Which filly is the all-time greatest Oaks winner?

IT IS all but blasphemy to even consider saying the all-time greatest New South Wales Oaks winner is any filly but Argent.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary at Club Menangle on Saturday night, the Group One has been won by a host of superstars, including the likes of Richmond Lass, Bonnie Frost, Provocative, Jane Ellen, Under Cover Love and Our Dream About Me to name just a handful.

Winner of the inaugural edition in 1956, Argent’s feats are destined never to be surpassed.

ARGENT

Not only did the Jack McKay-trained three-year-old capture the Oaks with ease, she was triumphant in the New South Wales Derby along with the Victoria Oaks and Derby.

Seven decades later, Argent remains the only pacer to achieve the feat.

Freakish squaregaiter Keayang Zahara matched Argent’s heroics by securing the four trotting Blue Ribands in 2024.

To avoid damning the souls of our experts, National Trotguide asked them “which is the greatest New South Wales Oaks winner you’ve seen?”

The voice of Menangle – Fred Hastings – provided a two-fold response, the best he has seen and the best he has called.

An industry enthusiast long before he began his career as a broadcaster, Hastings cites Foreal as the best he has seen.

Trained by Kiwi horseman Tim Butt, Foreal was in a class of her own during the 2005 Oaks as she rated 1:58.7 over 2180 metres at Club Menangle’s former home, Harold Park.

Unplaced in the Miracle Mile the following season, Foreal later etched her name onto the famous sprint’s honour roll as the dam of 2018 Miracle Mile winner, My Field Marshal.

Also prepared by Butt, My Field Marshal remains the southern hemisphere’s fastest pacer with his 1:46.9 performance.

“Foreal was amazing that year,” Hastings said. “She overcame a horror draw to win and did it so well.

“She was a talented filly which transitioned to open company and made the Miracle Mile as an early season four-year-old, beaten just three-and-a-half metres by Be Good Johnny.

“Foreal could sprint, stay and was a genuinely talented race mare.”

Successful in 2021, Anntonia claims the ‘tiara’ as the greatest Oaks winner Hastings has called.

Driven a treat by Jack Trainor, Anntonia smashed the race record with her 1:52.9 effort over 2400 metres as Rogue Wave and Beach Music filled the placings.

“Anntonia was a genuine juvenile star,” Hastings said. “She was in a tricky spot mid race, got out top of the lane and won the 2400-metre test in the quickest time over the trip by a three-year-old filly.

“Jack’s drive was also a feature of the win for local trainer David Thorn.”

Echoing Hastings’ sentiment, Club Menangle’s General Racing Manager David Wonson lists Foreal at the top of the list.

“In my time Foreal is the greatest Oaks winner,” Wonson said. “She had a beautiful flowing action and was just a star.

“She raced in the Miracle Mile that same year and made two Inter Dominion Finals.”

One of the hardest working and well-travelled members of the media, Adam Hamilton has selected Elect To Live’s 2002 victory as the standout of his more than three decades covering the sport.

In what was a stellar year for fillies, the Kiwi trounced her rivals during her Australian debut.

Trained and driven by Neil Brady, Elect To Live cruised to an 11-metre win from Eternal Love, with Duets four metres away third.

Rating 1:57.4 over 2160 metres, Elect To Live slashed a second-and-a-half from the race record.

“Elect To Live’s Oaks win was the best I’ve seen and kick-started a stunning year for the Kiwi filly,” Hamilton said. “She was tiny, but so tough and raced more like a Grand Circuit horse.

“She went on to add the New Zealand Oaks and her greatest win came against the boys in Launceston in the Australian Derby.

OUR DREAM ABOUT ME

“More recently, the win of another star Kiwi, Our Dream About Me, in 2016 was monstrous.

“Natalie Rasmussen sat parked with the Mark Purdon-trained filly and she destroyed her rivals to win by almost 10 metres in a scorching 1:54.2 mile rate for 2400 metres.”

With a strong field engaged in this weekend’s $200,000 edition, who knows, perhaps we’re about to witness the all-time greatest…except for Argent of course!