No-one is looking forward to Melito's seasonal debut more than trainer Gerald Ryan, who has no qualms about the mare taking on Hay List and Hot Danish at Moonee Valley.The reigning NSW Horse of the Year, Melito had a spectacular sequence of Group One performances in the autumn and winter including two victories at the highest level.Black Caviar will be missing from the Moir Stakes (1200m) on Saturday but Hay List and Hot Danish will be formidable opponents for the four-year-old."She has been in

No-one is looking forward to Melito's seasonal debut more than trainer Gerald Ryan, who has no qualms about the mare taking on Hay List and Hot Danish at Moonee Valley.

The reigning NSW Horse of the Year, Melito had a spectacular sequence of Group One performances in the autumn and winter including two victories at the highest level.

Black Caviar will be missing from the Moir Stakes (1200m) on Saturday but Hay List and Hot Danish will be formidable opponents for the four-year-old.

"She has been in Melbourne for almost two weeks and worked really well on Thursday morning," Ryan said.

"She hasn't left an oat since she's been there and will go to Breakfast with the Best on Tuesday morning.

"I don't think she will have any problems getting round Moonee Valley."

Melito beat Hot Danish in the TJ Smith at Randwick in April to claim her first Group One but the Les Bridge-trained star turned the tables in the All-Aged Stakes.

Melito then travelled north where she was the closest of seconds to Albert The Fat in the BTC Cup followed by third to Hot Danish in the Doomben 10,000 and second to Black Piranha in the Stradbroke before claiming the Winter Stakes.

"All up she was only about three lengths from winning five Group Ones," Ryan said.

"She is just a terrific mare."

Ryan admits Hay List will be hard to toss based on the ease of his three wins in Melbourne so far this spring including the Group One Manikato Stakes last month.

Trained by John McNair on the NSW Central Coast, the former West Australian sprinter has won his past four starts by a combined margin of more than 10 lengths.

"Melito's won three from three second-up but hasn't won first-up although that could change," Ryan said.

Although she hasn't won fresh, Melito has recorded three placings.

Both Melito and Hay List are scheduled to clash again in the Group One Patinack Farm (1200m) two weeks after the Moir.

Hot Danish was withdrawn from Saturday's Caulfield meeting due to the heavy track with Bridge to decide after the Moir whether to step her up to the 1600 metres of the Myer Classic after the Moir.

Hot Danish has won 16 of her 27 starts but has not been successful beyond 1400 metres since 2007 when she won the Keith Nolan Classic and Emancipation Stakes, both over 1600 metres.