International plans for Melito have changed with the mare to contest next month’s Champions Mile in Hong Kong instead of races in Europe.
That means her domestic aims have also altered with the Doncaster Mile on April 16 ruled out and Saturday’s Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill her next target.
Trainer Gerald Ryan said Melito had been vaccinated a day after her fifth in the Chipping Norton Stakes on March 5 and had shown no ill effects.
He and managing owner John Rippon had floated the possibility of a campaign in England and France before settling on Hong Kong.
“We nominated her for the Hong Kong race last week and she was inoculated the Sunday after her last race,” Ryan said.
“She had a couple of easy days after that but she was soon back to full work.
“She had a nice strong gallop yesterday and I couldn’t be happier.
“Hugh Bowman will ride her in the Coolmore and hopefully also in the George Ryder two weeks later.”
Melito scored a brilliant win in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) first-up then pleased Ryan with her fifth in the Chipping Norton (1600m) when she was the only one of the on-pace runners not to lose ground.
Bowman is the regular partner of Danleigh who won the Chipping Norton and is also headed to the George Ryder Stakes on April 2.
Melito was the NSW champion of last season based on her stellar performances in sprint races which netted two wins and five placings in Group One races.
Ryan and Rippon decided on a different tack this autumn with her preparation geared towards races of 1400 to 1600 metres.
Strawberry Field will also represent the Ryan stable in the Coolmore with Melbourne jockey Craig Williams to ride.
The other Group One race at Rosehill on Saturday is the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) where Maluckyday will be the star attraction.
Runner-up to Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup, Maluckyday is the early favourite to go one better this year.
AAP TURF
