OAKLEIGH PLATE

1100m, Caulfield, $500,000, Handicap

HISTORY

* First run in 1884 when won by Malua. Group One since 1980. Run over 1200m from 1884-1972; 1100m since

* Leading modern-day trainers are John Hawkes: Harpagus (1982) and Sports (2000), Paul Perry: Dantelah (1999) and Fastnet Rock (2005), Gerald Ryan: Snitzel (2006) and Mrs Onassis (2013), Mathew Ellerton: Miss Kournikova (2001) and River Dove (2003)

* Stephen Baster (Mookta 1993 and River Dove 2003), Craig Newitt (Snitzel 2006 and Lankan Rupee 2014) and Damien Oliver (Schillaci 1992 and Eagle Falls 2011) lead the modern day jockeys

* Malua (1884) also won the Melbourne Cup in 1884 before winning the 1889 Grand National Hurdle in 1889

* Tontonan (1973) is the only Golden Slipper winner to also win an Oakleigh Plate

NOTABLE WINNERS

* Wakeful (1901); Aurie's Star (1937/39); San Domenico (1949); Dual Choice (1971/72); Tontonan (1974); Placid Ark (1987); Snippets (1988); Schillaci (1992); Fastnet Rock (2005); Snitzel (2006); Weekend Hussler (2008); Starspangledbanner (2010); Lankan Rupee (2014); Russian Revolution (2018)

TALKING POINTS

* Boom sprinter Nature Strip is the clear-cut favourite to win his first Group One race

* Nature Strip is the only runner in the capacity field at single figure odds

* Dual Group One winner and first-up specialist Viddora can clinch a trip to Dubai for the Al Quoz sprint with a big performance in the Oakleigh Plate

* After the scratching of Shoals, Viddora is the only Group One winner in the field

* Craig Williams has permission to ride Encryption 1kg over his allocated 50kg

* Booker, Bons Away and Fuhryk are back for another crack at the race after finishing 4th, 5th and 11th respectively last year.

* The Matthew Dale-trained seven-year-old gelding Fell Swoop is set to run in his third Oakleigh Plate after a second in 2016 and sixth in 2017

WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:

"She looks super and she's in really good order. This is the race that she's been set for first-up" - Viddora's trainer Lloyd Kennewell

"He has run really well in the Oakleigh Plate before, beaten half a length last year. I think he's better this time around. He's fresh and well and he'll be hard to beat given the right run" Bons Away's co-trainer Ciaron Maher

"I'd love to see a big bunched finish where something is flying along late, Encryption being the one because it would just be massive for his page to have a Group One next to his name" - Encryption's trainer James Cummings