The filly Snitzel Dancer proved trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou right by notching her stakes debut win in the Group 3 $250,000 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).

Ryan expressed confusion over Snitzel Dancer’s two early-season Warwick Farm runs.

But her rebound success at Hawkesbury led Ryan and Alexiou to target the Carr Stakes.

“This filly shows us a lot at home so we couldn’t work out what happened in those two Warwick Farm runs,” Ryan said.

“It’s possible she just doesn’t like Warwick Farm because she was back to her best at Hawkesbury.

“I know she was big odds today but we were confident she would run very well. I told the owners she would finish top three.”

Kerrin McEvoy guided the $21 Snitzel Dancer to a strong finish, winning by near a length from resilient Plaintiff ($2.15 favourite) who had a wide passage with cover and placed second closely, while Karinska ($7.50) overcame interference to grab third half a length away.

Snitzel Dancer has now qualified for the stable’s Brisbane winter carnival squad, per Ryan, with the Group 1 Queensland Oaks in sight.

“We will go to perhaps the Guineas against the boys or the Bracelet on the Gold Coast, because I’ve always believed this filly will run 2000 metres.

“The Oaks is only 2200m, but we’ll just see how she’s going. We won’t stretch her too far.

“It’s good to see her live up to what she’s shown all the way along.”

McEvoy feels Snitzel Dancer can handle extended journeys.

“She hit the line strongly late and will get 1600m at least,” McEvoy said.

“I think she’ll stay further because she’s such a nice attitude. She’ll keep developing and no doubt strengthen a bit more.

“If Gerald and Sterling want to head towards the Oaks, then it’s worth a try because she’s a promising filly who is only going to get better.”

Plaintiff aimed for a perfect record and Jordan Childs praised her.

“She has gone extremely well,” Childs said.

“We had a nice run in transit, got into the three wide moving line and travelled up like the winner. “She probably just didn’t quicken up as good as she did the other day, being fresh. This was her first go 1400m I thought it was a good run.”

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