VRC Oaks

See the 2023 VRC Oaks Preview and results

See the 2022 Kennedy Oaks Preview and results

See the 2021 Kennedy Oaks Preview and results

See the 2020 Kennedy Oaks Preview and results

and Results

The ‘Oaks’ were first run in 1861 and despite being held on a work day, Crown Oaks Day has become one of the more popular crowd events on the Australian Horse Racing Calendar. The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Crown Oaks for three year old fillies. The race is run over 2500m and now offers over $1 million in prize money.

Fastest time (2500m): Tributes (2001) 2:34:39

Leading jockeys: Bobbie Lewis with 7 wins (Furious 1921, Rosanna 1915, Carlita 1914, Mint Sauce 1913, Moe 1912, Sweet Nell 1903, Thunder Queen 1896). Damien Oliver with 7 wins (Willowy 2021, Personal 2020, Miami Bound 2019, Jameka 2015, Special Harmony 2003, Kensington Palace 1997, Northwood Plume 1994).

Leading trainers: Bart Cummings with 8 wins (Magical Miss 2001, Richfield Lady 1991, Weekend Delight 1990, Tristanagh 1989, Taj Eclipse 1983, Leica Show 1974, Sanderae 1970, Light Fingers 1964).

Interesting trivia: Pat Hyland rode 1982 winner Rom’s Stiletto and trained 1995 winner Saleous. When Damien Oliver won on Willowy he equalled the record of Bobbie Lewis with 7 wins in this race and the record of George Moore with 126 Group 1 wins.

Winners of past VRC Oaks include

From the archives:

2018 Crown Oaks Preview & Tips:

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 15 fillies running in the $1,000,000 Kennedy Oaks. Five of them had their last start in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m, and three of them had their last start in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes over 2000m. The early favourite is Amphitrite who won 4 races in a row this preparation, including the Thousand Guineas, before never seeing daylight from the 300m and finishing 3 lengths 11^th in the Myer Classic/Empire Rose Stakes on Saturday. Second favourite is Wakeful Stakes winner Aristia who won that race well after 2^nd in the Ethereal Stakes. Third favourite is Verry Elleegant who won the Ethereal Stakes before 5^th in the Wakeful Stakes where she started as favourite.

Qafila was a good 2^nd in the Wakeful, but has only won one of her 11 starts. Zapurier is a nicely-bred filly who won a maiden at Echuca by 3.5 lengths last start and should love the distance. Greysful Glamour was 7^th in the Ethereal, after winning the Oaks Trial by a big margin. Collectable was 4^th in the Etrhereal after running 2^nd at all her 3 other starts, and is one of three maidens in the field. The other runners are all over 20 to 1.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.