Victorian stayer Mr O’Ceirin gets a chance to take some of the winter carnival spotlight away from his boom stablemate Srikandi at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Mr O’Ceirin came to Queensland as the stable star for trainer Ciaron Maher but he has been pushed into the background by the efforts of his travelling mate Srikandi.

The filly has won three races in Queensland in such impressive fashion that she is now the ruling favourite for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday week.

Mr O’Ceirin ran a great second in the Hollindale Cup at the Gold Coast before his seventh to Streama in the Group One Doomben Cup (2000m) two weeks ago.

However, Maher is confident Mr O’Ceirin can bounce back in the Group Two Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on Saturday, although he admits he would like some rain.

Mr O’Ceirin has never won on a good track but six of his 10 wins have been on dead tracks.

The weather bureau has predicted rain for Saturday but on Thursday Eagle Farm was still rated as good.

“I think on a soft track, he is right up there with the Group One horses but on a hard track, he is probably just a bit off them,” Maher said.

“He was at his maximum most of the Doomben Cup and I thought he probably should have run fourth. He is only a little fellow and a couple of them muscled him out of it.

“Still, Saturday’s race is a bit easier and it should be an interesting battle of tactics.”

“There doesn’t look to be much pace in the race and perhaps we will push forward in the small field.”

Mr O’Ceirin will probably have his final Brisbane start for the winter in the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) on Saturday week.

Meanwhile, trainer Chris Waller is one who hopes the dry weather continues in Brisbane for his stayer Moriarty.

The gelding was fifth in the Doomben Cup but will be better suited on a good track and by the longer Eagle Farm straight.