WA OAKS: A Harness History
30 April, 2018
Harness
This Friday at Gloucester Park marks the 51st edition of the WA Oaks. The race was first staged in 1968 and taken out by the Fred Hough-trained and driven, Pyramus, who etched her name into the history books when she defeated Miss Dundee for Max Johnson.
Rod Starkie added his name to the honour roll a year later when he combined with Leyden and became the first trainer and driver to win the Group One Oaks twice when he guided Mantilla Lass over Kiwi Cloud and Pennington in 1976.
Reinsman Phil Coulson partnered Mystical Rose when runner up behind Leyden, but went one better the following year when Tartan Maid, trained by Mick Taylor, defeated Jedda Frost and Royal Belwin.
Mike Reed holds the best training record in the WA Oaks with four wins. The first with Pharosan (2000) and then followed by Sheer Royalty (2009), Libertybelle Midfrew (2014) and Maczaffair (2017).
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Hall of Fame inductees, Fred Kersley and Trevor Warwick are next with three wins each.
Kersley trained and drove Wannerie (1979), Capricciosa (1980) and Countess Gina (1985), Warwick prepared and sat behind Benemerenza (1982), Partheon (1995) and Lombo Rapida (1999).
Kersley became the first to win back-to-back WA Oaks on Wannerie (1979) and Capricciosa (1980).
Warwick, who won seven Perth premierships as a trainer and driver, added more two more Oaks wins when he drove Tailamade Lombo for Noel Alexander (1998) and Nevabend Lombo for Peter Manning (2002).
Warwick, who was inducted into the Western Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2012 after driving more than 2000 winners, including 1176 at Gloucester Park, holds the WA Oaks driving record from Chris Lewis.
Lewis, the only WA reinsman to have won at Group One level in each of the five mainland states in Australia, partnered Jamcaro to win his first WA Oaks in 1988 and followed with Showtime Franco (1996), Sheer Royalty (2009) and Sensational Gabby (2012).
The Prentice family, Kim and his son, Justin, from Bunbury have taken out the WA Oaks on three occasions in the past 13 years.
Kim has bragging rights with two wins after he trained Onassis Legacy (2003) and drove Dilingers Reign for trainer, Noel Keiley in 2006.
After three consecutive placings, Justin, broke through and posted a training quinella when Major Reality defeated Quite A Delight (2015).
Another father and son combination: Gary Hall Snr and Gary Hall Jnr, were successful in 2004 when Miss Holmes edged out Hindu Sitara and Vinnies Sister.
YEAR |
HORSE |
TRAINER |
DRIVER |
2017 |
Maczaffair |
Mike Reed |
Shannon Suvaljko |
2016 |
Doodolicious |
Greg Bond |
Ryan Warwick |
2015 |
Major Reality |
Justin Prentice |
Gary Hall |
2014 |
Libertybelle Midfrew |
Mike Reed |
Shannon Suvaljko |
2013 |
Frith |
Bruce Hatpley |
Bruce Harpley |
2012 |
Sensational Gabby |
Greg Schofield |
Chris Lewis |
2011 |
Artemis Belle |
Aldo Cortopassi |
Aldo Cortopassi |
2010 |
Millwood Meg |
Greg Bond |
Colin Brown |
2009 |
Sheer Royalty |
Mike Reed |
Chris Lewis |
2008 |
Fleur De Lil |
Luke McCarthy |
Luke McCarthy |
Julio Santarelli