If Gerald Ryan wins Saturday's San Domenico Stakes with one of his two runners, he will be thrilled.

If he doesn't, he will probably be thrilled anyway.

In a race historically rich with high-class winners the ilk of Sir Dapper, Show County, General Nediym and and Testa Rossa, the list of horses who did not take honours is almost as impressive.

"Snitzel got beaten in a San Domenico, All Too Hard got beaten in a San Domenico," Ryan said.

"It's not where you start off it, it's where you finish at the end of the preparation that matters."

It is a mindset Ryan has adopted with his two runners in Saturday's race, Washington Heights and Ygritte.

Ryan says both are forward enough to be competitive but their major goals will be over longer distances and later in the spring.

Ygritte, who hasn't finished further back than second in four starts, is nominated for the Thousand Guineas and is also in contention for the $1 million Golden Rose.

Washington Heights, an eye-catching runner-up at his only autumn start, is among entries for the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate.

Ygritte is a daughter of the Ryan-trained Snitzel who produced the trainer's 2012 San Domenico winner Snitzerland.

Ryan was considering saving her return for the Silver Shadow Stakes on Saturday week but after studying the Rosehill field opted to run.

The trainer admits Ygritte performed above expectations as a juvenile and has physically blossomed at three.

"She did more as a two-year-old than what I thought she would. I didn't think she'd cope with it but she did," Ryan said.

"She's a lot stronger filly than what she was. She's not screwed right down for Saturday. It's not her Melbourne Cup but she's going well and I'm happy with her going into the race."

Washington Heights has also returned a more pleasing horse on the eye.

"He was like a coat hanger last time in but he's bodied up heaps. He's a lot stronger," Ryan said.

"He's fit enough for an 1100-metre race but both horses are running in a race that's short of their best journey."

Despite Ryan's reservations, Ygritte has attracted strong support from early punters and is into $5 after opening at $8 while Washington Heights is second favourite at $4.20 behind Nostradamus ($3.40).

The other filly in the race, Sheer Style, has also attracted interest, firming from $14 into $11.