Oakleigh Plate

Looking for this year’s Oakleigh Plate betting guide, field and tips? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.

Oakleigh Plate 2026 Results

The official 2026 Oakleigh Plate results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Anthony & Sam Freedman‘s honest four-year-old sprinter Tropicus ($7.50) posted his maiden Group 1 success fresh when returning in style at Caulfield to score a comprehensive win in the 2026 Oakleigh Plate results. Twelve months on from his Group 3 Zeditave win on Blue Diamond Day last season, the progressive son of Too Darn Hot showed his maturity and class when producing a stunning late burst to secure the Group 1 first-up for the autumn. Raced and bred by Kia Ora, the entire was given a peach of a ride by Craig Williams who made it a Group 1 double on the day following on from his Futurity win with Pericles. It was also, incredibly, Williams’ first Oakleigh Plate victory and his first sit on Tropicus who is likely to target the Group 1 Ladbrokes William Reid Stakes back at Caulfield on March 21.

Oakleigh Plate 2026 Tips

Our insider 2026 Oakleigh Plate tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2026 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS

Run over 1,100 metres in late February as part of Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield Racecourse (Sandown in 2023), the Oakleigh Plate is a key early sprint feature of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

The Group 1 handicap event offers $750,000 in prize money and has been won by plenty of star short-distance champions since its inauguration in 1884.

The Oakleigh Plate serves as a key lead-up into Flemington’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) held the following month. Lankan Rupee (2014) was the last horse to take out the Oakleigh Plate – Newmarket Handicap double.

Oakleigh Plate graduates may also continue onto the Group 1 sprints held at The Valley including the Manikato Stakes in March, as well as the spring’s Moir Stakes run in September. Pippie (2020) recently won the Oakleigh Plate – Moir Stakes double in the same season, while in 2024 the Oakleigh third placegetter Mornington Glory improved in the spring to salute in the Moir.

Oakleigh Plate 2026 – Quick Information

• Race Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026
• Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Left-handed
• Race Distance: 1,100 metres
• Weight Conditions: Handicap
• Qualification: Open (maidens ineligible)
• Type: Thoroughbred
• Grade: Group 1
• Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
• Prize Purse: $750,000
• Inaugural Race: 1884
• 2026 Oakleigh Plate Winner: Tropicus

Oakleigh Plate Betting 2026

There are many different ways to bet on the Oakleigh Plate, and we have included some of the most popular options below:

Bet Type	How to Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Oakleigh Plate
Win Bet	Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Oakleigh Plate.
Place Bet	Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Oakleigh Plate. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds.
Each-Way Bet	If your runner finishes 1st in the Oakleigh Plate, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend.
Quinella Bet	You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Oakleigh Plate, in order to win the Quinella.
Exacta Bet	You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Oakleigh Plate to win the Exacta.
Trifecta Bet	You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Oakleigh Plate to win the Trifecta.
First Four	You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Oakleigh Plate to win the First 4.
Quadrella Bet (Quaddie)	You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Oakleigh Plate, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie.

How To Bet on the Oakleigh Plate in 2026

1. Log in at neds.com.au
2. Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
3. Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
4. Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Oakleigh Plate Betting above).
5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

Which Horse Will Win the Oakleigh Plate in 2026?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Oakleigh Plate in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barriers, consider the weight the horse will carry and look for proven Group 1 sprinters.

Additional factors to consider when picking the Oakleigh Plate winner include:

• Weight Advantage – Horses carrying 55.5kg and under in this handicap event have dominated the Oakleigh Plate results in recent history.
• Sprinting Specialists – The distance is best suited to genuine 1,100m short-distance horses.
• Lightning Lead-Up – Flemington’s Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning makes a good Oakleigh Plate lead-up.

Oakleigh Plate Favourites 2026

Favourites in 2026 Oakleigh Plate betting include promising Blue Point filly Point Barrow, the consistent Malk Walker-trained mare Geegees Mistruth, and recent Group 2 Australia Stakes champ Hedged coming off a Group 2 Rubiton Stakes third.

Russian Revolution ($4.60 in 2018) for his career swansong followed by Marabi ($2.60 in 2022) were the last Oakleigh Plate favourites to win.

Oakleigh Plate 2026 Field

The official 2026 Oakleigh Plate field of final acceptances is due for release at 9:30am (AEDT) on the Wednesday of race week and will be listed in full below.

The Oakleigh Plate 2026 nominations attracted 20 autumn sprinters led in all-in betting by the resuming Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Group 3 winning filly Point Barrow.

Caulfield R9 - Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate (G1)

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. Hedged J: Harry Coffey T: Gavin Bedggood	271013	G	5	59kg
	2. Jedibeel J: Damian Lane T: Brad Widdup	x8409x	G	12	58.5kg
	3. Tropicus J: Craig Williams T: Anthony & Sam Freedman	7x126x	H	9	58.5kg
	4. Way To The Stars J: Ethan Brown T: Matthew Smith	x87x21	G	13	58kg
	5. Oak Hill J: Beau Mertens T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes	502x21	G	11	57kg
	6. She's Bulletproof J: Celine Gaudray T: Charlotte Littlefield	x0103x	M	4	56.5kg
	7. Bridal Waltz (12)  Scratched:
	8. Persian Spirit J: Daniel Stackhouse T: Symon Wilde	541213	G	8	56kg
	9. Spywire J: Jye Mcneil T: Ciaron Maher	x13615	G	6	56kg
	10. Geegees Mistruth J: Michael Dee T: Mark Walker	x022x3	M	1	54kg
	11. Don't Hope Do J: Teo Nugent T: Simon Zahra	3413x2	G	7	52.5kg
	12. De Bergerac J: Logan Bates T: Grahame Begg	14512x	G	2	52kg
	13. Gallant Son J: Luke Cartwright T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	224x11	H	3	52kg
	14. Point Barrow J: Jamie Melham T: Anthony & Sam Freedman	11311x	F	10	50kg

View Results

Oakleigh Plate Race Day 2026

The 2026 Oakleigh Plate takes place at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, February 21, 2026, as part of the Blue Diamond Stakes Day program. Seven Group status races run at the meeting including a trio of Group 1 events with the Oakleigh Plate joined on the line-up by the:

• Group 1 $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), and the
• Group 1 $750,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m).

Oakleigh Plate Barrier Draw 2026

The 2026 Oakleigh Plate barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Oakleigh Plate Field section.

Oakleigh Plate Nominations 2026

2026 Oakleigh Plate nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.

The Oakleigh Plate 2026 nominations attracted 20 autumn sprinters led in all-in betting by the resuming Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Group 3 winning filly Point Barrow.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	28x146x856	A LITTLE DEEP	M	6	Ciaron Maher	100
2	913311x23x	BRIDAL WALTZ	M	4	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	103
3	6974x137x1	CELUI	G	5	Richard & Will Freedman	90
4	x13214512x	DE BERGERAC	G	5	Grahame Begg	89
5	215x564x	DEVIL NIGHT	C	3	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	101
6	39x13413x2	DON’T HOPE DO	G	5	Simon Zahra	92
7	40x3224x11	GALLANT SON	H	4	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	88
8	0x11x022x3	GEEGEES MISTRUTH	M	4	Mark Walker	99
9	5×26271013	HEDGED	G	5	Gavin Bedggood	105
10	9028x8409x	JEDIBEEL (NZ)	G	6	Brad Widdup	104
11	21x1502x21	OAK HILL (NZ)	G	5	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	101
12	40x35621x4	PALLATON	C	3	Michael Freedman	86
13	12×1541213	PERSIAN SPIRIT	G	5	Symon Wilde	99
14	3x11311x	POINT BARROW	F	3	Anthony & Sam Freedman	90
15	19x	ROSBERG	C	3	Clinton McDonald	75
16	2125x0103x	SHE’S BULLETPROOF	M	5	Charlotte Littlefield	104
17	x231x13615	SPYWIRE	G	4	Ciaron Maher	99
18	1x0236x046	STEADY READY	G	6	Tony & Maddysen Sears	98
19	x21x7x126x	TROPICUS	H	4	Anthony & Sam Freedman	104
20	3971x87x21	WAY TO THE STARS	G	7	Matthew Smith	103

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Oakleigh Plate Weights 2026

Handicap conditions apply to this race. The minimum weight for three-year-olds is 50 kg, while the minimum for four-year-olds and up is 52 kg. Final 2026 Oakleigh Plate weights are announced at 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Oakleigh Plate Field section.

2026 Oakleigh Plate Topweight:

• No. 1 Hedged (59kg)

Oakleigh Plate Acceptances 2026

Final 2026 Oakleigh Plate acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Oakleigh Plate Field section.

Oakleigh Plate Jockeys 2026

The final riders must be announced by 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Oakleigh Plate jockeys to be published in our above Oakleigh Plate Field section.

Oakleigh Plate Scratchings 2026

2026 Oakleigh Plate scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Oakleigh Plate Prize Money 2026

The 2026 Oakleigh Plate prize purse is worth $750,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.

Place	Prize Money
1st	$450,000
2nd	$135,000
3rd	$67,500
4th	$33,750
5th	$18,750
6th	$15,000
7th	$15,000
8th	$15,000

Oakleigh Plate Race Number 2026

The 2026 Oakleigh Plate race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 9 at 4:55pm (AEDT) on Saturday, February 21, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.

Oakleigh Plate Form Guide 2026

The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Oakleigh Plate Form Guide following final acceptances.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 OAKLEIGH PLATE FORM GUIDE

Oakleigh Plate Live 2026

You can watch or listen to the 2026 Oakleigh Plate live, across the following mediums.

Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)

Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)

Radio: Radio Sport National

Streaming: Racing.com

Mobile: Neds App

Oakleigh Plate Winners

Winners of the Oakleigh Plate going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below. If you would like to see results going back to 1884, please check our Oakleigh Plate winners’ page.

Year	Winner	Trainer/s	Jockey	Weight	Time
2026	Tropicus	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Craig Williams	58.5kg	1:02.18
2025	Jimmysstar	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	54.5kg	1:02.25
2024	Queman	Shane & Cassie Oxlade	Harry Coffey	52kg	1:02.63
2023	Uncommon James	Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted	Ben Thompson	53.5kg	1:01.57
2022	Marabi	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Ben Allen	54kg	1:02.23
2021	Celebrity Queen / Portland Sky(Dead Heat)	Grant & Alana Williams /Matt Laurie	William Pike /Teodore Nugent	53.5kg50kg	1:02.70
2020	Pippie	John & Chris Meagher	Linda Meech	52kg	1:01.93
2019	Booker	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	Dean Yendall	52kg	1:01.94
2018	Russian Revolution	Peter & Paul Snowden	Mark Zahra	56.5kg	1:03.00
2017	Sheidel	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	Joao Moreira	53kg	1:02.11
2016	Flamberge	Peter Moody	Damian Lane	58kg	1:02.52
2015	Shamal Wind	Robert Smerdon	Dwayne Dunn	54kg	1:02.28
2014	Lankan Rupee	Mick Price	Craig Newitt	56kg	1:02.72
2013	Mrs Onassis	Gerald Ryan	Kerrin McEvoy	52.5kg	1:03.16
2012	Woorim	Robert Heathcote	Damian Browne	55.5kg	1:03.49
2011	Eagle Falls	David Hayes	Damien Oliver	57kg	1:02.28
2010	Starspangledbanner	Leon Corstens	Danny Nikolic	52kg	1:03.16
2009	Swiss Ace	Mick Mair	Ken Pope	54kg	1:02.89
2008	Weekend Hussler	Ross McDonald	Brad Rawiller	53kg	1:03.22
2007	Undue	Shane Clarke	Steven Arnold	57kg	1:02.74
2006	Snitzel	Gerald Ryan	Craig Newitt	51.5kg	1:04.46
2005	Fastnet Rock	Paul Perry	Glen Boss	57kg	1:02.58
2004	Reactive	Brian Mayfield-Smith	Matt Pumpa	52kg	1:03.40
2003	River Dove	Mathew Ellerton	Stephen Baster	51.5kg	1:04.58
2002	Sudurka	Brian Mayfield-Smith	Nash Rawiller	55.5kg	1:02.58
2001	Miss Kournikova	Mathew Ellerton	Brett Prebble	52kg	1:02.08
2000	Sports	John Hawkes	Danny Nikolic	55kg	1:04.56