Morrish's hopes of getting Miss Wilson into the three-year-old classic in the Melbourne Cup Carnival rose substantially when she coasted home in a maiden in Ballarat on Wednesday.

First-up for the Ballarat trainer, Miss Wilson ($2.20 favourite) led and cantered home by almost four lengths for leading jockey Dwayne Dunn in the C.E. Bartlett Maiden for fillies and mares,1400m.

The daughter of Stratum had three starts in her homeland of New Zealand in the care of trainer John Bary - finishing second on debut at Rotorua and then producing two fourths.

This was her first run on going better than soft and she showed a real liking for being on top of the ground on her new home track.

A delighted Morrish said Miss Wilson had arrived in his stable with "lofty" expectations - being nominated for the group 1 $1m Crown Oaks, 2500m, on Thursday, November 5.

And it is not surprising her connections have high hopes for her.

Miss Wilson is a half- sister to former champion Jimmy Choux, who was a five-time group 1 winner, NZ horse of the year and champion Australasian three-year-old.

Morrish summed up Miss Wilson's Australian debut as "great".

"She's untapped."

He said with the Oaks as a target, the test would be to see whether she could stay.

Morrish said winning a Ballarat maiden had been become a proven launching pad to the Oaks over the past few years.

The late Guy Walter won a maiden at Sportsbet-Ballarat with  Zanbagh two years ago before two starts later finishing second to Kirramosa in the Oaks.

Then last season Ciaron Maher produced Set Square for a maiden win in Ballarat before two starts later winning the Oaks.

"It can be done," Morrish said.

Dunn said he had not expcted to lead on Miss Wilson, which he described as "raw".

He said having such a big stride there was no doubt she had appreciated being on top of the ground.

"Hopefully she'll stand up," he said with a view to the Oaks.

Miss Wilson continues a long and successful association for Morrish and NZ breeder with owner Richard Wood and family.

Morrish has trained numerous gallopers for the Woods, including several close relatives of Jimmy Choux.

Sydney Cup and South Australian Derby winner and Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup runner-up Count Chivas has been the best of them.

Morrish took Count Chivas into the 1998 Melbourne Cup.

Miss Wilson was the first leg of a running double for Morrish, who has just 10 horses in work as well as being Ballarat foreman for Caulfield-based Robert Smerdon.

Another lightly raced stayer Nothin'like Albert ($5.70), with Dunn again in the saddle, also led throughout in the Porter Plant Maiden, 2200m.

Despite being a five-year-old, Nothin'like Albert was having only his third race start after debuting in September.

Morrish said the gelding was an out-and-out stayer with "no idea".

"He stays like a mother-in-law," Morrish quipped.

Nothin'like Albert is a half-brother to stablemate Mr Journeyman, which last season won the Camperdown and Penola Cups, as well as winning twice in Ballarat. 

The double completes a big week for Morrish, who won with Ha Long Bay in Ballarat on September 30 and Sari at Murtoa on Saturday.