Racing: Trainer confident Melito can defeat her older opponents

BRISBANE: Queensland trainer Gerald Ryan believes the weight factor and regular trips to the beach can help Melito claim her second group one success in the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm today.

Melito has been in great form during the winter carnival with three group one placings which followed her first victory at the elite level in the TJ Smith and second to Hot Danish in the All-Aged Stakes at Randwick in April.

The 3-year-old will be lining up for her seventh start this preparation in the 1400m feature but Ryan has no concerns about her training off.

"This is only her seventh start and she hasn't had that big a campaign," Ryan said.

"Since she came to Queensland I've been taking her to the beach regularly which has kept her bright.

"She deserves to win another group one the way she's been racing and she's got a 2kg weight advantage over Beaded who I rate her main Melito went down in a photo-finish to Black Piranha in the Stradbroke Hcp with Beaded putting in a sensational performance off a near outside barrier to finish fourth, less than half a length from the winner.

Melito carried 51.5kg in the Stradbroke and jumps 4kg in weight to 55.5kg for the Winter Stakes.

By contrast, Beaded rises 6kg in the Winter Stakes after carrying 51kg in the Stradbroke. "I think Beaded and Set For Fame are the ones to beat but Beaded has been in work a lot longer than Melito," Ryan said.

"Seven runs is not that long a campaign and when things are going so well why change?"

Ryan believes Melito should be crowned 3-year-old Filly of the Year following her autumn and winter performances.

Before her narrow defeat in the Stradbroke, Melito was an eye-catching third to Hot Danish in the Group One Doomben 10,000 after losing a photo-finish verdict to Albert The Fat in the Group One BTC Cup in May.

Ryan rates Melito the best 3-year-old filly he has trained and hopes a Winter Stakes victory will give her the edge over Faint Perfume for Filly of the Year honours.

Of interest to Kiwi punters will be the performances of Culminate, trained by Stephen McKee, and Wealth Princess, having her final run for Brent Gillovic before going to Melbourne, and to be ridden by Michael Walker.

- AAP