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Won by names like Delicacy, Egg Tart and Toffee Tongue throughout the last ten years, the Australasian Oaks is almost always a memorable contest, and with fillies from several states and abroad engaged, this year's edition looms as no exception.
We've run the rule over the entire Australian Oaks field and emergencies, and you can find our full runner-by-runner preview below.
2024 Australasian Oaks Betting Strategy
► 3 Units Wings Of Song (Win)
► 1 Unit Quickster (Each Way)
1 – Pulchritudinous (7)
Former Kiwi, Pulchritudinous, debuts for the Waterhouse & Bott stable in the Australasian Oaks and rates as a key winning chance.
The Wrote filly continued to improve with each start during her autumn prep across the ditch, returning to winning form in the Group 2 Lowlands Stakes before recording a dominant win in the NZ Oaks.
She's trialled nicely since arriving in Australia and looks forward enough to strike over the 2000m this week.
2 – Wings Of Song (9)
Wings Of Song was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Auraria Stakes here a fortnight ago and is a leading chance of recording her first win at the highest level this week.
The Mendelssohn filly has been excellent since debuting, winning seven of twelve starts, placing a further three times and turning in some dominant performances.
Having won four feature races in Tasmanian, including the Oaks in February, she kicked clear over 1800m here last time out and looks to be in peak order for the Australasian Oaks.
3 – Positivity (8)
Positivity is another Kiwi debuting in Australia this weekend.
The Almanzor filly has won two of only six starts since debuting, including the Group 3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie early last month, while she was last seen finishing second in the NZ Oaks.
She clearly has ability, but she would need to go to another level to beat home some of her Australasian Oaks rivals.
4 – Serasana (3)
Victorian raider Serasana brings sound form into the 2024 Australasian Oaks field.
The Snitzel filly is yet to strike in three runs back this time, but after filling the minors in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes first-up from a spell, she has since raced well around some above-average opposition.
That being said, this is easily the toughest task that she has been set, and she will need everything to go right to be in the finish.
5 – Queen Of Dragons (2)
Queen Of Dragons has gone to another level this time in, and the Australasian Oaks looks a perfect Group 1 target for her.
Having stripped fitter with a fair effort in BM78 company first-up at Rosehill, the Pierro filly was too good for them in the Group 3 Kembla Classic before hitting the line to finish fourth behind Orchestral in the Vinery Stud Stales.
That form does look to be amongst the strongest in this year's Australasian Oaks, and Queen Of Dragons wouldn't look out of place in the trifecta.
6 – Vibrant Sun (12)
Vibrant Sun is five weeks between runs into the 2024 Australasian Oaks field.
Prior to that effort, she finished a length fourth behind the likes of Legacies over 1400m at Flemington.
She is yet to contest a race beyond 1700m, and while breeding suggests she will relish it, it's hard to have any real confidence alongside some of these rivals. She might be under the odds at her current price ($6 at publish).
7 – Mollynickers (15)
Mollynickers is yet to record a race win in four appearances since resuming and her Australasian Oaks task became even more difficult when she was allocated barrier 15.
Having been well beaten by the likes of Vibrant Sun and Wings Of Song at her last two appearances, nothing short of a career-best performance would be required for this girl to fight into the finish as well.
8 – Coco Sun (4)
Coco Sun is chasing a hat-trick when she takes her place in the 2024 Australasian Oaks field.
Having hit the line to record a comfortable win in BM64 company at Sandown two back, she booked her trip to Adelaide with a dominant win over a mile on Golden Mile Day at Bendigo.
She is drawn ideally under Jamie Kah, but this is another big rise in class.
9 – Qali Al Farrasha (19)
NZ Oaks third placegetter, Qali Al Farrasha, is another one that is on debut in Australia on Saturday, but she has drawn into the Australasian Oaks field in the carpark.
The Almanzor filly has hardly turned in a poor performance since debuting but has recorded just the one win in a weak maiden at Matamata.
She might find a few of these rivals just a little too good once more.
10 – Quickster (14)
Quickstar mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to run on into second behind Wings Of Song in the Auraria Stakes a fortnight ago.
The Shamus Award filly has been excellent this time in, coming from a long way back to only just miss over 1200m at Sandown first-up before recording consecutive race wins, including the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes, prior to her latest effort.
A full sister to multiple Group 1 winner, Mr Quickie, Quickster has all the credentials of a Group 1 winner, and she might prove to be the value in Australasian Oaks betting at a double-figure price ($10 at publish).
11 – Concello (6)
James McDonald is in Adelaide on Saturday and will partner the Chris Waller-trained Concello in the Australasian Oaks 2024.
Having finished down the order in BM64 company at Warwick Farm when resuming last month, the Trapeze Artist filly broke her maiden at Hawkesbury before filling the minors behind Good Banter in the Adrian Knox Stakes.
She obviously gets a lot of ticks, given the stable and the jockey, but at odds of $6 (at publish), she's another that does look a touch of unders.
12 – Private Legacy (10)
Private Legacy was an easy winner in Class 1 company at Kembla Grange back in February and has since finished just off the pace of the placegetters in a couple of Group 3 races.
She's likely to find a few of these horses a little too good at this point of her career.
13 – Into You (11)
Into You failed to justify her favouritism in a BM70 race at Sandown a fortnight ago, having finished midfield in the Kewney Stakes and the Alister Clark Stakes at her two runs prior.
This is an enormous rise in class, and it looks to be a bridge too far for her currently.
14 – The Autumn Belle (16)
The Autumn Belle didn't miss placing at any of her first five runs back this time, but she was last seen finishing seventh, beaten nearly five lengths in the Auraria Stakes.
Other have more appeal in the market.
15 – Bon Mistress (5)
Bon Mistress has drawn ideally into the 2024 Australasian Oaks field in barrier 5, but that is about where the positives end.
Having been beaten seven lengths in the Auraria Stakes, she has fittingly gone up at triple-figure odds in Australasian Oaks betting.
16 – Infinity Imperial (17)
Infinity Imperial is the final horse confirmed to start in the 2024 Australasian Oaks field.
The Zoustar filly has improved for three starts since debuting, culminating in a maiden win over 2000m at Pakenham last time out.
17 – Harvest Moon (18)
Harvest Moon is the 2024 Australasian Oaks field's first emergency.
The Autumn Sun filly broke her maiden at Cranbourne back in September, her only race win to date, and she is yet to have an impact in two runs back this time.
18 – Seeking Stardom (13)
Seeking Stardom has recorded one win and one placing from eight career starts so far and was well beaten at both appearances in black type company.
This race will be too strong, should she gain a start.
19 – Shut That D'or (1)
Shut The D'or is a three-start maiden and the third emergency in the 2024 Australasian Oaks field.
She is unlikely to gain a start in the feature race.
