Change to help Dances On Stars

Veteran Sydney s[printer Dances on Stars is expected to respond to a new training regime when he begins his seventh Queensland campaign at Eagle Farm.

Seven-year-old Dances on Stars, a regular visitor in the summer and winter, will be having his 17th start in Queensland in Saturday’s Open Quality (1500m).

His best win in Queensland was the 2014 Gold Coast Prime Minister’s Cup but he has run minor placings in races such as the BRC Sires, Queensland Guineas, Ken Russell Memorial, Champagne Classic and Gold Coast Guineas.

Dances on Stars has been well beaten at his two starts this campaign in Sydney but trainer Gerald Ryan is expecting an improvement on Saturday.

“It is probably the easiest race he has been in for some time. Also I have changed his training about and I am looking at running him in longer races such as Saturday’s this time,” Ryan said.

“He is yet to win past 1350 metres but I think he can get further with the change in the way we have been getting him ready.”

“One thing he always seems to race well in Queensland.”

Ryan was able to get Kerrin McEvoy, who is in Brisbane for the State of Origin jockeys series, for Dances on Stars.

Meanwhile Ryan said he did not want a really wet track for his filly Suspenders in the Listed Mode Plate (1200m).

“I know she has won two from two on soft going but I don’t know if she will get through the really heavy,” Ryan said.

“She has had a trial when placed behind Winning Rupert since her last run in October. She has been in Queensland for a while and I just hope we get the right conditions,” Ryan said.

South East Queensland has been hit by storms this week but the weather is expected to be clear on Saturday.