Oakleigh Plate 2023

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the Oakleigh Plate:

The Oakleigh Plate is a Group 1 race which takes place each year in February. The race in 2023 will be held on Saturday 25th of February at Caulfield Racecourse. Looking back to the race in 2021, it was won by Marabi.

This race was first run in 1884 and won by one of the Australian turf’s greatest racehorses in Malua. Not only did Malua win the first Oakleigh Plate he went on to win a Newmarket Handicap then later in the Spring returned to win the Melbourne Cup.

From its inception this race has included some of Australia’s greatest sprinters. The Oakleigh Plate is the middle leg of the Victorian Sprint treble with the Lightning Stakes being the first leg and Newmarket Handicap the final leg of the series.

Run over the 1100m at Caulfield it offers sprinters a nice long straight run until the sweeping turn into the famous Caulfield straight where the Caulfield Cup begins. The last 100m is always a test as the pace in Oakleigh Plates is always frantic and a strong finish is preferable.

Aurie’s Star was the first dual winner of the Oakleigh Plate winning in 1937 and again in 1939. The Champion mare Dual Choice was the first winner in consecutive years when she scorched the earth to win in 1971 and in 1972.

The mighty WA sprinter Placid Ark won his Oakleigh Plate in 1987 before going onto Flemington and completing the famous treble with a victory in the Newmarket.

In recent times the Oakleigh Plate has become a bit of a stallion making race. Fastnet Rock (2005), Snitzel (2006) and Starspangledbanner (2010) have all had an effect on the Australian breeding scene since winning this race.

Linda Meech created history when she became the first female rider to win the Oakleigh Plate when Pippie won in 2020.

The Oakleigh Plate is an Australian Group 1 held at Caulfield Racecourse, it is one of the first major races in the calendar year and the $750,000 prizemoney attached to it means the race brings some of the greatest horses from across the country to Melbourne, whilst also attracting many Aussies, who enjoy having a casual punt. Our expert tipsters will put together a short list of Oakleigh Plate tips to look out for in the leadup to the race.

Given that the nominations are yet to be accepted for the 2023 Oakleigh Plate, it is hard to provide any updates on our tips at this time. However, as the new racing season starts to kick into gear, the horses that are looking to target this race will become clear and then we will be able to provide you with accurate updates. If you are after Oakleigh Plate horse tips, then we will keep you updated with which horses are likely to be running, so you can place your bets with confidence!

As we get more of an idea of the horses that are likely to be targeting the Oakleigh Plate, then we can provide you with updates. When looking for Oakleigh Plate tips, we have listed some key factors to success in the betting section below!

We will list The Sharks’ Oakleigh Plate best tips for the race this year closer to the time of the race. Make sure you check back on this page for updates!

Oakleigh Plate Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the Oakleigh Plate in 2023 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2023 Oakleigh Plate. So make sure you check back soon.

There are a lot of important factors to consider before betting on the Oakleigh Plate. Make sure you have a read on below before you place your bets:

Is Previous Oakleigh Plate Form a Good Indicator of Future Success?

The only winner to successfully defend their crown in the Oakleigh Plate was Dual Choice back in 1971. Most of Australia’s leading sprinters will have prolonged careers and take on the top sprint races for a number of years.

The problem is with this race being a handicap event so success in previous Oakleigh Plates will mean the handicapper will likely grab a hold of the winner and allocate a heavier weight.

Look for those horses that have taken on an Oakleigh Plate but have escaped the handicappers glare and have nice light weight to contend with.

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the Oakleigh Plate?

The last favourite to win the Oakleigh Plate was Marabi (2022) and she started at the reasonable odds of $2.60. Capacity fields and an even field due to handicap conditions make backing the favourite a risk.

Since 2005 only 4 favourites have been successful and the average price over the last 12 years has been $15 so steer away from the favourites and look for a roughie at each way odds.

Formlines from Lead Up Races

Trainers have not been shy to resume horses in this race and a perfect example of that was when Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra managed to get Booker home at big odds fresh in 2019, then Pippie did the same with Linda Meech in the saddle in 2020.

Historically the Lightning Stakes has been the traditional lead-up with horses such as Dual Choice (1971), Placid Ark (1987), Schillaci (1992) and Fastnet Rock (2005) have completed the double.

Age

A good three-year-old sprinter with a lightweight is always a good guide to the Oakleigh Plate but in saying that only Portland Sky (2021) has won since Starspangledbanner did so in 2010. In 2022, it was 5yo Marabi who won the race.

Weight

Crucial. In the last 10 runnings of the Oakleigh Plate only Flamberge and Russian Revolution have carried more that 56kgs. Weights have become more condensed in recent years but it is still worth searching for a runner with a big weight advantage.

Gender

Fillies and mares have been racing in super form in this race since 2000. List of female winners since then have been Miss Kournikova (2001), River Dove (2003), Reactive (2004), Mrs. Onassis (2013), Shamal Wind (2015), Sheidel (2017), Booker (2019), Pippie (2020), Celebrity Queen (2021) and Marabi (2022).

Oakleigh Plate Best Bets

Our Oakleigh Plate best bets for 2022 are not out just yet, make sure you keep an eye out on this page as we will provide more details about our best bets when the final field is announced.

You will find our best bets below once available. Stay tuned!

Before the official Oakleigh Plate field is announced to the public – many bookies will open early markets, or all-in markets, for all your Oakleigh Plate betting needs. This is known as the best time to bet on your favourite horse, as you might be able to bet on great runners for the 2023 Oakleigh Plate at awesome odds.

Once the bookmakers release the 2023 Oakleigh Plate odds, they will tend to fluctuate each day in the lead up to the big race. This is especially the case when we have a better idea of the group of horses that will be targeting this race, as well as their recent form leading into the race.

Betting on these early markets means you could find the favourite at a price of $10 or more, which means if the horse you picked does go on to win, you will get a much higher return. However, there is increased risk with doing this and you should be aware.

Depending on when you put your 2023 Oakleigh Plate futures bet on, your horse may not even get a run but you won’t get your money back. This occurs when the market is ‘All-In’ or closer to the starting date, but if you are betting when it says ‘Before Noms’, then you have the security of receiving your money back if your horse doesn’t run.

The 2023 Oakleigh Plate odds are out, and Asfoora is the narrow favourite ahead of Star Patrol, who is on the second line of betting. Here are the current odds, courtesy of Neds, as of early-February:

It was a nice and healthy field for the 2022 Oakleigh Plate, with 13 runners. You couldn’t knock the recent form of Marabi, who ended up starting as the favourite, after she had a record of 6:6-0-0 coming into this race. Most recently, she won the Group 2 Australia Stakes.

Out of the 13 runners, only three started at odds below $10, which were the previously mentioned Marabi, along with Away Game and Minhaaj. Away Game finished in 2nd, while Minhaaj was back in 10th place.

Prior to the Oakleigh Plate, Away Game finished 3rd in the Magic Millions Snippets and 2nd in the Listed Christmas Stakes. While Minhaaj had put in some dominate performances in trials before this Group 1.

Marabi continued her unbeaten record in the Oakleigh Plate, which now stands at 7:7-0-0, with almost $1 million in prizemoney. She had an inside barrier (2), and got a stellar ride from Ben Allen, who had she positioned very well for pretty much the entire race.

Marabi was 2nd place at the 800m mark, and only needed to improve slightly to overcome all other runners in the field to take home the $450K prizemoney for the 1st place getter.

It was Away Game, another one of the runners who started below the double digit odds, who game home in 2nd place, by 0.5L. Away game was 5th at the 400m mark, and just had a little bit too much to do at the end. Rounding up the minor placing was Oxley Road, who finished 2L behind the winner.

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2022 Oakleigh Plate race:

Oakleigh Plate Winners

The results for the upcoming Oakleigh Plate are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: