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.
