did a top job with this horse as a youngster and I'm so lucky the owners elected to give him to me because he's a pretty good horse."

Hey Elvis, who won on debut for Ryan at the Sunshine Coast in March last year, comes into the Villiers after a close second to Rags To Riches in the Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on November 29.

"He went terrific that day, he hit the front before the line and after the line but unfortunately not on the line," Hill said.

"We arrived in Sydney on Wednesday and he's travelled well and really hasn't missed a beat since that last start, so there is no reason he won't go well on Saturday."

Hey Elvis has always shown potential throughout his 12-start career but was forced out of this year's winter carnival after he bled when ninth in the Listed Queensland Day Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in April.

"We were looking at the Queensland Guineas and the Queensland Derby and at the time it was a huge blow," Hill said.

"But it could have been a blessing in disguise because it's given him time to mature and strengthen-up."

Hey Elvis has made a stunning comeback after a six-month spell, winning first-up at Doomben in October then easily accounting for Magic Millions Trophy winner Heart Of The Citi in a 1400-metre Class Six Plate at Eagle Farm on November 15.

Regular jockey Paul Hammersley will partner Hey Elvis and Hill has no concerns with the four-year-old having to jump from the widest barrier, 16.

"He's a very adaptable horse, he can win going back or forward and Paul knows him well enough to know what to do on the day," Hill said.

Ryan is happy to see Hill having success and pleased to see him with a Villiers runner but he believes Synonym could spoil the party.

Synonym comes into the race after charging home from near last at the turn to get within a head of beating Voice Commander in the Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on December 6.

"Synonym is flying at the moment and I think going on that last run he's got a great chance of winning this race," Ryan said.

Hey Elvis is rated a $21 chance with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds while Synonym is at $10.