Munster Oaks

Munster Oaks
ClassGroup 3
LocationCork Racecourse
County Cork, Ireland
Inaugurated2003
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
WebsiteCork
Race information
Distance1m 4f (2,414 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
fillies and mares
Weight8 st 10 lb (3yo);
9 st 11 lb (4yo+)
Penalties
5 lb for G1 / G2 winners *
3 lb for G3 winners *
* since 1 July last year
Purse€50,000 (2021)
1st: €29,500
Munster Oaks
2025
Magical Hope Lemsairbat Enfranchise
Previous years
2024
Sumiha Trevaunance Scarlett O'Hara
2023
Rosscarbery Azazat Thunder Roll
2022
Rosscarbery Yaxeni Lily Pond
2021
Thunder Kiss Silence Please High Heels
2020-2011
2020
Snow Snapraeceps Loveisthehigherlaw
2019
Who's Steph Peach Tree Moteo
2018
Flattering Bloomfield Sizzling
2017
Santa Monica Butterflies Glamorous Approach
2016
Pretty Perfect Shamreen Best In The World
2015
Words Carla Bianca Roheryn
2014
Venus de Milo Dazzling Circling
2013
Midnight Soprano Magical Dream Cubanita
2012
Sapphire Betterbetterbetter Soon
2011
Banimpire Sense Of Purpose Amazing Beauty
2010-2003
2010
Grace O'Malley Karasiyra Unity
2009
Grace O'malley Tanoura Jakarta Jazz
2008
Ice Queen Profound Beauty Beach Bunny
2007
Nick's Nikita Athenian Way Wannabe Posh
2006
Sina Cova Kushnarenkovo Allexina
2005
Right Key Unique Pose Saintly Rachel
2004
Danelissima Summitville Tarakala
2003
Snippets Juliette Elasouna
 

The Munster Oaks is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Cork over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

History

The race was established in 2003 at Naas and was titled the Noblesse Stakes after Noblesse, a successful Irish-trained filly whose victories included The Oaks in 1963. It was originally classed at Listed level, and the first running was restricted to three-year-olds.

The Noblesse Stakes was promoted to Group 3 status and opened to older fillies and mares in 2004. It was transferred to Cork in 2005 and renamed the Munster Oaks in 2014. The title Noblesse Stakes is now given to a similar race run at Cork in April.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Grace O'Malley – 2009, 2010
  • Rosscarbery - 2022, 2023

Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Kevin ManningSnippets (2003), Danelissima (2004), Banimpire (2011)
  • Pat SmullenGrace O'Malley (2009, 2010), Sapphire (2012)
  • Billy Lee - Santa Monica (2017), Rosscarbery (2022, 2023)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

  • Aidan O'Brien - Ice Queen (2008), Venus De Milo (2014), Words (2015), Pretty Perfect (2016), Flattering (2018), Snow (2020)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time
2003 Snippets 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:31.20
2004 Danelissima 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:30.40
2005 Right Key 3 Declan McDonogh Kevin Prendergast 2:35.80
2006 Sina Cova 4 Johnny Murtagh Peter Casey 2:32.70
2007 Nick's Nikita 4 Rory Cleary Michael Halford 2:29.60
2008 Ice Queen 3 Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien 2:35.29
2009 Grace O'Malley 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:29.97
2010 Grace O'Malley 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:35.70
2011 Banimpire 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:37.80
2012 Sapphire 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:35.90
2013 Midnight Soprano 6 Marc Monaghan Paul Deegan 2:40.81
2014 Venus De Milo 4 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:32.75
2015 Words 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:39.82
2016 Pretty Perfect 3 Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien 2:36.09
2017 Santa Monica 4 Billy Lee Charles O'Brien 2:33.83
2018 Flattering 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:33.83
2019 Who's Steph 4 Colin Keane Ger Lyons 2:38.50
2020 Snow[a] 3 Wayne Lordan Aidan O'Brien 2:36.41
2021 Thunder Kiss 4 Colin Keane Ger Lyons 2:39.96
2022 Rosscarbery 4 Billy Lee Paddy Twomey 2:36.95
2023 Rosscarbery 5 Billy Lee Paddy Twomey 2:37.31
2024 Sumiha 4 Chris Hayes Dermot Weld 2:33.57
2025 Magical Hope 4 Colin Keane Paddy Twomey 2:36.29
  1. ^ The 2020 race was run in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

See also

References