The Stradbroke Handicap has emerged as the likely Group One target for three-year-old filly Melito this preparation.Trainer Gerald Ryan believes she has the right credentials for the $1 million Stradbroke in Brisbane in June and that 1400 metres is her ideal distance.The 2009 Silver Slipper winner won the Group Two Furious Stakes (1400m) in the spring and recorded placings at in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) before running fourth in the Group One Flight Stakes (160
The Stradbroke Handicap has emerged as the likely Group One target for three-year-old filly Melito this preparation.
Trainer Gerald Ryan believes she has the right credentials for the $1 million Stradbroke in Brisbane in June and that 1400 metres is her ideal distance.
The 2009 Silver Slipper winner won the Group Two Furious Stakes (1400m) in the spring and recorded placings at in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) before running fourth in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m).
Ryan took her to Melbourne and her second in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) and third in the Wakeful (2000m) prompted him and the filly's owners to press on to the VRC Oaks over 2500 metres.
That experiment was a disaster with Melito finishing more than 50 lengths from the winner Faint Perfume.
"She has had a good spell and has grown and thickened out," Ryan said.
"She will be aimed at some of the later races in the Sydney carnival and then we will look to take her to Queensland for the Stradbroke.
"The 1400 metres seems ideal - she will never race over longer distances again."
Melito's Oaks performance was exaggerated by Corey Brown virtually pulling her out of the race due to concerns she was choking down.
Subsequent veterinary tests cleared her of any serious problem.
The Stradbroke on June 5 is Queensland's richest stakes race and recent winners include three-year-old fillies La Montagna (2006) and Private Steer (2003).
Ryan is also eyeing off the race as a possibility for three-year-old colt Therock.
"He will have one run in Sydney then head to Queensland," Ryan said.
"The Queensland Guineas looks like a nice race but he may also go to the Stradbroke."
The possibility of wet tracks during the autumn and winter us a concern for Melito but Therock's first of two wins came on heavy going at Warwick Farm which he handled with ease.
Brisbane Cup runner-up Ready To Lift is back in the stable to be prepared for what is more than likely her last campaign before she goes to stud.
The six-year-old showed a disliking for racing in the Melbourne direction in the spring and Ryan aborted her Melbourne Cup campaign after unplaced runs in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Ready To Lift finished a half length second to West Australian Scenic Shot in last year's Brisbane Cup and a win would be a fitting finale.
"She will more than likely kick off in the Emancipation in Sydney then go north for the Hollindale and then the Brisbane Cup," Ryan said.
"She will most likely be retired at the end of this campaign."