Brilliant filly Melito will be the headline act for trainer Gerald Ryan in Brisbane this winter but she will have a handy supporting cast.The TJ Smith Stakes winner will leave for Queensland on Tuesday and is set to kick off her carnival in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben four days later.Joining her on the float north will be three-year-old Rothesay and staying mare Ready To Lift, both likely to race at Doomben a week later."I will work Melito here in Sydney tomorrow morning and then sh

Brilliant filly Melito will be the headline act for trainer Gerald Ryan in Brisbane this winter but she will have a handy supporting cast.

The TJ Smith Stakes winner will leave for Queensland on Tuesday and is set to kick off her carnival in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben four days later.

Joining her on the float north will be three-year-old Rothesay and staying mare Ready To Lift, both likely to race at Doomben a week later.

"I will work Melito here in Sydney tomorrow morning and then she will go up with Rothesay and Ready To Lift," Ryan said.

"She (Melito) had a week out at the farm after the All Aged and she's done terrific.

"I don't know if there is improvement in her. She's won a Group One and run second in a Group One but she certainly hasn't gone backwards."

Melito has successfully made the transition from three-year-old company to weight-for-age performer this campaign and she is the $6.50 second favourite with TAB Sportsbet for Saturday's race.

Ortensia heads betting at $3.80 and is one of 19 nominations for the first Group One of the Brisbane winter.

Mic Mac is scheduled to make his debut for new trainer Paul Messara while Tim Martin has nominated Hobartville Stakes winner Monton.

Bart Cummings has two entries in Latin News, who was scratched from the Gold Coast Guineas last weekend after drawing wide, and last year's Winter Stakes winner Russeting.

Set For Fame, Ghetto Blaster, Phelan Ready and Shellscrape are also in the mix.

Stathi Katsidis has been confirmed as the rider of Shellscrape with Gillian Heinrich looking for a new jockey to partner Ghetto Blaster.

With Craig Williams electing to take up a one month riding contract in Japan, Hugh Bowman will have his first ride aboard Ortensia at Doomben.

The Tony Noonan-trained mare is also the early favourite for both the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke while Melito is well in the market for both major sprints at $7.50 and $9 respectively.

However, Ryan is lukewarm on a Stradbroke start for the filly and says he will know more after the release of weights next week.

"It depends on the weights. I thought she would get a nice weight being a three-year-old filly but I don't think she will now she's won a Group One at weight-for-age," Ryan said.

"We'll find out next Monday."

Ryan has also nominated Ready To Lift for the Group Three Chairman's Hcp (2020m) on Saturday but she is likely to be saved for the Doomben Cup over the same distance a week later.

There were 26 entries for the Chairman's including the Chris Waller-trained pair of The Embassy and Snow Alert and Dandaad from the Cummings stable.