While Great Britain limits itself to two Guineas races, a Derby, an Oaks and a St Leger (plus the Yorkshire Oaks, open to mares), all at Group 1 level, most Australian jurisdictions have at least one of each, often more.

Next Saturday alone we’ve got the SA Derby, Adelaide Guineas, Hawkesbury Guineas, Queensland Guineas and Bendigo Guineas, ranging from Group 1 to listed level.

Before that, a field of quality middle-distance fillies will do battle for the Australasian Oaks (2000m), highlight of this Saturday’s card at Morphettville.

The race’s first edition (February 1982) was won by the Bob Hoysted-trained Rose of Kingston, the VRC Oaks winner who went on to win the AJC Derby and was named Australia’s racehorse of the year.

So well was the race received that it was upgraded from Group 3 to Group 1 in its second year. Subsequent winners included Caulfield Cup heroines Imposera and Mannerism.

While the older SA Oaks has been downgraded to Group 3 and renamed, the Australasian Oaks retains its Group 1 status and remains a sought-after prize – especially since 2024, with Sportsbet’s sponsorship lifting the purse for the Oaks (and SA’s other three Group 1s) to $1 million.

The connections of this Saturday’s winner will hope she can buck a recent trend — the past five Australasian Oaks winners have a combined subsequent record of 35: 0-0-2.

This Saturday being Anzac Day, our other classic in this edition is the VRC St Leger, a race whose honour roll includes Phar Lap and Tulloch.

No St Leger winner has gone on to Group 1 glory since Lazer Sharp in the 2007 SA Derby, but Vatuvei (2012 Moonee Valley Cup), Alegron (2024 Brisbane Cup) and American Wolf (2026 Adelaide Cup) have picked up significant staying prizes.