Paltrow Miss fresh into Oaks
Lightly raced filly Paltrow Miss (NZ) (Circus Maximus) will go into the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks fresh off a third placing in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April.
The Ciaron Maher stable elected to scratch the daughter of Circus Maximus from the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) won by stablemate Fireball Miss after she drew an outside barrier.
"She's not a big horse and she was drawn wide," assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
"We thought if we just played our cards right and thought of her rather than anything, if we had of run, it'd probably see her out and then that's it.
"She was bought for an Oaks, she was third in Adelaide at her third start so she's good and progressive as well."
Paltrow Miss was sold on Gavelhouse as a yearling for just $900 and won on debut when trained by Robbie Patterson as a two-year-old in May 2025 before being sold to Australia, where she is raced by a syndicate headed by prominent owner Ozzie Kheir.
Paltrow Miss will be joined by stablemate Fireball Miss on Saturday and while the stable are happy with both horses, their chances took somewhat of a hit after drawing barriers 22 and 18 respectively, which will come into 17 and 13 if the emergencies fail to gain a start.
Fireball Miss will aim to become the third horse to complete The Roses-Queensland Oaks double when she lines up at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Chris Waller will have a strong hand with last-start Australasian Oaks winner and $4.80 favourite Panova drawn well in barrier six, Soverato in eight and The Roses runner up Chispa drawn in barrier 20, with jockeys yet to be confirmed for the trio. - NZ Racing Desk
Talented Kiwi to make Australian debut on Wednesday
Well-related filly Explosive Express (NZ) (Staphanos) will step out on raceday for the first time when contesting the Schweppes Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The two-year-old daughter of Staphanos impressed when winning an 800m trial in New Zealand at Ellerslie in April.
Previously prepared by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray in Cambridge, the filly was transferred across the Tasman to the stable of Chris Waller for Novara Park Stud principal Luigi Muollo, a long-time supporter of the stable.
Muollo bred Explosive Express, who is by Group One sire Staphanos out of the stakes winning mare Extra Explosive, making her a half-sister to three-time Derby winner and Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) hero Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry).
Despite being bred to stay, Muollo believed Explosive Express could potentially be a candidate for the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m), but time has likely scuppered that plan, with Explosive Express taking some time to settle.
“I'm obviously invested in Staphanos and Australia's the place you want them performing so my decision to move her to Australia was based around that,” Muollo told racenet.
“When you look at his (Staphanos) fillies' Group One winners and performers to runners, only The Autumn Sun has a better strike rate.
“I thought this filly is good and she could be a JJ Atkins horse, so it made sense to put her on the plane and send her to Chris.
After a couple of trials including a runner-up finish to Woodenbridge, Explosive Express is now ready to make her debut where she will be partnered by Nash Rawiller.
“She took quite a while to adjust in Australia, longer than we'd hoped but her two trials in Australia have been quite good,” Muollo said.
“Of the three trials, I think the best two were the two where she raced on the outside so it might just be a bit of a blessing that she's drawn out on Wednesday.
“Chris thinks she will develop into a 2000m horse so the 1100m could prove to be below her best, but you need to start somewhere and she's ready to go.
“She's still got a bit to learn but will be a smart horse in six to 12 months' time.”
With Warwick Farm rated a Heavy 8, Muollo takes comfort from the fact the filly’s mother won the Listed Castletown Stakes on a Heavy track.
“Extra Explosive won a Stakes race on a Heavy 10 track and Explosive Jack won on the heavy, so I'm not overly concerned by her debuting on a wet track,” he said. - NZ Racing Desk
HKJC
NZ Racing Desk
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