Horse Racing » Crown Oaks
Next Running: November 6th 2008
The Crown Oaks (registered as the Vrc Oaks) is a Group 1 Race held every November at Flemington racecourse. It is raced over a distance of 2,500 meters and is run under set weights conditions.
The race is open to three year old filles and carries a prize purse of $750,000.
Important lead-up races to the Crown Oaks:
- Open Handicap
- Cox Plate
- Wakeful Stakes
Flemington Racecourse Information
Flemington is Australia's oldest continuing metropolitan racecourse ' the first race meeting held here was on the rough river flats beside the Maribyrnong River in March 1840.
The track has had several major facelifts, the latest being the resurfacing of the course with 124,000 rolls of kikuyu turf (mixed with a blend of rye and bluegrass) completed in March 2007. The turf was laid above 47 kilometres of pipes installed in a herringbone pattern at a 45 degree angle to the rails to ensure the best possible drainage.
the big flat Flemington track is 30 metres wide and is noted for its 1200m straight from one of three chutes. The long, sweeping turn from the 1300m makes it tough to sit wide, but the spacious, long run home provides opportunities to win from behind.
Previous Winners of the Crown Oaks
| Year | Winner | Wgt | Odds | Time | Jockey/Trainer | Runner-Up | Third |
| 2007 | Arapaho Miss | 55.5 | 7.00 | 2.36.85 | C Brown / P Carey | Serious Speed | Marjorie |
| 2006 | Miss Finland | 55.5 | 2.50 | 2.37.16 | C Williams / D Hayes | Tuesday Joy | Anamato |
| 2005 | Serenade Rose | 55.5 | 2.50 | 2.36.35 | S King / L Freedman | Flora Danica | Empress Lily |
| 2004 | Hollow Bullet | 55.5 | 2.50 | 2.41.28 | D Taggart / J McArdle | Kylikwong | Storm Alert |
| 2003 | Special Harmony | 55.5 | 2.40 | 2.39.04 | D Oliver / L Freedman | Dane Belltar | Timbourina |
| 2002 | Bulla Borghese | 55.5 | 13.00 | 2.36.31 | C Munce / R Quinton | Lashed | Antique |
| 2001 | Magical Miss | 55.5 | 3.00 | 2.34.77 | S Arnold / B Cummings | Manang | Li Lo Lill |
| 2000 | Lovelorn | 55.5 | 21.00 | 2.35.38 | B Prebble / J Hawkes | Lang Kwai Fong | Lolita Star |
Note: Hover over the winning horse above to see it's lead-up form to that race.
Other Major Races around this time
| Date | Race Name | Venue | Distance | Purse |
| November 8th | VRC STAKES (G1) | Flemington | 1,200m | $500,000 |
| November 8th | CANTALA STAKES (G1) | Flemington | 1,600m | $750,000 |
| November 22nd | RAILWAY STAKES (G1) | Ascot | 1,600m | $1,000,000 |
| December 6th | KINGSTON TN CLASSIC (G1) | Ascot | 1,800m | $500,000 |
| January 31st | VRC LIGHTNING STAKES (G1) | Flemington | 1,000m | $500,000 |
