Australia: After switching things up: Panova eyes another Group 1 in Queensland Oaks

Panova, the Australian-bred 3-year-old filly, had a rough start to 2026, losing three consecutive Group 1 or Group 2 races at tracks in the Sydney area.

A move to leading venues at other states has changed her season. Panova won the first Group 1 race of her career in the $714,800 Australasian Oaks at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide on April 25 in a 10-1 upset.

She will be favored to win another Group 1 in Saturday’s $499,000 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm Racecourse near Brisbane. Trained by Chris Waller, Panova is part of a field of 18.

Panova, who drew post 6, will be ridden by Ben Melham. In the Australasian Oaks, Panova closed from 11th of 16 to win by slightly less than a length.

The style of her win suggests she can handle the Queensland Oaks distance of 1 3/8 miles on turf. This is her first start at the distance.

Earlier this year, her best result at Sydney-area tracks was a fifth-place finish by three lengths in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in March.

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Waller has three runners in the Queensland Oaks, including Chispa, who will be ridden by Ben Melham’s wife, Jamie.

Chispa will have her Group 1 debut in the Queensland Oaks. She was second by slightly more than 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 2 The Roses Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben Racecourse on May 23, closing from 10th of 14.

In their last starts, Panova and Chispa were ridden by James McDonald, who rides first call for Waller. McDonald is in the midst of an eight-day suspension for careless riding at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on May 24. The suspension ends on June 11.

Chispa was beaten by Fireball Miss, who won her first stakes in The Roses Stakes. She raced briefly in traffic before reaching the front in the final sixteenth.

Fireball Miss has won 2 of 6 starts. The Queensland Oaks is the longest race of her career.

The Queensland Oaks has a post time of 1:52 a.m. Eastern on Saturday or 10:52 p.m. Pacific on Friday.

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