OAKLEIGH PLATE
1100m, Caulfield, $500,000, Handicap, February 22
HISTORY
* First run in 1884 and won by Malua. Group One since 1980. Run over 1200m from 1884-1972; 1100m since
* Leading winning trainers: Tom Payten, Tommy Smith (4 wins)
* Leading winning jockey: Roy Higgins, Noel McGrowdie, Harry White (3 wins)
* Malua (1884) also won the Melbourne Cup in 1884 before winning the Grand National Hurdle in 1889
* Tontonan (1973) is the only Golden Slipper winner to also win an Oakleigh Plate
NOTABLE WINNERS
* Wakeful (1901); Aurie’s Star (1937/39); San Domenico (1949); Dual Choice (1971/72); Tontonan (1974); Placid Ark (1987); Snippets (1988); Schillaci (1992); Fastnet Rock (2005); Snitzel (2006); Weekend Hussler (2008); Starspangledbanner (2010); Lankan Rupee (2014)
TALKING POINTS
* Bivouac is favourite and striving to become the first three-year-old in a decade to win
* Trainer Mathew Ellerton has won with Miss Kournikova (2001) and River Dove (2003) and added a third win last year with Booker in partnership with Simon Zahra
* The Ellerton and Zahra stable will be represented by Zoutori and Crystal Dreamer this year
* Two-time Oakleigh Plate-winning rider Craig Newitt has the ride on three-year-old colt Free Of Debt
* Anaheed is trying to become the first three-year-old filly to win since Miss Kournikova (2001)
* A week after getting his first Group One win with Gytrash, Adelaide trainer Gordon Richards chases another with Bold Star.
* Bons Away is lining up in his third Oakleigh Plate after finishing a close fifth in 2018 and fourth last year
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“His first-up win in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield in the spring was exceptional and the form stood up. I was very happy with his trial win at Rosehill a few weeks ago and a jump-out in Melbourne last Friday has him primed and ready” – Bivouac’s trainer James Cummings
“She raced past our expectations first-up with the time she ran so we can go into this race now with a bit of confidence that she’s going to be competitive” – Anaheed’s co-trainer Peter Snowden
“His trial at Wodonga was good and he seems in great order. We’ve purposely kept him for this fresh” – Faatinah’s co-trainer David Hayes
“I think every run he’s had this prep he’s found the line, albeit this is his toughest task. There’ll be a ton of speed on up front and I think if he gets some of the breaks in the race, he’ll go well” – Bold Star’s trainer Gordon Richards
Credit: AAP