Oakleigh Plate: What you need to know

OAKLEIGH PLATE

1100m, Caulfield, $500,000, Handicap

HISTORY

* First run in 1884 when won by Malua. Group One since 1980. Run over 1200m from 1884-1972.

* Leading modern-day trainers are John Hawkes: Harpagus (1982) and Sports (2000), Brian Mayfield-Smith: Sudurka (2002) and Reactive (2004), Paul Perry: Dantelah (1999) and Fastnet Rock (2005), Gerald Ryan: Snitzel (2006) and Mrs Onassis (2013).

* Stephen Baster (Mookta 1993 and River Dove 2003), Craig Newitt (Snitzel 2006 and Lankan Rupee 2014) and Damien Oliver (Schillaci 1992 and Eagle Falls 2011) lead the modern day jockeys.

* Malua (1884) also won the Melbourne Cup in 1884 before winning the 1889 Grand National Hurdle in 1889.

* Tontonan (1973) is the only Golden Slipper winner to also win 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

* The first two horses across the line last year – Flamberge and Fell Swoop – are back again and head the weights with 58kg and 56kg respectively.

* Three-year-old colt Extreme Choice is resuming from a spell and is favourite to claim his third Group One win.

* Premier Victorian trainer Darren Weir has four runners – Flamberge, Thermal Current, Hellbent and El Divino.

* I Am A Star and Missrock will be out to become the first three-year-old filly to win since Miss Kournikova (2001).

WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:

“He’s a much more muscled young colt now and is starting to exert a little bit of masculinity which is a good sign” – Extreme Choice’s trainer Mick Price.

“I’m very happy with how he has come up,. He’s in really good order. He’s certainly done enough work to present fit and well for the Oakleigh Plate” – Fell Swoop’s trainer Matthew Dale.

“If he performs to that standard again on Saturday (as he did in the Lightning Stakes) he’s going to take some beating. He’s drawn gate six, which is a great barrier. It just comes down to how he backs up” – Flamberge’s jockey Brad Rawiller.