Hong Kong stayer Dominant didn't make a dent in the sharper middle distance gallopers in the Group One Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill in Sydney on Saturday, but he did leave trainer John Moore happy with his progress and with a clear target in sight.

Moore was using the 2,000m event as a pointer to whether Dominant should head for the A$1.6 million (HK$9.6 million) Sydney Cup over 3,200m at the Randwick carnival in April or stay at 2,000m for the much bigger A$4 million prize money of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the same day.

A battling fifth under Damien Oliver, more than three lengths astern of Godolphin's Contributer in the Ranvet answered that question with a performance that underlined his staying capabilities rather than his dash.

After sitting one-out and one-back most of the way, Dominant was outrun when it got serious then clung on gamely but his performance certainly eliminated the Queen Elizabeth Stakes from Moore's plans.

"Damien said the race didn't really work out for him - it was a bit stop-start and he would have liked something to take him into it when one of the other runners broke away with a big lead at the 800m," Moore said. "As it was, he was outsprinted but he kept getting to the line and Damien said he's definitely looking for more distance now. I was happy with how he ran, he'll be better for having that race under his belt and it's on to the Sydney Cup now."

Oliver rode Dominant on Saturday with regular pilot Joao Moreira required at the Sha Tin meeting but the Brazilian is likely to take over in the Sydney Cup on April 11.

"We race on the following day that weekend, Joao knows him well and I think we'll get him down to Sydney to take the reins then and bring some of that magic," Moore said. "He's on target."

Contributer, ridden by James McDonald and trained by John O'Shea, beat Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom.