A Rosehill barrier trial will confirm the kick-off point for Snitzerland as trainer Gerald Ryan plots a path to an elusive Group One victory.
Illness curtailed the mare’s spring campaign when she was found to have a respiratory complaint after her failure in the Moir Stakes in September.
Ryan got her back for a Listed race late in the carnival and she was edged out by Lankan Rupee in a fighting finish to the Earl Gray Stakes at Flemington.
Snitzerland competes in a 900m trial at Rosehill on Tuesday with the trainer hoping to confirm a start in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at on February 15.
“We’ll see how she goes but the Lightning is the race I’m leaning to,” Ryan said.
“The other race would be the Oakleigh Plate but she has run so well down the straight at Flemington in the past that I’d like to go there.”
Snitzerland has been runner-up in Group One races twice – behind Pierro in the 2012 Golden Slipper and Bel Sprinter in last year’s Galaxy.
“She was really sick after the Moonee Valley race and I was really glad to get her back for the race at Flemington,” Ryan said.
“Lankan Rupee is a very good horse and I thought it was one of the best races of the carnival.
“She just didn’t have the race fitness.”
The Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee won a barrier trial at Cranbourne last week.
Price plans to run Lankan Rupee in the Group Three Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday before setting him on a Group One path to the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap.
Snitzerland’s trial will also feature Chris Waller-trained stablemates Red Tracer and Catkins who finished one-two in the Group One Myer Classic in November.
Star filly Guelph will run against her own age in another 900m heat at Rosehill while her younger brother Ghibellines runs in a two-year-old heat.
