An ill-timed injury to Peace Force on the way to Brisbane has thwarted Gerald Ryan's hopes of a two-state stakes double and he will rely on his Randwick runners, Red Excitement and Dances On Stars.

Peace Force was the favourite for Saturday's Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben but hurt a foreleg in a float mishap and had to be treated for bruising.

Ryan will wait until she recovers before he looks at other races in Sydney and Brisbane.

His Randwick runners have had varying barrier fortunes with Red Excitement drawing the widest gate in the Group Two Villiers (1600m) and Dances On Stars a more suitable five in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m).

"Dances On Stars has been working really well, probably as well if not better than ever," Ryan said.

"He's very good fresh. It's not an easy race but he's a consistent horse and rarely lets anyone down."

Now a six-year-old, Dances On Stars showed his talent early when he won the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes at two.

Although just below top level, the gelding has amassed more than $500,000 prize money from 32 starts over 1100 to 1350 metres.

Surprisingly he hasn't won at 1200m but boasts a third over the distance in the Group Two Victory Stakes in May won by subsequent Stradbroke winner Srikandi from Ball Of Muscle.

Red Excitement has missed a couple of his scheduled starts over the spring and summer because of wet tracks.

Although he gets his preferred firmer surface at Randwick, the task will not be easy from the barrier.

"He is always better from a wide barrier but perhaps not quite that wide," Ryan said.

"It is better than barrier one."