The Epsom Oaks is the fillies-only equivalent of the Epsom Derby, though it predates that race having first been run in 1779. Known to many as “the Oaks”, it has many namesakes around the world and is one of the five Classics of UK Flat racing. It is, in fact, the second-oldest of those showpiece Group One contests and is run at the Surrey venue of Epsom Downs. Like the Derby, it is run over a distance of a shade over a mile and a half and is only open to three year olds. It is normally run the day before the Derby, on a Friday.
Whilst the prize money on offer is nowhere near that of the Derby, there was still a rather handy £311,905 dished out to the winner in 2022. It was first won by Bridget, owned by the Earl of Derby himself and since then has been won by the likes of Snow Fairy, Enable and Love, the last of whom won in a course-record time.
2026 - Thundering On
Thundering On produced a remarkable turn of foot to come from last to first and win the 2026 Oaks. The 5-1 chance was held up at the rear by Dylan Browne McMonagle before making rapid progress around Tattenham Corner. She cruised alongside Legacy Link at the furlong marker, but McMonagle barely had to move before the Frankel filly accelerated clear. The third-favourite powered away to win by three and three-quarter lengths, with her decisive burst settling the race in a matter of strides in a really impressive performance.
- 1st – Thundering On 5/1, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
- 2nd – Legacy Link 3/1, Jockey: Colin Keane, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd – Sugar Island 25/1, Jockey: Ronan Whelan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2025 - Minnie Hauk
Aidan O'Brien saddled the first two home as the high-class Minnie Hauk edged stablemate Whirl in a thrilling finish at Epsom. Ryan Moore tracked the pace set by Wayne Lordan on Whirl before asking Minnie Hauk to quicken passing the three-furlong pole. The pair fought out the finish, with Minnie Hauk getting the better of her stablemate by a neck. The pair were comfortably ahead of the competition on the day, with the strongly backed favourite Desert Flower never really challenging and finishing four lengths behind in third.
- 1st - Minnie Hauk 9/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
- 2nd - Whirl 15/2, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
- 3rd - Desert Flower 11/10F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2024 - Ezeliya
Ezeliya powered clear in the closing stages of the contest to give Dermot Weld his first Oaks victory in 43 years. The 13-2 shot travelled in midfield before making rapid headway down the outside under Chris Hayes approaching Tattenham Corner. She moved alongside Dance Sequence before pulling decisively clear to win by three lengths, with 50-1 outsider War Chimes finishing an unexpected third. Favourite Ylang Ylang never threatened to challenge and had to settle for sixth after weakening inside the final furlong.
- 1st - Ezeliya 13/2, Jockey: Chris Hayes, Trainer: Dermot Weld
- 2nd - Dance Sequence 7/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd - War Chimes 50/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: David Menuisier
2023 - Soul Sister
Frankie Dettori signed off his final Oaks ride with a brilliant victory aboard Soul Sister, completing a memorable afternoon at Epsom. After sitting back in the rear, Dettori moved wide around Tattenham Corner and launched his challenge in the straight, with the entire field still ahead. Soul Sister travelled strongly while favourite Savethelastdance was already being pushed along, and the Gosden-trained filly swept past her rivals to win by a length and three-quarters. It was a memorable day for Soul Sister, but much less so for stablemate Running Lion (and her backers) who was withdrawn after being upset in the stalls.
- 1st - Soul Sister 11/4, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 2nd - Savethelastdance 5/6F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Caernarfon 40/1, Jockey: Connor Beasley, Trainer: Jack Channon
2022 - Tuesday
Tuesday held on by the narrowest of margins to deny favourite Emily Upjohn in a dramatic finish. Dettori's mount slipped leaving the stalls and was last after a furlong, forcing her to make up considerable ground. She closed rapidly approaching the home straight before moving within a length of Tuesday. The gap continued to shrink as they approached the line, but Tuesday dug in and found just enough to prevail by a short head. It was a most unfortunate loss for Emily Upjohn, but she did atone the following year at Epsom when winning the Coronation Cup.
- 1st - Tuesday 13/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Emily Upjohn 6/4F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd - Nashwa 4/1, Jockey: Hollie Doyle, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
2021 - Snowfall
Snowfall produced one of the most dominant performances in Oaks history, powering 16 lengths clear of her rivals at Epsom. Frankie Dettori settled the 11-2 chance towards the rear before making smooth headway around the bend. She drew level with long-time leader Mystery Angel a furlong from home before bursting clear. With nobody able to match Snowfall’s speed, the Japanese-bred filly just kept extending her increasingly enormous lead. The eventual winning margin of 16 lengths broke the previous Oaks record of 12 lengths, set by Sun Princess in 1983.
- 1st - Snowfall 11/2, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Mystery Angel 50/1, Jockey: Ben Curtis, Trainer: George Boughey
- 3rd - Divinely 20/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2020 - Love
A strangely run race saw the exceptional Love storm nine lengths clear for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Pacemakers Passion and Tiempo Vuelo raced well ahead of the field in the early stages, leaving the favourite with a huge gap to close. As the pace-setters entered the home straight, their lead had been cut massively with Ennistymon poised to overtake first. Ennistymon did indeed take the lead but only momentarily as Love flew past her on the way to an emphatic nine-length win, which set a new course record for the Oaks in the process and was a demonstration of the class the O’Brien runner possessed.
- 1st - Love 11/10F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Ennistymon 6/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Frankly Darling 7/4, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
2019 - Anapurna
Anapurna fought back strongly to deny Pink Dogwood in a busy renewal featuring 14 runners. The 8-1 shot travelled prominently under Frankie Dettori while favourite Mehdaayih struggled to find a clear run. Pink Dogwood delivered a strong burst to take the lead inside the final two furlongs, but Anapurna gradually reeled her in before getting up to win by a neck. This concluded a wonderful battle between the two, but a contest that never involved Mehdaayih, who ended up hampered throughout.
- 1st - Anapurna 8/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Pink Dogwood 3/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
- 3rd - Fleeting 25/1, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
2018 - Forever Together
Forever Together sprang a major surprise by becoming the first maiden to win the Oaks since Sun Princess all the way back in 1983. The Galileo offspring had failed to win any of her first three starts but travelled strongly behind the leaders before making her move in the straight. Wild Illusion, the 5-2 favourite, challenged after Bye Bye Baby took the field towards home, but Forever Together quickly pulled clear to win by four and a half lengths. In yet another dominant training display Aidan O’Brien took four of the top five places, although it proved to be Forever Together’s sole success of a short career.
- 1st - Forever Together 7/1, Jockey: Donnacha O'Brien, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
- 2nd - Wild Illusion 5/2F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd - Bye Bye Baby 8/1, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
2017 - Enable
In a very wet edition of the race, the brilliant Enable overcame the challenging conditions to impressively triumph over odds-on favourite Rhododendron. The race followed a dramatic build-up as American challenger Daddys Lil Darling bolted before the start and had to be withdrawn. Once the race began, Frankie Dettori tracked the pace before taking the lead approaching the two-furlong pole. Rhododendron briefly threatened but was completely unable to match Enable who pulled clear to win by a comfortable five lengths. The Oaks was the first Group 1 win of many for this supremely talented horse.
- 1st - Enable 6/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Rhododendron 8/11F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
- 3rd - Alluringly 16/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
2016
- 1st - Minding (IRE) 10/11F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
- 2nd - Architecture (IRE) 12/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Hugo Palmer
- 3rd - Harlequeen 14/1, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa, Trainer: Mick Channon
2015
- 1st - Qualify (IRE) 50/1, Jockey: Colm O'Donoghue, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
- 2nd - Legatissimo (IRE) 5/2F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: David Wachman
- 3rd - Lady of Dubai 7/1, Jockey: Adam Kirby, Trainer: Luca Cumani
2014
- 1st - Taghrooda 5/1, Jockey: Paul Hanagan, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Tarfasha (IRE) 9/2, Jockey: Pat Smullen, Trainer: Dermot K. Weld
- 3rd - Volume 9/1, Jockey: Richard Hughes, Trainer: Luca Cumani