Racing: Fillies fit and set for battle

Sydney's Paul Mirabelli is a classy ambassador for Australian racing.

The travelling groom for Basra went through the New Zealand Oaks field at Trentham tomorrow as if every rival had a chance of beating his transtasman raider.

But if they chased the Gai Waterhouse-trained filly home in the Royal Stakes, either Mirabelli is being overly kind or the beaten lot at Ellerslie have found another six lengths or more.

Mirabelli, who has topped off Basra's Oaks preparation at Paul Jenkins stable in Matamata, says the improvement in his Desert King horse since her impressive 2000m win on January 3 has been phenomenal.

"She's definitely ready to run 2400m now," said Mirabelli, who praised apprentice Troy Harris for his split-second trackwork pacing.

"We're confident we have a very fit filly and everything has gone to plan. She's grown another leg since she came over here."

While she may have been inferior to Waterhouse's Sydney star Lotteria when she left home at the end of last year, Basra has quickly proved she has more than enough class to handle New Zealand's best.

Any remaining doubts that she would be equally as deadly over 2400m were quashed when rider Michael Walker dismounted after the Royal Stakes.
"Michael said he hadn't even asked her to go, yet she was as strong at the line as she was with 400m to go," said Mirabelli.

"He's got no doubt she'll get the 2400m."

Chris Munce, who rode Basra to win a fillies and mares event over 1600m before she left for New Zealand, is aboard again tomorrow.

He replaces Walker, who was suspended for his ride on Gee I Jane in the Railway Handicap.

Naturally Mirabelli would have preferred an alley closer to the fence than the 19 Basra will jump from tomorrow.

But with the possibility of Vamperalla or Reely Smokin turning on the early gas, all the favourites drawn wide should have their chance to find a run near the fence before the first bend.

"I'd like to see Chris go forward and get some cover but I'll leave that up to him," said Mirabelli.

Mirabelli rates Justa Tad as one of the biggest dangers.

He expects the Royal Stakes runner-up will also have improved a ton with her Ellerslie placing in which he thought she pulled too hard.

"I saw her race when I first got here and I thought she was a super-star.

"She wouldn't be out of place in a Sydney field for sure."

If there is going to an upset outside the favourites it would have to come from a filly emerging from maiden or intermediate ranks.

At least one South Island punter hopes it is the Michael Moroney and Andrew Scott trained Matamata filly Danex.

The grey snuck in to the race with a narrow but impressive last-start win at Thames over 2000m.

If she lives up to the reputation part-owner Paul Moroney has put on her and scores tomorrow, the anonymous punter will collect $144,000.

The windfall is the result of a $30 multi-bet that kicked off with Clean Sweep's 2000 Guineas win, then got serious when Xcellent won the Mercedes Derby.

"I can't say who it is, but he's a Ballymore client and he's been checking in with Andrew on Danex's progress on a regular basis this week," said Moroney.

"I can't fault her preparation - everything has fallen in to place perfectly.

"I know she'll stay the trip, its just a question of whether there's better fillies in the race who also do."

Moroney said her four alley was a huge help.

While the riders on the favourites drawn wide will need to make split-second calls on whether to go forward or back, Michael Coleman should be able to find the fence without spending a penny.

Moroney rates Danex at least as good, if not better, than the stable's French Lady who ran fourth to Wharite Princess in last year's race.

Danex was rated a $12 chance on the TAB's fixed odds market yesterday, with Basra, Justa Tad and Arlingtonboulevard equal $5.50 favourites.

Carnival time

The $300,000 NZ Oaks leads the card at Trentham tomorrow, the first day of the three-day carnival.

The TAB has three fillies as equal favourite on the fixed-odds market.

Australian raider Basra has grown another leg since arriving here.