EAST CAPE OAKS

-Henk Steenkamp-

The Western Cape visitors have a wonderful record in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Oaks.

Epikleros, trained by Justin Snaith, will be the sole Western Cape representative this year in the race for three-year-old fillies over 2000m.

Snaith has enjoyed huge success in this race and Epikleros must be respected in Friday’s race scheduled for the Fairview Turf track.

It has almost become impossible for the East Cape trainers to win the Oaks in recent times.

Of the current trainers, champion Gavin Smith last won the Oaks for the Eastern Cape 13 years ago.

On that day Sammy Jo stormed home with Muzi Yeni in the saddle. Yeni will be riding the Snaith filly this Friday.

Since then there was just one other Oaks victory for the locals to celebrate. This was in 2018 when Widow’s Lamp won for the Yvette Bremner stable. Bremner has since retired.

The Oaks is race seven of nine and will jump at 15:35. The R175 000 Fairview Flying Five (NBT) over 1000m is race six at 15:00.

Here is a look at the recent winners of the EC Oaks and the Fairview Flying Five (NBT):

EC OAKS

2023: Virginia Sweet

2022: Bye Bye Bombshell

2021: Swazi Queen

2020: DNR – Covid-19

2019: Madonna

2018: Widow’s Lamp

2017: Fortissimus

2016: Solana

2015: Eros’s Girl

2014: She’s A Pippa

2013: Valor Red

2012: Alvilda

2011: Sammy Jo

2010: Miss Scaramanga

2009: Rafiya

FLYING FIVE

2023: Cliff Top

2022: Whatever Next

2021: What A Winner

2020: DNR – Covid-19

2019: Quinlan

2018: Juan Two Three

2017: Normanz

2016: Villa Del Largo

2015: Insearchofthesun

2014: Tetelestai

2013: Icemberg

2012: Apolo Grey

2011: Cyber Case

2010: Tomcat

2009: Hear The Drums