Munster Oaks

For the current Noblesse Stakes, see Noblesse Stakes.

Munster Oaks
Group 3 race
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
2024
Green, red epaulettes, green cap Black, white slvs, red cap, black star Cerise, sky blue cap with cerise hoop
Sumiha Trevaunance Scarlett O'Hara
Previous years
2023
Maroon Green, red epaulettes, green cap Light blue, grey braces, grey diamonds on sleeves, light blue cap, grey diamonds
Rosscarbery Azazat Thunder Roll
2022
Yellow, black star, black stars on sleeves, yellow cap, black stars Emerald green, gold braids, white collar and cuffs, emerald green cap, Dark blue
Rosscarbery Yaxeni Lily Pond
2021
Beige, dark blue cross of lorraine and sleeves, dark blue cap, beige star Pink, black circle, black shoulders, pink sleeves, black cap Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap
Thunder Kiss Silence Please High Heels
2020-2011
2020
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Emerald green, royal blue chevron and sleeves, check cap Emerald green, red chevron, red cap, emerald green diamond
Snow Snapraeceps Loveisthehigherlaw
2019
White, emerald green hoop, white cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Emerald green, orange epaulettes and armlet, orange cap, white star
Who's Steph Peach Tree Moteo
2018
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap Lime green, purple sleeves, white cap Dark blue
Flattering Bloomfield Sizzling
2017
pink Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap White, purple panel, check cap
Santa Monica Butterflies Glamorous Approach
2016
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Green, red epaulettes, green cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap
Pretty Perfect Shamreen Best In The World
2015
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap Black, white slvs, red cap, black star Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves and cap
Words Carla Bianca Roheryn
2014
Dark blue pink Grey
Venus de Milo Dazzling Circling
2013
Black and light green quartered, light green sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue White and emerald green hoops, white sleeves and cap
Midnight Soprano Magical Dream Cubanita
2012
Black, white slvs, red cap, black star Dark blue and emerald green check, white sleeves and cap Dark blue
Sapphire Betterbetterbetter Soon
2011
White, purple panel, check cap Black, white slvs, red cap, black star Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Banimpire Sense Of Purpose Amazing Beauty
2010-2003
2010
Blue, pink slvs, blue and gold quartered cap Green, red epaulettes, green cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Grace O'Malley Karasiyra Unity
2009
Blue, pink slvs, blue and gold quartered cap Green, red epaulettes, green cap Black and white hoops, royal blue cap, white star
Grace O'malley Tanoura Jakarta Jazz
2008
ROYAL BLUE, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap BLACK, white slvs, red cap, black star BLACK and WHITE HOOPS, royal blue cap, white star
Ice Queen Profound Beauty Beach Bunny
2007
Maroon, light green chevron Purple, white cap, purple diamond White, black spots, white sleeves, red cap
Nick's Nikita Athenian Way Wannabe Posh
2006
FRENCH GREY, light blue hoop and cap Dark blue Purple, white cap, purple diamond
Sina Cova Kushnarenkovo Allexina
2005
Black and white hoops, royal blue cap, white star Black, white sleeves, red cap, black star Yellow, large blue spots, spots on sleeves, striped cap
Right Key Unique Pose Saintly Rachel
2004
White, purple stripe, check cap White, black stars, halved sleeves, black cap, white stars GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Danelissima Summitville Tarakala
2003
EMERALD GREEN and WHITE CHEVRONS, emerald green sleeves, quartered cap Yellow, black chevron, yellow and white quartered cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
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 Manning – Snippets (2003), Danelissima (2004), Banimpire (2011)
  • Pat Smullen – Grace 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
  1. ^ The 2020 race was run in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

See also

References