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Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is the second leg of the Irish Fillies' Triple Crown and one of the Irish Classic Races; it is perhaps one of the most exciting races for three-year-old fillies on the Irish racing calendar. Held annually in July at Curragh Racecourse, although known as 'The Curragh', the Irish Oaks are a fierce contest between the speediest and brightest young female thoroughbreds of the season.
When it was inaugurated in 1895, the Irish Oaks was run over a distance of one mile, however, perhaps in an effort to up the ante for the young contenders, the distance was changed to one mile and four furlongs in 1915. The Irish Oaks currently awards a total purse of ^500,000, making it one of the most valuable races for three-year-old fillies in Ireland.
The Irish Oaks is the equivalent of the Epsom Oaks, part of the English Fillies' Triple Crown, the series which stood model for the Irish Classic races. It is held two weeks after the Irish Derby, the answer to the Epsom Derby, which is a version of the Irish Oaks restricted to colts. Runners in the Irish Oaks have often competed in the Epsom Oaks earlier in the season and those who perform well at the Curragh frequently move on to enter the Yorkshire Oaks in August. As the Irish Oaks is by now truly a part of the most coveted events for three-year-old fillies it draws an impressive number of visitors every year.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh is one of the living legends to leave his mark on the Irish Oaks. So far this outstanding athlete has ridden five winners in the event; Ebadiyla in 1997, Winona in 1998, Petrushka in 2000, Peeping Fawn in 2007, and Moonstone in 2008. The most successful trainer at the Irish Oaks is currently Sir Michael Stoute, who trained six winners since 1978.
Recent Winners of the Irish Oaks:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Snow Fairy |
Ryan Moore |
Ed Dunlop |
2:34.80 |
2009 |
Sariska |
Jamie Spencer |
Michael Bell |
2:45.84 |
2008 |
Moonstone |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
2:34.37 |
2007 |
Peeping Fawn |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
2:39.12 |
2006 |
Alexandrova |
Kieren Fallon |
Aidan O'Brien |
2:29.60 |
2005 |
Shawanda |
Christophe Soumillon |
Alain De Royer-Dupre |
2:27.10 |
Irish Oaks Odds and News
5 Oct 2012: 2012 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Betting Preview
Punters from around the world are gearing up for one of the world’s greatest races, the 2012 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe that will be run at Longchamps Racecourse at 3.25pm (local time) this Sunday, and below the horseracing.co.uk team have the most comprehensive Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe form guide analysis and betting preview providing our readers with all the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe facts and stats to help you pick the winner.
The €6 million Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is the most lucrative and prestigious flat race in Europe and this year’s field is filled with some of the most talented horses in the world.
The top two gallopers in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe betting market at 
Bet365 are Japanese Triple Crown winner Orfevre and superstar three-year-old Camelot who are both priced at 3/1.
These two are clearly the stand out picks in the field but are they the best bet for the Arc based on betting statistics and form?
2012 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Form Preview and Betting Stats
- Last year’s Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Danedream is not returning to defend her title. Last year Danedream came off a Grosser Preis Von Baden victory, jumped from barrier two, carried 8-8 and was ridden by Andrasch Starke.
- No horse is backing up from the 2012 Grosser Preis Von Baden that was won by Danedream.
- Yellow and Green and Great Heavens will carry 8-8 in this year’s race.
- The best win rate in the field belongs to Camelot (83%).
- The next most consistent winning horses are Kesampour (67%) Orfevre (62%), Sea Moon (55%) and Saonois (54%).
- Orfevre, Saonois, Shareta, Masterstroke, Great Heavens and Mikhail Glinka are all last start winners.
- The horses come off the longest break between races are Ernest Hemingway (143 days), Sea Moon (78 days), Great Heavens (77 days) and Robin Hood (46 days).
- Andre Fabre is the most successful trainer in Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe history (7 wins) and has Meandre and Masterstroke in this year’s race.
- Frankie Dettori is a three time Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe winner and will ride Camelot in this year’s race.
- Meandre, Orfevre, Shareta, Solemia, Masterstroke and Saonois have all won at Longchamps.
- St Nicholas Abbey, Meandre, Orfevre, Shareta, Camelot, Bayrir, Saonois and Great Havens are all Group 1 winners.
2012 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Trifecta Tip
Camelot (3/1) from Great Heavens (12/1) and Saonois (8/1)
This is the biggest test of Camelot’s career and we are expecting him to bounce back and win the 2012 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe. While no excuses can be made for his St Leger loss the drop in distance for this race will almost certainly have a positive effect. If he can show the turn of foot that was evident in both derbies and the 2000 Guineas he will prove extremely difficult to beat. Jockey Joseph O’Brien will surely have learnt from his defeat in the St Leger and will have the son of Montjeu much closer to the speed.
Great Heavens is another talented three-year-old who we feel has been underrated in the betting market. She won has won her last four starts and was particularly successful in the Irish Oaks. The Galileo filly will finish extremely quickly and if she is in touch with the leaders will prove very difficult to beat.
Saonois rounds out our all three-year-old trifecta. The French galloper is extremely consistent and has finished out of the placing’s just three times in his thirteen race career. He is another horse who will be storming home and is a particularly good chance if the race is run at a good clip.
You can find all the latest 2012 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe odds at Bet365.
