Classy three-year-old filly Melito is preparing to return from the paddock to embark on a two-race campaign in this year’s Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

The Gerald Ryan-trained Melito was supper impressive last start when she won the Group 1 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm and will be looking to return to career best form this spring.

A very successful autumn campaign lead to Melito’s Winter Stakes victory, with her other top performances included a win in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

She also enjoyed four Group 1 minor placings, most recently running second to Black Piranha in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and a gallant third to Hot Danish in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m).

The superior sprinter has two spring targets and will run first-up in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley, and will then contest the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on Emirates Stakes Day at the closing Melbourne Cup Carnival meeting at Flemington.

The quiet spring programme has been designed by Ryan so he can give Melito a repeat autumn/winter campaign next season, aiming her at all the same Group 1 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival features in 2011.

A daughter of boom sire Redoute’s Choice, Melito has won four of her 18 career starts to date earning an impressive $1,577,150 in prizemoney for her connections including her owners Reavill Racing.

This spring Melito will be ridden by champion hoop Blake Shinn, whose recent union with esteemed Sydney-based trainer Gerald Ryan has also seen him secure spring mounts on Melito’s stablemates Hinchinbrook and Rothesay.

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