The Group 1 VRC Crown Oaks, run over 2500m at Flemington, is the feature race on “Ladies’ Day”, the third day of the famous Melbourne Cup Carnival. It is a testing affair for early-season 3YO fillies, but it has produced some wonderful and significant winners, such as Melbourne Cup winner Light Fingers and Cox Plate winner Surround.
The VRC Crown Oaks has a rich history. The official first Oaks was run in 1861, the same year as the first Melbourne Cup, but there were two attempts to run an Oaks in 1859 and 1860; however, on each occasion, only one filly made it to the start, so the results were deemed to be walkovers.
VRC Crown Oaks 2025 Preview and Details
Track: Flemington.
Distance/type: 2500m. 3YO Fillies. Set Weights.
Date: Thursday, 6 November.
Total prizemoney: $1,000,000
First prize: $600,000
VRC Crown Oaks – Race and Time: Race 8 (5.10 pm)
Weather and Track
The Flemington track was rated a Soft 6 on Monday. A deluge of rain on Monday and some showers on Tuesday and Wednesday will see the Flemington track for Oaks Day as soft.
The rail is out 6m. How the track plays will depend on how damaged it is on Tuesday
The Trainers
The name Cummings is synonymous with the VRC Crown Oaks. Since the legendary Bart Cummings won his ninth VRC Crown Oaks with Faint Perfume in 2009, his son Anthony won with She’s Extreme in 2022, which was either side of Anthony’s son, James, winning it with Willowy (2021) and Zardozi (2023). Of course, we shouldn’t forget the patriarch of this famous racing family, Bart’s father Jim, who trained Opera Queen to win the Oaks in 1928.
None of the Cummings brood has a runner in this year’s VRC Crown Oaks.
In contrast, the equally famous Hayes family has won the Oaks only twice. Colin Hayes didn’t win one, but his son David broke the drought in 2006 with Miss Finland. David’s son Ben won it with Personal (2020), when training with his cousin, Tom Daberbig. This year Ben will share training duties with his twin brothers Will and JD with Ethereum Girl as their main Oaks hope.
Ciaron Maher (Zoucliare & Morisu Ojo) has won it twice with Set Square (2014) and Jameka (2015). The VRC Crown Oaks favourite, Getta Good Feeling, is trained by Danny O’Brien, who won with Miami Bound in 2019.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott combined to win the Oaks with Pinot in 2017. They have Wakeful placegetter Voting Rights representing them.
Michael Freedman is chasing his first VRC Crown Oaks with Just A Journey. However, he was part of the Freedman brothers team when his elder brother Lee trained four Oaks winners between 1994 and 2005.
The Jockeys
Two former jockeys have dominated the VRC Crown Oaks. The recently retired Damien Oliver joined Bobby Lewis at the top of the pile when he won his seventh Oaks on Willowy in 2021.
Current jockeys with a VRC Crown Oaks to their name with a ride this year include dual winner Craig Williams (Morisu Ojo), James McDonald (The Pearls), who won on Zardozi in 2023, and Nash Rawiller, who won on Kirramosa in 2013, rides the Ethereal Stakes winner Spicy Lu.
The favourite, Getta Good Feeling, has Mark Zahra in the saddle. Zahra dominated on Derby Day riding four winners, including the G2 Wakeful Stakes on Getta Good Feeling.
Jamie Melham (Ethereum Girl) and Rachel King (Sheeza Diva) will be the first females to ride a VRC Oaks winner.
The Speed Map
Tempo prediction: moderate
The VRC Oaks is rarely run at a hectic tempo as the field of 3YO fillies cope with their first attempt at running out a strong 2500m. The likely leader is Spicy Lu, who led throughout to win the Ethereal Stakes. Jockey Nash Rawiller is a master on a leader.
The VRC Oaks favourite, Getta Good Feeling, sat outside the leader to win the Wakeful with something in hand. Jockey Mark Zahra will stalk the speed. Just A Journey, After Summer and Ethereum Girl are likely to look for forward positions.
The Pearls has drawn wide. It will take a clever ride for James McDonald to go forward and find a position near the front. Going back might be the best option. She raced on the pace in her recent Sydney races. The run-on fillies are Sheeza Diva and Classic Gem.
Points of Interest
Significant gear change: Sydney filly Sheeza Diva has had the blinkers removed and winkers added. After Summer gets the winkers for the first time.
The Wakeful influence: Getta Good Feeling easily won the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday. The Wakeful is the most significant guide to finding the VRC Oaks winner. An incredible 39 Wakeful Stakes winners have backed up within a week to win the VRC Oaks, including last year’s winner, Treasurethe Moment.
VRC Crown Oaks 2025 Racing Tips
VRC Crown Oaks Top Tip
Getta Good Feeling
The standout staying filly. She had a very soft win in the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. Drawn perfectly in barrier four and the in-form Mark Zahra rides.
VRC Crown Oaks Dangers
Spicy Lu
Bush filly from NSW who was excellent when she won the G3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. She is the likely leader and she looks like she will run the trip.
The Pearls - different form line. Competing against the males. Second in the G3 Gloaming Stakes and third in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.
Classic Gem
Liked the way she is shaping. She hit the line strongly when fourth behind Spicy Lu in the G3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. Missed the Wakeful on Saturday.
VRC Crown Oaks Roughies
Ethereum Girl
Even run when sixth in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday. She has been building nicely towards this and Saturday’s run will top her off. She can cause an upset.
Sheeza Diva
Comes from Hawkesbury in NSW with a similar form line to The Pearls, in that she has been racing well at Group level against the colts. Ready for this distance.
VRC Crown Oaks Same Race Multi (pick a combination)
Getta Good Feeling – top two
Spicy Lu – top three
The Pearls – top five
Classic Gem, Sheeza Diva, Ethereum Girl – top six
Zouclaire – top seven