Western Australian Oaks

Winners and Past Results

The most valuable Group 3 race for three year old fillies held during the autumn racing carnival at Ascot Racecourse in Perth is the Group 3 WA Oaks. Fillies travel 2400 metres of the Ascot track under set weight conditions for a shot at prize money worth $250,000. Bonus $250 Bet That Can't Lose

The event attracts the best local 3 year old females around at the time and sometimes may field interstate runners as well. The WA Oaks may not attract the cream of 3 year old fillies as the Group 1 Crown Oaks and Group 1 AJC Oaks back on the east coast but there is plenty of local staying talent around. In addition, the WA Oaks is the ultimate test for 3 year old fillies over an extended distance where trainers can identify potential long distance champions from their stable.

The Listed Natasha Stakes run on the same track over 2200m a fortnight earlier has proved to be one of the better form guides in recent times. Top performing fillies may move on to tackle the Group 2 WA Derby in April. Grand Journey in 2008 and Dreamaway in 2011 managed to win the WA Oaks/WA Derby double most recently. Both fillies also managed to claim the triple crown which includes the WA Champion Fillies Stakes/WA Oaks/ WA Derby.

Copper Beech won the first WA Oaks in 1953, a principal race held over 12 furlongs. It was elevated to Group 1 in 1979 a year in which there was a dead heat between Gay Affair and Brechin Castle . It was downgraded to Group 2 in 1992 and once again to Group 3 in 2006.

Among the other notable winners to add the WA Oaks to their resume are Mystic Chantry in 1997, Old Money in 2000, Honor Lap in 2002, and Fatal Attraction in 2004.

2012 WA Oaks

Caiguna and Pop Culture were the ones to beat in this Group 3 event but it was a race of contrasting fortunes for the two favourites. Caiguna went to the lead early and, and it was in this position that the race favourite had to stay while Pop Culture enjoyed a nice run midfield. As they came into the straight, Caiguna’s front running effort started to tell and she flagged in the run home, dropping to last. The Social Network took up the running but Pop Culture, who had enjoyed a good run, was able to finish the stronger and just got up to win, with Elite Belle rounding out the top three.

2012 WA Oaks results

1. Pop Culture
2. The Social Network
3. Elite Belle

Then came:

4. Shezapro
5. Dark Miss
6. First Hit
7. Bag Of Stars
8. Opera Seria
9. Caiguna