Group One options for Melito this week remain open with the mare to be entered for both the George Ryder Stakes and the Queen Of The Turf, both over 1500 metres at Rosehill.
Trainer Gerald Ryan said he would study Saturday’s nominations before deciding which race Melito would contest.
“We will look at the entries before we decide which is the best option,” Ryan said.
“If she runs in the Queen Of The Turf, Hugh Bowman will ride her and if it’s the George Ryder then Corey Brown will be aboard as Hugh as a commitment to Danleigh.”
More Joyous will be the star attraction in the Queen Of The Turf as she aims for her fourth win from four starts this campaign while Danleigh is defending his George Ryder title.
Bowman rode Melito at her most recent start when she was a game third under topweight of 59.5kg to Aloha in the Coolmore Classic on a slow track, not her preferred surface.
Brown was aboard when Melito ran a close second to Black Piranha in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap and when she won the Group One Winter Stakes at the Brisbane winter carnival.
Brisbane is again on the program if Melito does not go to Hong Kong as planned for next month’s Champions Mile.
Melito has been vaccinated for the trip but Ryan and owner John Rippon are again keeping their options open.
“If she doesn’t go to Hong Kong she will go to the All-Aged Stakes and then back to Brisbane for the Doomben 10,000, the Stradbroke and the Winter Stakes, the same as last year,” Ryan said.
Melito beat Hot Danish to win the 2010 TJ Smith Stakes before running second to her in both the All-Aged and the Doomben 10,000.
Hot Danish ran second to Melito in last month’s Apollo Stakes but suffered a career ending injury and will be offered at the National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast in June.
AAP TURF
