A courageous Galaxy Miss denied a perfect send off at Te Rapa for an Australian Group One hope.

 The mare made the most of her weight relief in the Norris Ward McKinnon Handicap on Saturday to get the better of the topweight Seventh Up, who remains in the mix for the $A1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 10.

"He's jumped up in the weights and in these conditions it negates his turn of foot," Seventh Up's co-breeder, part-owner and trainer Shelley Hale.

"There's a plane next Friday and if I'm happy with him he'll be on it."

A last-start winner of the Gr.2 Easter Stakes, Seventh Up settled back and came home strongly, but was unable to run down Galaxy Miss, who was in receipt of six kilos.

The daughter of Tavistock was making her open class debut after winning for the fifth time at her previous appearance on the course in Rating 85 company.

Ridden on Saturday by Danielle Johnson, Galaxy Miss raced in second spot and one off the fence before making her winning claim soon after straightening.

"She was great and she loves a fight," trainer Danica Guy said. "I might ease up on her now, there are good things in store.

"I'll have a look around, but my preference is to look after her and give her a little break. I don't want her ploughing around on heavy tracks."

Johnson said Galaxy Miss coped with the Slow 7 going to earn bragging rights over Seventh Up.

"It was a tough effort, I thought at the top of the straight that there wasn't much petrol in the tank, but she fought hard when the favourite came at her. She got through the conditions well."