Crown Oaks Day

‘The ultimate style day’
Date: Thursday 3 November 2011

Known as ‘the ultimate style day’, the third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival is Crown Oaks Day. The Crown Oaks is run on this day, which is always held two days after the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

The Crown Oaks is Victoria's premier event for Three Years Old Fillies, and it is always run two days after the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Like the AAMI Victoria Derby, it is run over 2500 Metres at Set Weights. All fillies carry the same weight in the race - 55.5kg. Prize money for the Crown Oaks was lifted to $AUD1,000,000 plus trophies valued at $5,000 for the 2007 renewal, and this level has been maintained since.

History

The oldest fillies' classic in Australia the Crown Oaks was first contested in 1859, the same year as the inaugural Melbourne Cup. Initially run over 12 furlongs, the distance was changed to 2400m with the introduction of metrics in racing in 1972, before becoming a 2500m race the following year to provide a longer run out of the straight before the first turn.

The most famous Oaks winner of all was Briesis, because she also won the Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup in 1876. Other famous Crown Oaks winners include Chicquita (1949), True Course (1950), Evening Peal (1955), Light Fingers (1964), Leica Show (1974), Surround (1976), Rose Of Kingston (1981), Slight Chance (1992), Magical Miss (2001),Special Harmony (2003) and Miss Finland (2006).

The 2004 Crown Oaks featured the most exciting finish to a classic imaginable, with Hollow Bullet somehow managing to gain the ascendancy at the winning post, after looking likely to be unplaced in the race inside the 100 metres mark. In 2006, Miss Finland became the first ever Golden Slipper winner to win the Crown Oaks.

The traditional lead up race to the Crown Oaks is the Wakeful Stakes, which is run over 2,000 Metres on AAMI Victoria Derby Day. This race has been on the spring Fillies program since 1932.

Past winners of the Crown Oaks for the last 25 years

Year Winner Jockey Trainer 2nd 3rd
2011 Mosheen Danny Nikolic Robert Smerdon Dowager Queen Roma Giaconda
2010 Brazilian Pulse (NZ) C Williams Michael Moroney Shamrocker (NZ) Placement (NZ)
2009 Faint Perfume Michael Rodd Bart Cummings Valdemoro Savsbelle
2008 Samantha Miss Hugh Bowman Kris Lees Miss Scarlatti Allez Wonder
2007 Arapaho Miss Corey Brown Pat Carey Serious Speed Marjorie
2006 Miss Finland Craig Williams David Hayes Tuesday Joy Anamato
2005 Serenade Rose Steven King Lee Freedman Florica Danica Empress Lily
2004 Hollow Bullet David Taggart John McArdle Kylikwong Storm Alert
2003 Special Harmony Damien Oliver Lee Freedman Dane Belltar Timbourina
2002 Bulla Borghese Chris Munce Ron Quinton Lashed Antique
2001 Magical Miss Steven Arnold Bart Cummings Manang Li Lo Lill
2000 Lovelorn Brett Prebble John Hawkes Lan Kwai Fong Lolita Star
1999 Tributes Darren Gauci John Hawkes My Sienna Shizu
1998 Grand Archway Opie Bosson Graeme Rogerson Rose O'War Zazabelle
1997 Kensington Palace Damien Oliver Lee Freedman Only A Lady Kilmore Quay
1996 My Brightia Glen Boss Len Smith Danendri Derobe
1995 Saleous Darren Beadman Pat Hyland Arctic Scent Pontal Lass
1994 Northwood Plume Damien Oliver Damien Oliver Wild Thunder    Captive
1993 Arborea Shane Dye Clarry Conners Oaks Day Give Me A Buzz
1992 Slight Chance Shane Dye Shane Dye Mahaya Burst
1991 Richfield Lady Greg Childs Bart Cummings India's Dream Yodells
1990 Weekend Delight Jim Cassidy Bart Cummings Whisked Triscay
1989 Tristanagh Jim Cassidy Bart Cummings La Tristia Ochiltree
1988 Research Mick Dittman Clarry Connors Riverina Charm Chaleyer
1987 Sandy's Pleasure Jim Cassidy Neville Begg Tennessee Vain St Klaire
1986 Diamond Shower Jim Cassidy Brian Mayfield-Smith Shackle Denita Gold
1985 My Tristram's Belle Noel Harris Alan Jones Born To Be Queen Dolcezza


More historical information can also be found: