The money is pouring in for the Chris Waller-trained Kiwi expat Ohope Wins to secure her first Australian victory, with the talented filly dominating the 2026 Australian Oaks betting markets in Sydney this weekend.
Ohope Wins dominates the 2026 ATC Oaks markets for Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright Race Images.
Day 2 of The Championships serves as the centrepiece of Saturday’s racing action, featuring four elite-level contests on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day card.
Among the highlights is the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m), where the season’s premier three-year-old staying fillies face off over the classic distance.
A former New Zealander currently leads the Australian Oaks odds online at Ladbrokes, with the Ocean Park filly Ohope Wins quoted at $2.60 to triumph second-up.
Earlier this year, she put together a dominant hat-trick across the Tasman, punctuated by a 2.2 length victory in the Group 1 NZ Oaks.
She is now the clear elect to complete the prestigious Trans-Tasman Oaks double.
In her local debut, she was far from disgraced, finishing less than a length away in fourth behind Belle Cheval in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on Slipper Day.
Despite being caught wide for the duration, she showed immense grit to grind toward the line.
Fitter for that outing and returning to her preferred mile-and-a-half trip, she brings superior staying credentials to the table.
With James McDonald booked for the ride, her position at the top of the market is well-justified.
The primary threat on the second line of ATC Oaks betting is the Michael Freedman-trained Profoundly, who has firmed into $3.20.
Profoundly is looking to do the Adrian Knox / Australian Oaks double for the first time since Colette in 2020!
The daughter of Farnan enters as the only last-start winner in the field, having made a statement in last weekend’s Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
After a luckless run at Kembla Grange, she showcased a brilliant turn of foot to explode away on a Soft track.
Tommy Berry maintains the association on the quick backup, and should she succeed, she will be the first since Colette (2020) to complete the Adrian Knox – Australian Oaks double.
Only two other fillies sit under double figures: After Summer ($8) and the Waller-trained Soverato ($8.50).
Prepared at Flemington by Dominic Sutton, After Summer is a well-bred daughter of The Autumn Sun who was arguably the moral loser of the Vinery Stud Stakes, narrowly missing out on a protest after finishing second.
With a game VRC Oaks third already on her CV, she maps for an economical run from a soft draw with Billy Egan aboard.
Ohope Wins and Soverato shape up as genuine chances to hand trainer Chris Waller his fifth Australian Oaks win since 2012!
Waller’s second string, Soverato, aims to provide the master trainer with a fifth ATC Oaks trophy since 2012.
Jumping from barrier four with Kerrin McEvoy, she arrives rock-hard fit following a third in the Adrian Knox.
The 2026 Australian Oaks is scheduled as Randwick Race 5 at 2:05 pm (AEST), marking the first of four Group 1s on the 10-race program.
2026 Australian Oaks Field & Barriers
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohope Wins | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 7 | 56kg | 3 | F | 21114 | $681,434 |
| 2 | After Summer | Billy Egan | Dominic Sutton | 3 | 56kg | 3 | F | 33×62 | $304,475 |
| 3 | Profoundly | Tommy Berry | Michael Freedman | 10 | 56kg | 3 | F | 4×131 | $288,200 |
| 4 | Soverato | Kerrin Mcevoy | Chris Waller | 4 | 56kg | 3 | F | x1242 | $128,950 |
| 5 | Long Legs | Nash Rawiller | Gary Portelli | 1 | 56kg | 3 | F | 3×346 | $108,550 |
| 6 | Stand My Ground | Tyler Schiller | Marc Chevalier | 12 | 56kg | 3 | F | 4×15 | $48,700 |
| 7 | Classic Gem | Damian Lane | Dominic Sutton | 9 | 56kg | 3 | F | 44×25 | $112,870 |
| 8 | Queen Of Clubs | Craig Williams | Gary Portelli | 8 | 56kg | 3 | F | x6800 | $177,700 |
| 9 | Satono Invader | Jason Collett | Kris Lees | 6 | 56kg | 3 | F | 21193 | $77,850 |
| 10 | La Morra | Regan Bayliss | John P Thompson | 5 | 56kg | 3 | F | 71234 | $49,825 |
| 11 | Mountain Queen | Rachel King | Matthew Smith | 2 | 56kg | 3 | F | x2109 | $38,300 |
| 12 | Dance With Destiny | Tom Marquand | John Sargent | 11 | 56kg | 3 | F | 40×44 | $16,550 |
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