Betting on the Oakleigh Plate:
The Oakleigh Plate
Oakleigh Plate Race Odds: Sportsbet | IASbet | Centrebet
Caulfield Races
The 1100-metre, Group 1 Oakleigh Plate is an open handicap race that is held every February at the Caulfield racecourse during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. It has a current prize purse of $350,000 and it was first staged in 1884 with Malua claiming the inaugural race. This race is the top handicap event of the Caulfield autumn racing carnival and it attracts top-notch sprinters.
Since its inception, only Dual Choice has won the Oakleigh Plate in two consecutive years and he did the feat in 1971 and 1972. The race also had a dead heat for first place in two consecutive years. Merab and First Arrow tied for first in 1931 while Blematic and Umbertana tied for second in 1932. Since 1988, Miss Kournikova had the fastest winning time with 1 minute and two seconds.
Final acceptance dates of the Oakleigh plate usually attract a large group of horses with each horse having a legitimate chance to win. This is the reason why the next winner of this race is hard to predict even if there are top-notch gallopers that compete.
The usual lead-up races for the Oakleigh Plate are the 1000-metre, Group 1 The Lightning Stakes and the 1200-metre, Group 1 The William Reid Stakes. Some of the competitors in this race may come from the 1100-metre, Group 3 Rubiton Stakes as well. The Rubiton Stakes takes place during CF Orr Stakes day.
After the Oakleigh Plate, some sprinters might go on to the 1200-metre, Group 1 The Newmarket Handicap at the Flemington races. In 2009, Swiss Ace won the Oakleigh Plate and finished second at the Newmarket Handicap. Also, 2009 Newmarket Handicap winner Scenic Blast finished fifth at the Oakleigh Plate behind Swiss Ace.
In the 2010 Oakleigh Plate, Starspangledbanner defied all challengers in the run to the line to score a close but impressive victory after settling close to the pace and pushing into the lead by the turn. Here De Angels and Arinos both finished dead-heat for second in a three-way go.
Oakleigh Plate Recent History:
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2010 | Starspangledbanner | =2 Here De Angels | =2 Arinos | 1:03.1 |
| 2009 | Swiss Ace | Lucky Secret | Typhoon Zed | 1:02.8 |
| 2008 | Weekend Hussler | Magnus | Tramuntana | 1:03.2 |
| 2007 | Undue | Poets Voice | Magnus | 1:02.7 |
| 2006 | Snitzel | Virage De Fortune | Takeover Target | 1:04.4 |
| 2005 | Fastnet Rock | Segments | Legally Bay | 1:02.5 |
| 2004 | Reactive | Ancient Song | Suit | 1:03.4 |
| 2003 | River Dove | North Boy | Choisir | 1:04.5 |
| 2002 | Sudurka | Mistegic | Straight Ace | 1:02.5 |
| 2001 | Miss Kournikova | Miss Pennymoney | Show A Heart | 1:02.0 |
| 2000 | Sports | Falvelon | Rancho Spark | 1:04.5 |
| 1999 | Dantelah | Paint | Magic Music | 1:02.8 |
| 1998 | Singing The Blues | Rock You | Jugulator | 1:03.2 |
| 1997 | Spartacus | Rock You | Clang | 1:02.7 |
| 1996 | Drum | Prince Marauding | Centisle | 1:05.7 |
| 1995 | Khaptingly | Royal Discard | The Heavyweight | 1:03.4 |
| 1994 | Kenvain | Sublimate | Blue Boss | 1:02.4 |
| 1993 | Mookta | Isnt She Gorgeous | Storaia | 1:04.3 |
| 1992 | Schillaci | Dark Beau | Dappers Hope | 1:02.7 |
| 1991 | With Me | Paklani | Joanne | 1:02.8 |
| 1990 | Scarlet Bisque | Show County | Power Prince | 1:03.0 |
| 1989 | Clay Hero | Lonely Dreamer | Scarlet Bisque | 1:03.2 |
| 1988 | Snippets | Rancho Ruler | In Wonderland | 1:02.8 |
