The trainers of several key Brisbane winter carnival runners will have an anxious few days assessing some poor performances at Doomben.

Trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Damian Browne were at a loss to explain the run of Stradbroke Handicap favourite Srikandi who finished eighth in Saturday's Group One BTC Cup.

Browne said Srikandi jumped awkwardly but had then travelled comfortably.

"Once I placed her under pressure in the straight she didn't respond," Browne said.

Maher said he was also disappointed and he would monitor the mare in the next few days although a veterinary examination failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Likewise, trainer Daryl Hansen and jockey Luke Tarrant were mystified at the comeback run of Magic Millions winner Le Chef who ran 13th in the Champagne Stakes .

Tarrant said Le Chef blundered at the start and was checked off heels in at the 800m.

However, Hansen could not find any excuses for Le Chef after the vet examined the colt and found no significant abnormalities.

He will also monitor Le Chef, who was among the favourites for the J J Atkins Stakes.

New Zealand trainer Tony Pike is working overtime to help Sacred Star recover from a stone bruise which forced him out of the BTC Cup on Saturday.

Pike hopes with the proper treatment, Sacred Star will be able to continue his winter campaign.

Meanwhile, trainer Anthony Cummings will recommend sprinting mare Villa Verde be retired after her unplaced run in the BTC Cup.

Villa Verde's best win was in the 2014 Group Two Challenge Stakes in which she beat Snitzerland and Famous Seamus who went on to win the BTC Cup.