Trainer Gerald Ryan believes the weight factor and regular trips to the beach can help Melito claim her second Group One success in the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm.Melito has been in great form during the winter carnival with three Group One placings which followed her first victory at the elite level in the TJ Smith and second to Hot Danish in the All-Aged Stakes at Randwick in April.The three-year-old will be lining up for her seventh start this preparation in Saturday's 1400-metre feature but

Trainer Gerald Ryan believes the weight factor and regular trips to the beach can help Melito claim her second Group One success in the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Melito has been in great form during the winter carnival with three Group One placings which followed her first victory at the elite level in the TJ Smith and second to Hot Danish in the All-Aged Stakes at Randwick in April.

The three-year-old will be lining up for her seventh start this preparation in Saturday's 1400-metre feature but Ryan has no concerns about her training off.

"This is only her seventh start and she hasn't had that big a campaign," Ryan said.

"Since she came to Queensland I've been taking her to the beach regularly which has kept her bright.

"She deserves to win another Group One the way she's been racing and she's got a two-kilo weight advantage over Beaded who I rate her main danger.

Ryan has won the Winter Stakes twice previously with Mon Mekki (2003) and Blushing Bijou (1992).

Melito and Beaded last met in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.

Melito went down in a photo-finish to Black Piranha in the $1 million sprint with Beaded putting in a sensational performance off a near outside barrier to finish fourth, less than half a length from the winner.

Melito carried 51.5kg in the Stradbroke and jumps four kilograms in weight to 55.5kg for the Winter Stakes.

In contrast, Beaded rises six kilograms in the Winter Stakes after carrying 51kg in the Stradbroke.

"I think Beaded and Set For Fame are the ones to beat but Beaded has been in work a lot longer than Melito," Ryan said.

"Seven runs is not that long a campaign and when things are going so well why change?"

Ryan believes Melito should be crowned three-year-old Filly of the Year following her autumn and winter performances.

Prior to her narrow defeat in the Stradbroke, Melito was an eye-catching third to Hot Danish in the Group One Doomben 10,000 after losing a photo-finish verdict to Albert The Fat in the Group One BTC Cup in May.

Ryan rates Melito the best three-year-old filly he has trained and hopes a Winter Stakes victory will give her the edge over Faint Perfume for Filly of the Year honours.

Melito will be ridden by Corey Brown who is four wins behind Nash Rawiller in the Sydney jockeys' premiership.

Rawiller partners the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water and is aiming for his 10th Group One win of the season.

Gold Water has been freshened for the Winter Stakes following her second to Metal Bender in the Group One Doomben Cup in May.

Trainer Peter Moody will join Bart Cummings with seven Group One wins this season if Set For Fame is successful.

Set For Fame bounced back from a virus which disrupted her Sydney campaign to win the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm three weeks ago.