Southern Oaks – the back story

Bruce Stewart Contributor

When the Invercargill Harness Racing Club hosts Diamonds Day on Sunday 21^st April, one of the feature races on the card with be the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge/ Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks.

The Southern Oaks was first run in 1983 known as the Southland Oaks at that time. Members of the inaugural Southland Oaks committee consisted of representatives of all Southland Clubs and the first sponsor was Plaza Supervalue.

Raced for $6,000 at Invercargill, the first winner was Jilaire Bogart (Bogart Hanover) which was trained by George Hamilton and driven by Henry Skinner.

Two years later in 1985 the race was granted Group status. Springfield Countess won it that year.

In it’s forty one year history Allan Beck and Dexter Dunn hold the position of most successful drivers with four winners each.

Until 1997 the Southland Oaks was shared among the Invercargill, Winton, Wyndham and Gore tracks but since 1998 the race has been run exclusively at Ascot Park in Invercargill.

From 1998 to 2014 the distance was 2200 metres from a mobile but in 2015 this was extended to 2700 metres. The race record for the shorter distance was held by 2014 winner Royal Counsel (2-39.4) whilst the current race record of 3-16.3 is held by 2020 winner Stylish Memphis.

The Oaks has been won by some quality fillies including Lento (1993), Shortys Girl (2001), Champayne Princess (2003), Mainland Banner (2005), Beaudiene Bad Babe (2009), Safreda (2013) and Bonnie Joan (2017).

Neville R Stud has a long history of sponsoring the southern fillies feature, this being it’s 25^th year of sponsorship. And this year’s stakes of $60,000 is the highest ever for the race.

Last year’s winner was Treacherous Gall trained by Regan Todd.

Next Sunday the Invercargill HRC will host Diamonds Day at Ascot Park. Impressive feature races include the $110,000 Group One Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic, the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southern Oaks, the $60,000 Group Two Alabar Supremacy Stakes, the $50,000 Group Three Entain Two Year Old Mobile Trot and the $40,000 Regent Car Court Southern Country Cups Final.

This truly spectacular day of racing will get underway at 12 noon.