2010 Spring Racing Carnival

Crown Oaks

• Type: Group 1 set weight race
• Distance: 2500 metres
• Age: 3 year old fillies
• Racecourse: Flemington, Melbourne
• 1st Place Prize Money: $600,000 plus trophies to owner, trainer and jockey
• Set Weight: 55.5 kg

First run in 1861 over 12 furlongs the Crown Oaks, formerly known as the VRC Oaks, is a test of endurance with only the stronger fillies being able to last the distance of the race. The race is sponsored by the Crown Casino complex and is part of the Flemington four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival. Held two days after the Melbourne Cup, the Crown Oaks also hosts the Fashions on the Field recognised as “Ladies Day” at Flemington. The event also has the fastest growing crowd records of any race day in the carnival.

Two Crown Oaks winners have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup, Evening Peal in 1956 and Light Fingers in 1965. First won by Palestine, the race attracted huge fields every year however in 1864, 1868, 1870 and 1877 organisers were taken aback when there were only two starters on the field. Tristanagh in 1989 and Weekend Delight in 1990 both gave trainer Bart Cummings another two successes to add his ever increasing list of wins. Then in 1994, jockey Damien Oliver joined forces with trainer Lee Freedman to win the VRC Oaks under Northwood Plume and again in 1997 with Kensington Palace.

Crown Oaks Winners