The 2019 Kennedy Oaks is Group 1 race that is held in November each year at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Run on the third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Kennedy Oaks is run over a distance of 2,500 metres and is worth $1 million in prize money. Open to three-year-old fillies only, the Kennedy Oaks is run under set-weight conditions.

2019 Kennedy Oaks Results

• 1st: TBD
• 2nd: TBD
• 3rd: TBD

The Kennedy Oaks is the fillies equivalent of the Victoria Derby, which is run on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The first Kennedy Oaks was run in 1861 when it was won by a filly named Palestine. The Kennedy Oaks is held on what is known as Ladies Day and takes place on the Thursday following the Melbourne Cup each year. The Kennedy Oaks is run on the same day as the Fashions on the Field celebrations, which is an event that was introduced in 1962 to entice women to attend the races.

Many fillies that compete in the Kennedy Oaks come via the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes that is held the Saturday beforehand. Brazilian Pulse (2010) was one horse to win the Wakeful Stakes and Kennedy Oaks double. More recently Kirramosa (2013) and Aristia (2018) have also done the Wakeful Stakes – VRC Oaks double. The Thousand Guineas earlier in the spring is another race that often provides a good insight into the form of VRC Oaks runners.

Notable VRC Kennedy Oaks winners include Light Fingers (1964), Rose Of Kingston (1981), Miss Finland (2006), Samantha Miss (2008) and Faint Perfume (2009).

Kennedy Oaks Field

The Kennedy Oaks field assembles only the toughest of fillies around which can still battle on late in the spring carnival. There’s plenty working against them in the race so strength and courage count a lot more than promise or future ability. A big Group 1 on a grand stage like the VRC Oaks is a big test of the mental development for a three year old. Add to that the 2500m trip, usually at the very least an extra 100m than what they would have faced in the past.

This is shown quite well be the numbers usually present in the VRC Oaks Field. There is a maximum capacity of 16 plus four emergencies and the race receives hundreds of early nominations every year. Despite this by the time acceptance time rolls around it’s not surprising to see around only a dozen horses considered up to the challenge and even less considered genuine winning chances.

2019 Kennedy Oaks Final Field & Barriers

The 2019 Kennedy Oaks field will be provided here once final acceptances are released.

2019 Kennedy Oaks First Acceptances

The 2019 Kennedy Oaks first acceptances will be released on October 22, 2019 and published below. The Kennedy Oaks field limit is 16 plus four emergencies, so it is entirely possible that the list of Kennedy Oaks first acceptors will be very similar to the final field.

2019 Kennedy Oaks Nominations

The 2019 Kennedy Oaks nominations are released on a Tuesday in late September on the same day as the VRC Derby nominations.

The official 2019 VRC Oaks nominations attracted 95 fillies led in early betting by the Mark Newnham-trained Celestial Falls, Newnham looking to go one better than his second with Greysful Glamour in the race last year.

Read more on the Open Betting for 2019 Kennedy Oaks After Nominations.

Kennedy Oaks Form Guide

The tough nature of the race means form in the VRC Oaks is a lot easier to read than some other events. The race is held in November, by which time most horses should have had a handful of runs and be well and truly at their top fitness level. To qualify for this race the fillies must have proved themselves in the lower grades and as a result many will have clear form lines alongside one and other.

By far the best lead up race to keep an eye on is the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes also run at Flemington a couple of weeks earlier on Derby Day. In fact not only is the form from the Wakeful Stakes to the VRC Oaks one of the best reads in fillies events, it has one of the better strike rate sin all Australian Group 1’s.

In recent times there have been a number of horses which have claimed the Wakeful Stakes before then adding the VRC Oaks as well. Aristia (2018), Kirramosa (2013), Brazilian Pulse (2010), Faint Perfume (2009), Serenade Rose (2005) and Hollow Bullet (2004) all have the honour. In addition to this both Tuesday Joy (2006) and Timbourina (2003) ran second in the Group 2 before stepping up and winning the Group 1.

Kennedy Oaks Betting

Given the excellent read of form and the relatively small pack of winning chances it’s no surprise to see the VRC Oaks betting up the top as one of the most lucrative races in the country. The set weight conditions only add to the punters confidence with the best horse on the day almost exclusively winning. Betting is  always closely entwined with the form available so professional punters see this race as one of their better opportunities of the year.

Flemington Racecourse plays its part as well, the wide open and even track meaning  there is no need to account for track bias and the barrier draw isn’t quite as crucial. That’s not to say it’s irrelevant though and the booking of a good jockey is always key to having the best chance for success. The trainer plays a big role as well, it takes an experienced hand to keep a horse at its peak later in a prep and if they peak too early they could cost themselves and the punters a lot of money.

Kennedy Oaks Odds

The Kennedy Oaks Odds cater for both types of punters quite well with almost a split in the market right down the middle. The majority of time there will be a clear favourite, a horse that punters are prepared to back and back hard to get the victory. This confidence is built up around all the factors spoken about earlier including previous form, set weight conditions, track conditions and all the rest of it. They have a decent strike rate with the favourites as well with punters seeming to have the VRC Oaks worked out fairly well.

On the other side of things there are the roughie backers, punters prepared to excuse one or two issues with a horse on the promise that it is probably over the odds in the market. It’s usually only when there is a clear cut favourite that you get these opportunities so plenty of people load up on runners well into double figure odds. While they may not hit as often, when they do they hit big and especially in the place pools it’s not an uncommon sight. A wet track can knock this process completely out of whack as well, especially if the majority of previous form is across dead or good surfaces.

Kennedy Oaks Tips

When you go through your Kennedy Oaks Tips it’s likely that you’ll find a couple of trends separated from the pack. There will be at least one, potentially two or three horses that the majority of people give a good chance to win. Much of this information will come out of the Wakeful Stakes given that there are only a couple of races which regularly provide any solid lead up information.

If you want to find a runner from further adrift then it’s probably better to look at horse coming from a more unique lead up. If a favourite has beaten his rivals convincingly before it’s better to look for a horse coming from interstate or even one jumping up in grade after some consistent performances. It’s not out of the realms of possibility that a previously beaten horse could improve and turn the tables on the leader but in that scenario you’re usually relying on plenty of luck and some unfavourable conditions for the favourite. Remember as well to shop around for the best odds after you select your tips, often you’ll find online bookmakers offering significantly better markets on the VRC Oaks than the normal TAB.

Kennedy Oaks Day

Kennedy Oaks Day is well and truly one of the favourites of the spring carnival given its spot on the calendar as well as the way the day has been transformed into a social event. The meeting itself is held on a Thursday every year in the first week or so of November. It is run two days after the Melbourne Cup meaning it feeds off the buzz still lingering from Australia’s most popular racing event. It is the third day of the four day Flemington racing carnival and is easily one of the most important race meetings held in the country every year.

Kennedy Oaks Day as developed into a celebration not only for horse racing but also for women in the horse racing industry. It has been dubbed the ladies day of the carnival and when the fillies are taking centre stage on track they’re also the centre of attention off track as well. Live entertainment, masses of corporate marquees, the biggest fashions on the field events and the who’s who of the celebrity world all have a habit of making a big impact throughout the Kennedy Oaks Day program.

Kennedy Oaks Day Results

It wouldn’t be a genuine Group 1 without some fantastic moments in history and the VRC Oaks Results have shown just how good Australian horse racing has been over the years. The best sire’s have been represented by their progeny and many of these winners have gone on to be successful breeders in their own right. Connections face a most welcome dilemma after their filly wins this event, just how long do they continue a racing career which obviously has so much talent before they decide to cash in on their lofty broodmare value.

Full 2019 Kennedy Oaks Results & Finishing Order

To be announced on Thursday November 7, 2019.

VRC Oaks Past Winners

While there are plenty of successful horses littered throughout the VRC Oaks Winners List there are a couple on particular which catch the eye. In 1981 first came Rose Of Kingston and just three years later in 1994 half sister Spirit Of Kingston. After that was the likes of Research in 1988 and Kensington Place in 1997. One of the very best though is a more recent champion, Miss Finland becoming VRC Oaks champion in 2006 as part of a highly successful racing career.

Below you will find a list of VRC Oaks winners, results and winning times since the year 2000.