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 2018 VRC Oaks was won by Aristia from Greysful Glamour with Miner's Miss 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.

Aristia (2018) captured the Wakeful STakes over 2000m at Flemington before scoring a classy on pace victory in this event for the Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra stable.

Recent VRC Oaks winners include Pinot (2017) and Lasqueti Spirit (2016).

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 include Aristia (2018), Kirramosa (2012), Brazilian Pulse (2010), Faint Perfume (2009), Serenade Rose (2005) and Hollow Bullet (2004). Classy gallopers 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 finishing strongly to win this event.

2018 VRC Oaks result

1. $2.00 Aristia 55.5 Damian Lane
2. $5.00 Greysful Glamour 55.5 Tim Clark
3. $14.00 Miner's Miss 55.5 Ms Michelle Payne

then followed
4. $9.00 Maracaibo 55.5 Stephen Baster
5. $3.00 Qafila 55.5 Jim Crowley
6. $6.00 Sizzleme 55.5 Luke Currie
7. $4.00 Verry Elleegant 55.5 John Allen
8. $10.00 Scamper 55.5 Kerrin McEvoy
9. $8.00 Miss Moana 55.5 Mark Zahra
10. $12.00 Collectable 55.5 James McDonald
11. $13.00 Exclusively Ours 55.5 Ben Thompson
12. $7.00 Dark Confidant 55.5 Regan Bayliss
13. $11.00 Zapurler 55.5 Hugh Bowman
14. $15.00 Lesedi 55.5 Noel Callow
15. $1.00 Amphitrite 55.5 Craig Williams

Margins: 0.75 len, 0.75
Time: 2:40.54

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VRC Oaks winners & placegetters