Overview
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: * Bonneval: twice New Zealand Horse of the Year, winner of the 2017 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, Lowland Stakes, Australian Oaks (ATC), Feehan Stakes and Underwood Stakes. * Glamour Bay: winner of the 1981 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and ARC Royal Stakes and runner up in the 1980 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and 1980 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes. * La Mer. * Legs: the 2006 Kelt Capital Stakes winner. * Pennyweka: winner of the 2023 Australian Oaks (ATC) * Princess Coup: winner of the 2007 and 2008 Kelt Capital Stakes, 2008 Stoneybridge Stakes and 3rd in the Caulfield Cup. * Savvy Coup: winner of the 2017 Eulogy Stakes, 2018 Lowland Stakes and Spring Classic plus 3rd in the 2018 Karaka Million 3Y0 Classic and Levin Classic. * Solveig: the winner of the 1986 Avondale Cup and Captain Cook Stakes. * Tycoon Lil: winner of 1997 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, 1998 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and Canterbury Guineas, runner up in the 1997 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and Rosehill Guineas and 3rd to Might and Power in the 1998 Cox Plate.
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
* Recent winners of major NZ races for 3 year olds * Desert Gold Stakes * New Zealand Derby * New Zealand 1000 Guineas * New Zealand 2000 Guineas * New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes * New Zealand St. Leger
External links
*New Zealand Oaks Winners at Trentham