The vagaries of racing give trainer John McArdle some hope that Absolute Faith can upset top fillies Faint Perfume and Valdemoro in Saturday's AJC Australian Oaks at Randwick.The Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume and Valdemoro from the Tony Vasil stable have stamped themselves the best staying fillies in the land.They ran one-two in the VRC Oaks last spring and again in the Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill two weeks ago with Faint Perfume the victor both times.Absolute Faith did best of the chas

The vagaries of racing give trainer John McArdle some hope that Absolute Faith can upset top fillies Faint Perfume and Valdemoro in Saturday's AJC Australian Oaks at Randwick.

The Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume and Valdemoro from the Tony Vasil stable have stamped themselves the best staying fillies in the land.

They ran one-two in the VRC Oaks last spring and again in the Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill two weeks ago with Faint Perfume the victor both times.

Absolute Faith did best of the chasers in the Storm Queen finishing third, albeit more than five lengths astern of the star pair.

McArdle concedes his filly needs things to go her way to turn that result around but he also knows racing can spring surprises.

"We just turn up and hope for a better run," McArdle said.

"Maybe bad luck is all that will stop those two running one-two again but racing is a funny game and you can't win if you're back at home in your box."

Absolute Faith was a luckless seventh to Small Minds in the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide before making late ground from midfield to finish third to Faint Perfume at her Sydney debut.

She will have to contend with an awkward draw in nine on Saturday, although Faint Perfume (11) and Valdemoro (12) have also drawn out.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Once Were Wild, who has barrier four, led and strung the field out in the Storm Queen (2000m) and McArdle was hoping that filly would again ensure a genuinely-run race in Saturday's 2400 metre Classic.

"I would have preferred a closer draw so she was able to box seat but hopefully Gai's horse puts the speed on again," McArdle said.

"Valdemoro and Faint Perfume have drawn worse, hopefully my filly can slide in somewhere and not get as far back as last time."

Faint Perfume will be attempting to become the first filly since Serenade Rose in 2005-06 to win both the VRC and AJC Oaks.

Before her it was Research in 1988-89.

Danendri in 1996-97 was the last to finish runner-up in the spring Classic before bouncing back to take out the blue riband in the autumn.

McArdle prepared Hollow Bullet to win the 2004 VRC Oaks before finishing fourth to Dizelle at Randwick but he said a wet track, rather than the challenge of the task, put paid to her chances of claiming the double.

"She hit a wet track at Randwick that year and she was hopeless on them," McArdle said.

"Bart is a master trainer and I used to work for Tony Vasil and he is an incredibly good horseman.

"They will both have their fillies right on the day."

Punters agree with Faint Perfume the $2.30 TAB Sportsbet favourite ahead of Valdemoro at $3.20 while Absolute Faith is a $23 chance.