VRC Oaks

The VRC Oaks is a Group 1 race for three-year-old fillies that takes place at Flemington racecourse each November during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2500 metres and worth $1,000,000 in prizemoney. The 2016 VRC Oaks was won by Lasqueti Spirit from Harlow Gold with Eleonora third.

The VRC Oaks is held on the third day of the Flemington four-day racing carnival and is always run midweek on the Thursday, two days after the Melbourne Cup. The final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival, Stakes Day, takes place two days later with the Group 1 Emirates Stakes the feature race of the day.

The VRC Oaks is the premier blue ribbon event for three-year-old staying fillies in Melbourne during the spring carnival. It's the fillies equivalent of the Victoria Derby for colts & geldings and run over the same 2500 metres distance as the Derby. The race is restricted to fillies at set weights and the better fillies have a decided advantage.

VRC Oaks day itself is known as 'Ladie's Day' and there is almost as much action off the track as there is on it, with the annual holding of the 'Fashions on the Field" ensuring a huge crowd is always in attendance.

The Gr1 Wakeful Stakes on Derby Day is the traditional lead-up race to the VRC Oaks and the Oaks has produced some quality winners over the years.

Samantha Miss (2008) won the Princess Series during the Sydney spring carnival prior to a WS Cox Plate placing and success in this race, while other notable winners in recent years include Mosheen (2011), Magical Miss (2001), Special Harmony (2003) and Miss Finland (2006).

The race is generally won by the classiest filly as the 2500 metres finds out the weaker fillies and class generally prevails in the run to the line.

Lasqueti Spirit (2016) ran fourth in a CL1 over 2400m at Kembla Grange in New South Wales before heading to Victoria to win Australia's premier race for fillies at triple figure odds, thanks to a dashing front-running ride by jockey Brenton Avdulla. Recent VRC Oaks winners have been Jameka (2015) and Set Square (2014).

Spring Carnival Guide

Make sure you take a keen interest in the Gr2 Wakeful Stakes held at Flemington on Derby Day, as the Wakeful winner will more often than not win or run a place in the VRC Oaks. The Wakeful Stakes has been the traditional guide to this race over the years.

The most recent fillies to complete the Wakeful Stakes & VRC Oaks double have been Kirramosa (2012), Brazilian Pulse (2010), Faint Perfume (2009), Serenade Rose (2005) and Hollow Bullet (2004), while Tuesday Joy (2006) and Timbourina (2003) both finished second in the Wakeful before winning the VRC Oaks. Dear Demi (2012) ran 4th in the Wakeful Stakes before her strong finish to win this event.

2016 VRC Oaks result

1. $101.00 Lasqueti Spirit 55.5 Brenton Avdulla
2. $7.00 Harlow Gold 55.5 Regan Bayliss
3. $9.00 Eleonora 55.5 Damien Oliver

then followed
4. $61.00 Peeking Duck 55.5 Craig Newitt
5. $11.00 Missrock 55.5 Hugh Bowman
6. $19.00 Smart As You Think 55.5 Jamie Mott
7. $21.00 Bella Sorellastra 55.5 Stephen Baster
8. $201.00 Nina Peak 55.5 Michael Dee
9. $41.00 Moqueen 55.5 Jason Collett
10. $101.00 My Girl Chilly 55.5 Dean Yendall
11. $151.00 Penthouse Kitten 55.5 Michael Walker
12. $11.00 Sebring Dream 55.5 James McDonald
13. $201.00 Red Velvet Swing 55.5 Ms Katelyn Mallyon
14. $1.95 Yankee Rose 55.5 Blake Shinn
15. $61.00 Lamma Hilton 55.5 Glyn Schofield

Margins: 3.75 len, 1.5 len
Time: 2:37.73

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VRC Oaks recent winners & placegetters