Gold Coast trainer Maryann Thexton has changed plans with promising filly Merryanna who will now be a surprise starter in the Listed Widden Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.Thexton originally intended to give Merryanna a break following her last-start victory at Eagle Farm on Australia Day to prepare for the Brisbane winter carnival.The daughter of Stratum was coming off her ninth to Karuta Queen in the Magic Millions Classic when she led all the way for an easy win over 1100 metres."Originally, I

Gold Coast trainer Maryann Thexton has changed plans with promising filly Merryanna who will now be a surprise starter in the Listed Widden Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Thexton originally intended to give Merryanna a break following her last-start victory at Eagle Farm on Australia Day to prepare for the Brisbane winter carnival.

The daughter of Stratum was coming off her ninth to Karuta Queen in the Magic Millions Classic when she led all the way for an easy win over 1100 metres.

"Originally, I just wanted to give her a break and get her ready for the winter races," Thexton said.

"But she came through her last race so well I've decided to give her a go in Sydney.

"Her sectionals last time were fantastic.

"She broke Pane In The Glass's class record last time so she probably deserves a chance in Sydney."

Patinack Farm's Pane In The Glass won on debut at Eagle Farm in November then claimed the Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick in December before maintaining her unbeaten record in the Inglis Classic (1200m) at Rosehill last month.

Thexton, who has booked Jim Byrne for Merryanna, will send the filly interstate on Wednesday night after she works on her home track on Tuesday morning.

"I'll gallop her here at the Coast on Tuesday morning and give her a play at the beach on Wednesday before she goes down that night," she said.

"She'll go to the beach at Botany Bay on Friday and go straight into the Widden Stakes."

Thexton has no plans to continue the filly's Sydney campaign for the Group One Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in April.

"She's not nominated for the Slipper and she'd have to win a qualifying race to get into it," she said.

"She's only going down for the Widden and then she'll head straight to the paddock to prepare for the winter at home."

Thexton has always had a good opinion of Merryanna despite her not so well conformed front legs which was the main reason she went through the sale ring for only $5000.

"She's a stakes-placed city winner now and after the Widden she'll get ready for Sir Douglas Wadley," Thexton said