The VRC Oaks, also known as the Crown Oaks, is a prestigious Group 1 race held annually as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. First contested in 1861—the same year as the inaugural Melbourne Cup—the Oaks has a rich tradition as the premier staying event for three-year-old fillies in Australia. This 2500m race, held on the third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, is a true test of stamina and early maturity, often marking the peak of a filly’s spring preparation.

The VRC Oaks, run on Oaks Day, is popularly known as “Ladies Day,” with Fashions on the Field as a major social attraction, celebrating elegance and style alongside high-stakes racing. The race is considered the “sister” event to the Victoria Derby, also contested over 2500m on the first day of the Carnival. However, unlike the Derby, which is open to both sexes, the Oaks is exclusively for fillies, providing a unique platform to showcase emerging stars among three-year-olds.

Historically, the Oaks was originally run over 2400m until 1973, when the distance was extended to 2500m, aligning with the Derby distance. The race has produced many notable winners who went on to achieve greater success in their racing careers. Among recent champions, JAMEKA, who triumphed in 2015, later secured a Caulfield Cup and Tancred Stakes, underscoring her class. Past winners like LIGHT FINGERS and ROSE OF KINGSTON also left indelible marks, with LIGHT FINGERS winning the Melbourne Cup the year after her Oaks success in 1964 and ROSE OF KINGSTON becoming the dam of Melbourne Cup winner KINGSTON RULE.

Even more recently, last year’s (2023) Oaks winner, ZARDOZI has gone on to run a stellar 4th placing in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup, magnifying the quality that is exposed through the VRC Oaks.

Today, with a prize purse of $1 million, the VRC Oaks shares its title as the richest race for three-year-old fillies in Australia with the ATC Oaks in Sydney. This iconic race not only honors tradition but also serves as a launching pad for the next generation of elite fillies, etching their names in the annals of Australian racing history.