Oakleigh Plate Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2026

The Oakleigh Plate is one of the most prestigious sprint races on the Australian horse racing calendar for 3YO+ runners. The premier sprint race in the state known as the Oakleigh Plate calls Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria its home. Taking place on the 21st of February 2026, the Oakleigh plate is one of the most exciting Group 1 races to take place not just in Victoria, but all of Australia! 

Looking for some information on the Oakleigh Plate to get you started? No stress, we’ve got you covered! Check out the table here:

The Oakleigh Plate is one of the biggest feature sprint races on the Australian horse racing calendar each year. The Oakleigh Plate will take place in 2026 on the 21st of February and is one of the most important Group One races on the calendar. It also shares the stage with the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Futurity Stakes, with all three Group 1s being run on the same day at Caulfield, one of the top tracks in the country. 

Prize money for the Oakleigh Plate has risen to a staggering $750,000 to provide the premier sprinters in Australia with a prize pool to match the prestige of the race. Traditionally, the Oakleigh Plate has served as the ‘middle leg’ so to speak of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival sprint events. The Oakleigh Plate takes place after the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and before the Newmarket Handicap.

Make sure you don’t forget to check back on OnlyRacing closer to the 21st of February to receive an in-depth analysis of Caulfield Racecourse’s meet that day. We divulge a wide range of tips including the standard fixed win/ place bets, as well as exotics and multis to satisfy your punting needs.

We hope this preview of the Oakleigh Plate assists you in being better informed on the history and prestige of the event, as well as the favourites going into the 2026 Oakleigh Plate. Don’t miss out on the Oakleigh Plate on the 21st of February, we know we’ll be watching!

Before we spoke about the increase in prize money for the Oakleigh Plate. But what exactly is the breakdown? Check out all the details here:

A quick search online will show just how many websites are providing Oakleigh Plate tips! But here at OnlyRacing, we take our horse racing tips very seriously! All our experts work hard to provide our readers with the best free horse racing tips. 

Our Oakleigh Plate tips aren’t available just yet as the final field hasn’t been confirmed. Our experts are waiting until this time as they will have all the information they need to provide their best bet, next best and best roughie for the race. On top of this, we always have Caulfield tips ready to go, so make sure you check out that page.

Our 2026 Oakleigh Plate tips aren’t available, but you can see which runners caught our eye in 2025 here:

Oakleigh Plate Best Bet - Estriella

According to the market, it’s a two-horse race - between Estriella and She’s Bulletproof, but I believe there are several winning chances in this one and it’s a very open affair. For my best bet, I’ve settled on Estriella. The mare is the narrow favourite at the time of writing, currently paying $4.40 with PlayUp.

She is another who is resuming in the Oakleigh Plate after we last saw her in the Group 1 Champions Sprint in November, where she finished ninth out of 12 runners. Seems like Ciaron Maher has changed up his strategy, running her fresher and Blake Shinn sticks after her recent trial. Shinn should have a lot of options from barrier nine as well.

Oakleigh Plate Next Best - Jimmysstar

The closing speed of Jimmysstar is just too good for me to ignore in this one and he’ll have to be at his best to overcome the wide barrier draw, but that could work to his advantage. One of his best efforts was back in September at Caulfield, over the same distance we see again on Saturday. He beat Ashford Street. Rey Magnerio in that one.

He is 3kgs worse off in the weights this time out, so that’s probably why you’re getting almost double-digit odds for him (currently going around at $9.00 with PlayUp). I’m expecting a fast tempo here and I think that suits Jimmysstar quite well. His settling position will seal his fate I think. If he can settle mid-field with cover and get the right breaks, he’s got a good chance.

Oakleigh Plate Best Roughie - Sghirripa

I had Sghirripa in my set of tips for the Oakleigh Plate in 2024 and I’m sticking with him again in 2025, but this time as my best roughie. In 2024, the gelding finished in seventh, but this time out he gets a much more favourable barrier (three instead of 13). At the time of writing, Sghirripa is paying $12 with PlayUp.

The 5YO resumes here after a disappointing Gilgai Stakes last time out, finishing last. Since then though, he has been back at the trials and was impressive, so I’m prepared to forgive that one run. A Group 1 victory has eluded him in his past three attempts, but this looks like one of his best chances, especially considering the light weight.

Betting on the Oakleigh Plate can be fun, but it’s important to know what you are doing! We here at OnlyRacing recommend you bet on a wide range of markets on different betting apps. Why? So, you get the most out of all the races on the card at Caulfield on Saturday the 21st of February, which also includes two other Group 1s.

Here is a suggestion of a few of the markets available across nearly all available bookmakers for the Oakleigh Plate:

• Fixed Win/ Place bets are the most common bet type on any given horse race. 
  
  • Selecting a single runner to either win or place in the Oakleigh Plate is how we will be placing a large portion of our money used for the Oakleigh Plate.
• Exotics such as Quinellas/ Trifectas/ First Fours incorporate multiple runners from the same race into a singular dividend.
  • This is a great way to bet on a few runners you like and cannot decide between for the Oakleigh Plate.
• Multi bets and the Quaddie for the Caulfield meet on the 21st of February. 
  
  • The Oakleigh Plate is not the only race being run at Caulfield that day, so why not include other races into your bet?

If you want actual tips for the Oakleigh Plate, you can scroll up to our “Tips” section. Alternatively, you can wait until the week of the race to see our full analysis and tips at Caulfield Racecourse which includes the Oakleigh Plate race.

Betting options are sorted. Tick. Now what? Well, it’s the age-old question - who should you bet with? You’ve got so many horse racing betting sites to choose from, it can be difficult to make a final decision. Well, that’s where OnlyRacing comes in handy.

We’ve gone through all the best Australian betting sites and provided detailed reviews on all of them. After hours upon hours of research, we’ve found it is a good idea to have multiple bookie accounts. We think this is a good idea because they all offer something a little bit different, and you don’t want to pass up on new betting sites bonuses!

So, which bookies do we recommend? Well to start with, we think PlayUp is the bee's-knees. One of the main reasons they are one of the best betting apps going around is because of their truly unique promotions. 

Another bookie you should consider is PuntCity. They have a focus on racing, and a lot of their management team is from a racing background, so you know you’ll find some great betting promotions about racing!

One of the most important things to look for when it comes to choosing a new bookmaker is the odds they provide. If you are looking for a bookie with competitive odds, then you really can’t go past Bet365. One of the biggest bookies in the world, it’s easy to understand why they are so popular!

There you have it readers! Our top three recommended bookies for the Oakleigh Plate. If three just isn’t enough, and you’re looking for more recommendations on who to bet with, check out our “Betting Sites” section above!

Sit back and relax everyone, we’ve got you covered with all the details on the field for the 2026 Oakleigh Plate, as soon as the field is announced during race week. If history is anything to go by, we expect a strong field to line up in 2026!

It’s important to remember that as the final field hasn’t been confirmed, this means the odds will change dramatically in the days leading up to the big race. If you see odds you like now, we’d suggest jumping on them straight away.

The 2026 Oakleigh Plate field is yet to be confirmed, but you can check in and see which runners took part in the race in 2025:

For the 2025 Oakleigh Plate, we saw a sizable field of 17 runners confirmed. There aren’t any emergencies listed though and with the pre-race scratching of Brudenell, the field size was reduced to 16. In the end, Brudenell was the only pre-race scratching, so 16 runners took part in the 2025 Oakleigh Plate.

You’ll find that scratchings are quite commonplace in horse racing. This is even the case in key Group 1s like the Oakleigh Plate. Scratchings can happen on the day of the race or even just minutes before the jump. We know it can be annoying if your chosen horse gets scratched, but in the end, you will get your stake back, so no harm, no foul!

Something else we suggest you take into consideration when studying the final field is the barrier draw. The barrier draw is critical, especially in a race that has a large field. Certain barriers have more winners than others and the connections of each runner will be vying for that particular barrier.

Betting on the Oakleigh Plate sure is exciting and it is even more exciting if you bag a winner. But do you know the best way to bag a winner? Studying the form guide! Fun! Don’t worry though, the experts at OnlyRacing will put in the hard yards for you. We’ll point you in the right direction so you don’t have to spend hours upon hours going through the form.

As the Oakleigh Plate is a handicap race, this places a lot of emphasis on the weight given to each runner. Different weight is given to different horses, so the runners with the best rating will have a heavier weight assigned to them. In recent years, we’ve only seen a handful of runners win with a weight above 55.5kg.

The form coming into the Oakleigh Plate is important to look at as well and over the years we’ve found a reliable race to look at is the Rubiton Stakes. But we’ve also seen some trainers opting to send their runner into the Oakleigh Plate first-up. If this is the case, you’ll have to rely on trial form or the runner's first-up record.

There have been plenty of major upsets over the years at the Oakleigh Plate, so it may be a good idea to avoid the favourite. The favourite has won just three times since 2009. In 2025, Jimmysstar won starting with odds of $7.50. Looking at the trends, males seem to have more success in this race, winning 24 of the past 37 Oakleigh Plates.

Considering the rich history associated with the Oakleigh Plate, there is a heap of notable horses that have won the Oakleigh Plate throughout its almost 150-year history. There are many horses that we’d love to include in this section, but we’ve narrowed it down a little so we don’t go on forever!

Below is a small summary of some of the Oakleigh Plate’s past winners and best stories. Check out all the details here:

Malua - 1884

Now let’s go back to the 1800s, 1884 to be specific, and look at the winner of the inaugural Oakleigh Plate. Malua was one of the first true sprinters that excelled in the Australian racing scene. Having claimed victory in the Oakleigh Plate twice, Malua won several other races on his way to an illustrious career. But Malua will always go down in history as the first racehorse to win the Oakleigh Plate.

Aurie’s Star - 1937 & 1939

In both the 1937 and 1939 Oakleigh Plate (yes, we are talking about the Oakleigh Plate victors nearly 100 years ago), Aurie’s Star became the first multiple-time champion of the Oakleigh Plate. Again, this horse was ahead of its time and one of the best sprinters of the early to mid-1900s in Australian racing. See, here at OnlyRacing, we dive way back into these race previews, and this Oakleigh Plate preview is no exception. 

Placid Ark - 1987

Placid Ark was an absolute phenom that claimed victory in the Oakleigh Plate in 1987. We have already discussed Placid Ark in the preview to the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, so if you want to read more about Placid Ark’s exceptional ability and career, be sure to visit that page. Of course, Placid Ark is on this list for a reason though, he also claimed the win in 1987’s Oakleigh Plate.

Schillaci - 1992

In 1992’s edition of the Oakleigh Plate, we saw one of the most memorable runs of all time in the Oakleigh Plate. Schillaci was always known for his pure racing ability and lightning speed, coupled with a tenacious knack for come-from-behind victories. Remaining a popular figure in Australian racing lore, Schillaci took out the Oakleigh Plate in easy fashion.

Russian Revolution - 2018

Russian Revolution won the Oakleigh Plate in 2018. One of the most talented sprinters of our generation in the Australian racing scene, Russian Revolution’s victory just a few years ago is no surprise. With the combination of early speed and a strong late kick, Russian Revolution’s victory in the Oakleigh Plate is still one of his all-time achievements.

You’ve collected all your information, know which runner you’re going to bet on and which bookie to bet with, the next step is to find out what odds your runner is currently priced at. Before Oakleigh Plate race day, all the best horse racing betting apps will provide markets for the race.

While the odds may look good now, be aware that in these horse racing markets, the odds are constantly changing. This is usually due to new information about each potential runner coming to light. For example, if a runner had a poor trial or previous race, the odds will likely go up. 

Changes in odds are highly common in horse racing, so we suggest that a good time to bet on a Group 1 race like the Oakleigh Plate is when the market is “Before Noms” because you’ll get your cash back if your horse doesn’t get a run. If you are betting when the market is “All-In”, if your horse doesn’t make the field, you won’t get your cash back.

The PlayUp odds for the race in 2026 aren’t available yet, but you can see the odds of all the runners in the 2025 race here:

*Odds correct as of 20/02/2025.

The Oakleigh Plate was first held in the year 1884. There may not be as much prestige associated with the Oakleigh Plate in comparison to some of its neighbouring races, however diving into the history of the Oakleigh Plate will show you how exciting and rich the event is. When it comes to Group Ones during key horse racing carnivals, the Oakleigh Plate is steeped in history.

Up until 1972, the Oakleigh Plate was held at five furlongs. The Oakleigh Plate changed this to 1,100 metres which it currently races at today. Some of the most notable champions we’ve seen claim victory in the Oakleigh Plate include Russian Revolution, Placid Ark and Aurie’s Star.

After nearly 100 years of racing below the Group 1 level, the Oakleigh Plate was elevated in 1979 to properly match the prize money and reputation it had garnered. With the Blue Diamond Stakes being held on the same day, it’s easy to tune in and watch both Group 1 races.

We all know that dead heats are not common in horse racing, but the Oakleigh Plate managed to have two in a row! Firstly in 1931 when there was a dead heat between runners Merab and First Arrow, then again in 1932 with Blematic and Umbertana. There must be something in the water because in 2021 there was another dead heat between Celebrity Queen and Portland Sky.

The Oakleigh Plate is just one of many races on the calendar. If you want to know more about all the different key races on the Australian calendar, make sure you check out our Group One races list.

So, who won the race? Well, if you weren’t lucky enough to be at the track on race day, or watch the race live on TV, this is the question you’ll be asking. Did you back a winner in the Oakleigh Plate, or is it back to the drawing board?

The 2025 Oakleigh Plate was won by Jimmysstar, who won his first Group 1 race in just his second attempt. The 5YO completed a last-to-first victory, winning by 1.25L to She's Bulletproof, who was the pre-race favourite, jumping with odds of $5.50.

Filling in the final minor placing was Rey Magnerio, who jumped from barrier five and was one of the more favoured runners in the market, paying $8.00 to win the race. Rey Magnerio finished 2L off the pace. The 2025 Oakleigh Plate was run in a time of 1:02.25 and there was a total of 10.47L that split the field.

Check out the full Oakleigh Plate results here:

If video replays are more your style, we’ve got you covered! Check out the full race replay of the 2025 edition of the Oakleigh Plate:

There have been some pretty epic races over the years and if you’d like to know who has won them (up until 2010) then be sure to check out the table here:

Last, but certainly not least, we’ve put together some FAQs you might have on the Oakleigh Plate! So, if you’ve got any last-minute burning questions about this race, hopefully, we’ve answered them for you.