For the first time in four years, trainer Gerald Ryan heads to the feature Ipswich meeting without stable stalwart Adnocon.
The seven-year-old is in the spelling paddock and misses Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) with Ryan relying on three-year-old Dances On Stars to step up to the plate.
Adnocon won the feature sprint in 2010 and 2011 and ran a close third last year.
“It’s not the same without Adnocon but Dances On Stars can make up for it,” Ryan said.
A long neck second to Sizzling in the Group Two Queensland Guineas on June 1, Dances On Stars will carry the minimum 54kg in the Eye Liner with Conservatorium, who missed a start in the Stradbroke Handicap as an emergency, the 59kg topweight.
Brenton Avdulla rides Dances On Stars whose Queensland campaign may be extended if he performs to expectations.
“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday but we may decide to go to the Sunshine Coast Guineas,” Ryan said.
“That is over a mile (1600m) and if he can run that distance it gives us something more to aim at in the summer.”
Last-start Eagle Farm winner Planetarium, who carries the stable flag in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m), is also on the minimum 54kg with Voila Ici the 60kg topweight.
“He is doing very well up in Queensland and enjoying the trip away,” Ryan said.
“This is a step up for him but if he can do well then that also opens up the options for him.
“We would then look at the Grafton Cup next month on his way home to Sydney.”
Zabeelionaire gets into the Cup with 57kg as trainer Leon Corstens hopes for a dry track to let the 2012 South Australian Derby winner show his best.
The four-year-old finished last of 13 in the Group One Doomben Cup on May 18 on dead track and last of six in the Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on slow with Corstens blaming himself for starting him on the rain-affected ground.
