Trainer Steele Ryan says his topline mare Deer Valley may be vulnerable in the $100,000 Goldmarket Handicap on Monday.Ryan will saddle two runners in the Gold Coast feature sprint with Steel Lips the other and the well-regarded trainer is confident both horses can figure in the finish.But he warned the huge deluge of rain which has descended on south-east Queensland has hampered Deer Valley's preparation since her scorching first-up win over Burdekin Blues on December 18."Obviously I have train

Trainer Steele Ryan says his topline mare Deer Valley may be vulnerable in the $100,000 Goldmarket Handicap on Monday.

Ryan will saddle two runners in the Gold Coast feature sprint with Steel Lips the other and the well-regarded trainer is confident both horses can figure in the finish.

But he warned the huge deluge of rain which has descended on south-east Queensland has hampered Deer Valley's preparation since her scorching first-up win over Burdekin Blues on December 18.

"Obviously I have trained her to peak for this race but I haven't been able to do as much work with her as I wanted because of the wet tracks," Ryan said.

"I am very happy with her and she loves a wet track but she may be lacking a bit in her fitness levels."

Ryan said Deer Valley had proven a tricky mare to train but he was certain he had discovered her likes and dislikes this preparation.

"She ties up a lot and has high enzyme levels and I'm sure that is the reason her form has been indifferent at times during her career," Ryan said.

"But the longer I've had her the more I have gotten to know her and I am very happy with where she's at now."

At her last start, Deer Valley stormed home to beat gun sprinter Burdekin Blues over 1110 metres after finishing unplaced behind Zero Rock on November 13 at her first run this campaign.

Deer Valley will again clash with Zero Rock in the Goldmarket and Ryan believes his mare can the tables.

"She was well above herself first up but I was confident she could win second up and she got the job done," he said.

"She's a lot fitter now and she will relish the wet track - she swims."

Ryan will decide whether Deer Valley heads to the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares or the Magic Millions Country Cup after the Goldmarket.

"If she wins again she will probably get too much weight against her own sex and if she can beat the boys again I won't be scared to start her against the opposite sex," he said.