The Australian Oaks is a time-honoured race for three-year-old fillies during the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Run over a mile and a half or 2,400 metres, the race is a gruelling staying test for the fillies, with the best stayer sure to rise to the top.

The Australian Oaks was inaugurated back in 1885 as the AJC Oaks. The race has had a few name changes before the Australian Oaks name was established in 1994. 

No matter the name, some great fillies have greeted the judge in this race. Flight, Leilani, Surround and Research all triumphed. Research's win was all the more impressive in 1989, as she won the Oaks after backing up from the Australian Derby, becoming the only horse in history to do so. With only four days between runs, Research's win in the Australian Oaks was as tough as they come.

Besides all the history, the Australian Oaks has also become a highly prestigious race to win since it became part of The Championships at Royal Randwick. It is raced on the second day of The Championships, on the same day as the Sydney Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

While it's not a race where favourites have had a great record in recent years, the Australian Oaks is not a race for outsiders either. Since 2012, only one winner has started in double-figure odds, with the rest all at odds of $6 or shorter.

This reflects the type of race the Oaks is. While punters know which horses have the superior quality, it's always tricky to pinpoint exactly which ones will stay the trip.