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New Zealand Oaks

The New Zealand Oaks is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run at set weights over a distance of 2400 metres ( miles).

Venue and scheduling

The New Zealand Oaks was run at Riccarton until 1972 and over the distance of miles to 1974.

Until 2025 it was held on the third Saturday of March every year at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2025 it was raced on the same day as the:

  • Cuddle Stakes (Group 3, 1600m) for fillies and mares.
  • New Zealand St. Leger (2500m).
  • Wellington Guineas (Group 2, 1400m) for 3-year olds,
  • Lightning Handicap (listed open, 1200m).

The Levin Classic (1600m) for 3-year horses was raced on the Oaks race-day in 2022 and 2023, but was returned to January.

In September 2025 it was announced that the New Zealand Oaks would be shifted to Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, in an attempt to preserve the race's Group 1 status. The 2026 edition would be moved to an earlier date on February 21, two weeks before the NZ Derby so fillies have the option to start in the Derby and to provide a better pathway to races like the Australian Oaks in early April.

The 2026 New Zealand Oaks was scheduled on the same days as the following races:

  • Uncle Remus Stakes (Group 3, 1400m) for 3 year olds.
  • Avondale Guineas (Group 2, 2100m) for 3 year olds.
  • Otaki-Maori Weight for Age (Group 1, 1600m), which had also been moved to Ellerslie
  • Avondale Cup (Group 3, 2400m), an open handicap.

Notable winners

With the consistent strength of New Zealand fillies, the race has an impressive list of winners, including:

Cup winners Empire Rose and Prize Lady were runners up.

Winning jockeys

The most successful jockeys have been:

  • Chris Johnson - 5 wins (1990, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2018)
  • Opie Bosson - 5 wins (2000, 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2021)
  • Greg Childs - 4 wins (1982, 1983, 1984 and 1987)

Race results

There was no race in 1973.

See also

References

External links