Horse Racing

Previously called the South Australian Oaks up until 2008, the South Australian Fillies Classic is a Group 3 race held annually at Adelaide?s Morphettville racecourse in early April. From 2010 the race will be held at the newly founded Morphettville Parks track. It is one of two group races held at the meeting, the other is the Group 3 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

The South Australian Fillies Classic was a 2500m staying race for three-year-old fillies at set weights worth $100 000, but from 2010 it will be run over 2400m. Contending fillies looking to step-up in distance and test their staying abilities may have come via the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) a fortnight before. The last filly to claim victory in both races was Irish Darling in 2005.

The South Australian Fillies Classic is an excellent lead-up to one of South Australia?s most prestigious events, the $300 000 SA Derby (2500m) held in May on Goodwood Day, where the top fillies will take on the colts and geldings.

South Australian Fillies Classic History:

The first South Australian Fillies Classic was run in 1951 when Gay Comedy claimed victory and was known as the South Australian Oaks. It started out as a Principal race run over 10 furlongs and remained the same up until 1973 when the race distance was converted to 2000m. Less than a decade later the race gained Group 1 status in 1980 and for one year in 1985 the South Australian Oaks was not held. The following year in 1986 the length increased dramatically to 2400m making the South Australian Oaks a genuine staying test for the contending horses. Then in 1995 the distance was again increased to 2500m before the race was demoted to a Group 2 event in 2005. A couple of years later the status of the race was again downgraded to its current Group 3 status. In 2009 the race was renamed the South Australian Fillies Classic. From 2010 the race will be run over 2400m.

Last 10 Years of South Australian Fillies Classic Winners: