Bet on The ATC Oaks
The Australian Oaks, also known as the ATC Oaks, is one of the most prestigious races in the country for three-year-old fillies. It is held every year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney and is typically carded during the autumn racing carnival in March and April. The race is a Group 1 event with a purse of $1 million and is contested at 2400 meters (twelve furlongs or a mile and a half) on the turf.
The Australian Oaks was run for the first time in 1885 but was not run from 1895 to 1921. The race’s name and distance have changed several times over the course of its history but it has remained one of the most coveted events for fillies and has attracted some of the most elite long distance fillies each year.
One of the most noteworthy horses to win the Australian Oaks was Leilani in 1974. The New Zealand-bred filly won half of her 28 starts including six Group 1 races and was named Australia’s Horse of the Year as a three-year-old. She repeated the honor the following year. Another interesting winner is Research who in 1989 became the only filly to win both the Australian Oaks and the Australian Derby.
Bet the ATC Oaks Online!
Bet the ATC Oaks and other classic Australian horse races with one of these recommended online racebooks.
* REMINDER! - you must be of legal age in your state or province to legally wager on thoroughbred or harness horse racing. Please bet responsibly!
ATC Oaks Contenders
The 2016 edition of the Australian Oaks drew a wide open and competitive field of fourteen three-year-old fillies with Jameka getting the slight edge as the favorite.
Sofia Rose, the second choice, was not to be denied. She had lost the New Zealand Oaks (G1) in her previous start after a troubled trip which was caused largely by her own doing. The filly had gained a reputation for being difficult at best and uncontrollable at worst.
Self Esteem set the early pace and Sofia Rose, under Hugh Bowman, tracked the front-runner confidently. Despite racing erratically in the stretch, Sofia Rose seized the lead in the final furlong and won by half a length over Ambiance. The front-running Believe held on for third and favored Jameka had to settle for fourth.
Check back closer to the race for the contenders for the 2017 Australian Oaks!
