Irish Oaks History
The Irish Oaks is one of the five Irish Classic races, which also include the Irish Derby, the Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas, and the Irish St Leger. It was first run in 1895, over a distance of one mile. In 1915, the race distance was increased to the current 1 mile, 4 furlongs.
Irish Oaks Doubles
Irish Oaks history has seen a total of nine fillies secure Oaks doubles, winning both the Epsom Oaks in England and the Irish Oaks of the same year.
The first filly to secure a double was Masaka, trained by Frank Butters in Britain, in 1948. Other fillies who have won both the Epsom and Irish Oaks include
- Altesse Royale (trained by Noel Murless), in 1971
- Juliette Marny (trained by Jeremy Tree), in 1975
- Fair Salinia (trained by Michael Stoute), in 1978
- Unite (trained by Michael Stoute), in 1987
- User Friendly (trained by Clive Brittain), in 1992
- Ramruma (trained by Henry Cecil), in 1999
- Ouija Board (trained by Ed Dunlop), in 2004
- Alexandrova (trained by Aidan O’Brien), in 2006
Ouija Board went on to end the 2004 season by winning the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – which she won again in 2006.
In 2006, O’Brien’s Alexandrova won the Epsom Oaks by an impressive six lengths, went on to win the Irish Oaks by an effortless four lengths, and then topped her performance by also winning the Yorkshire Oaks.
French Winners
Although Irish and English-trained horses have dominated, Irish Oaks history includes some outstanding French-trained fillies. In 1950, Corejada became the first French-trained filly to win the Irish Oaks – and in fact to win in any Irish classic race.
A spectacular win by a French filly, Dahlia, came in 1973. Trained by Maurice Zilber, Dahlia took the Irish Oaks three lengths ahead of the much-championed Mysterious, who earlier had won the Epsom Oaks by a convincing four lengths. Just 12 days after winning the Irish Oaks, Dahlia went on to win the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes – a feat she repeated in 1974, when she also won the Man o’War Stakes at Belmont Park.
Notable recent wins by French fillies include the win by Wemyss Bight in 1993 and the 2005 win by Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Shawanda, who took the race by an easy five lengths.
Top Trainers and Jockeys in Irish Oaks History
Sir Michael Stoute holds the record for training the most Irish Oaks winners – with a total of six wins, including an Oaks double with Unite in 1987. In 2000, Stoute’s Petrushka won the Irish Oaks by an impressive five and a half lengths.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh is the most successful Irish Oaks jockey, with a total of four wins. As well as riding Peeping Fawn to victory in 2007, he won with Petrushka in 2000, with Ebadiyla in 1997 and with Winona in 1998.
Don’t miss the continuation of Irish Oaks history at the Curragh on 13 July 2008!
For live horse race betting and daily special offers we recommend William Hill.
