Quality mare Sofia Rosa will only run at Ellerslie on Thursday by default.

All going smoothly, she will instead be in Sydney for the Gr. 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday with Blake Shinn booked to handle the Stephen Marsh-trained four-year-old.

The Cambridge galloper’s connections had originally planned to use the Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes as a springboard to an Australian autumn campaign and Sofia Rosa has only remained in the field in case of any hold-up to her flight to Sydney.

“It’s planned to go early on Wednesday morning,” said Wairarapa bloodstock agent Bruce Perry, who manages owner Lib Petagna’s thoroughbred interests.

“The Ranvet has always been a thought and then when Ellerslie was called off we put in an entry.

“The race fits into her programme and when we saw the nominations it did look a very inviting option.

“It was always going to be a strong field, but if we’re going to capture a Group One at weight-for-age it looks a reasonable opportunity, especially if they get a bit of rain.”

The Ranvet will serve as Sofia Rosa’s lead-up to the A$4 million Gr. 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 8.

The daughter of Makfi, who last autumn won the Gr. 1 Australian Oaks, has impressed in two domestic outings this preparation.

She made late ground to run seventh when resuming in the Gr. 1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa and again finished well for third in the Gr. 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic.