CROWN OAKS THE HISTORY OF THE
F irst contested in 1861, the same year as the inaugural Melbourne Cup, the Crown Oaks gives three-year-old fillies the opportunity to shine over the classic 2500-metre distance. The race has produced several future Melbourne Cup contenders, including two winners of the great race, Evening Peal and Light Fingers. On two occasions, however, the winner of the Melbourne Cup has returned just two days later to claim the VRC Oaks, with Briseis achieving the feat in 1876 and Auraria in 1895. The Oaks brings together fillies who showed Group 1 talent as juveniles and those who have taken longer to mature, developing with age and the rise in distance. Former elite two-year-olds and juvenile Group 1 winners such as Miss Finland, Samantha Miss and Slight Chance feature alongside talented early performers including Jameka, Mosheen and Dear Demi. The honour roll also includes later-developing stayers such as Miami Bound and her dam, Arapaho Miss, as well as more recent winners Brazilian Pulse and Faint Perfume. Bart Cummings and James Wilson share the record for training the most VRC Oaks winners, with nine wins apiece. Bobbie Lewis and Damien Oliver have each ridden seven winners, with Oliver securing three consecutive victories from 2019 to 2021. Last year’s winner had an Irish flavour, with trainer, jockey and breeder all from the Emerald Isle. Remarkably, Strictly Business progressed from a Ballarat maiden to Group 1 Crown Oaks winner in just 13 days. Confident he was aboard the best staying filly in the field, John Allen angled her towards the centre of the track, where she powered home to deliver Ballarat trainer Thomas Carberry his first Group 1 victory.
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Image: George Sal/Racing Photos
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