Speedster Cape Kidnappers has been ruled out of the Brisbane summer carnival with trainer Kelly Schweida losing the race against time to get him fit after a setback.

Schweida had hoped to have him right for the next Saturday's Lough Neagh Stakes after the gelding was scratched from the George Moore Stakes on December 7 following a below-par blood count.

"I worked him on Saturday morning but he's too far behind to run 1350 metres on Saturday," Schweida said.

"I can't get enough work into him for that race and if I wait for the Goldmarket then we're getting into early January which makes it too tough."

Schweida said Cape Kidnappers would be spelled for six weeks and return to racing in April to prepare for the winter carnival.

While Cape Kidnappers is out of action, Schweida has been buoyed by the return of stable spearhead Better Than Ready last Wednesday following a three-week spell.

The four-year-old will be chasing his first Group One success in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February.

A jockey for Better Than Ready in Melbourne hasn't been confirmed but Ric McMahon who has ridden him to all his eight wins is likely to retain the mount.

Better Than Ready had one start in Melbourne at this year's autumn carnival when he finished fifth to Shamexpress in the Newmarket Handicap with Craig Williams aboard.