VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks 2024 Betting & Tips

The VRC Oaks is one of the most historic Group 1 races on the Victorian Racing Calendar. For the 2023 edition of the VRC Oaks, also known as the Kennedy Oaks due to sponsorship, a whopping $1 million AUD will be up for grabs for the competitors making their way to Flemington Racecourse on Thursday, the 9th of November.

In this preview to the VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks 2023, we will take a look at all the important information, facts, and history of the great VRC Oaks feature race so that you, the Australian horse racing enthusiast, will be best prepared for The 2023 VRC Oaks at Flemington Racecourse.

The Feature Race – The 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks
Our OnlyRacing preview for the 2023 VRC Oaks will begin with a deep dive into the feature race itself coming up on Thursday the 9th of November, as well as previous winners, especially She’s Extreme (champion in the 2022 VRC Oaks), and what we can learn from them. We will also start off by taking a look at the prize money distribution that is proposed for the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks.

Please note that at the time of writing this preview, the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks is still over a month away, therefore tips will not be available as the field is yet to be determined. Please be sure to revisit this page closer to the 9th of November 2023 for a Best Bet, Next Best Bet, and Best Roughie Tip for the 2023 VRC Oaks. Additionally, do not miss out on our OnlyRacing Tips page which will feature a whole host of tips for the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks on top of the full card at the full card at Flemington Racecourse for the meet.

Where to Bet on the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks
The 2023 VRC Oaks will continue with a ‘How to Bet on the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks’ section that will provide punters with the necessary tips on how and where to place their 2023 VRC Oaks bets. We also include a host of pros and cons lists for some of our favourite available Australian bookmakers that offer markets for Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing across the country.

Track History of Flemington Racecourse – Home to the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks
The track history portion of this 2023 VRC Oaks horse racing preview will quickly look at the relationship between Flemington Racecourse and the VRC Oaks (2023 Kennedy Oaks) which dates back to the same starting year as the most famous race in Australia, the Melbourne Cup – also held at Flemington Racecourse. For a full, in-depth look into the makings of Flemington Racecourse, as well as its best features and races of the year, visit our Flemington Racecourse review page.

Race History of the VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks
The penultimate section of this preview to the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks inspects the history of the VRC Oaks race. This portion should help to illuminate the historical value of this great Group 1 thoroughbred horse race and provide the necessary information to avid horse racing enthusiasts to get excited for the 2023 VRC Oaks.

Past Winners of the VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks
OnlyRacing’s 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks preview will conclude with a comprehensive list of previous winners of the VRC Oaks, and the circumstances in which wins were shared, or a race was not run.

The Feature Race – The 2024 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks

2500m VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks 2023 – 2500m

Date: Thursday 9th of November 2023
Time: TBD (AEDT)
Prize Money: $1 million AUD
Location: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria

It is common knowledge at this point that Racing Victoria has absolutely lost their marbles in trying to keep up with the great prize money increases of Racing New South Wales, Queensland Racing, and even the growing South Australian horse racing market. It was released this week that Racing Victoria are pushing for a ‘Jockey Teams’ competition likened to the Big Bash Cricket tournament.

Racing Victoria are clearly misunderstanding the value of the VRC Oaks, in addition to an obvious lack of comprehension towards their greatest source of revenue, the punters. I say that Racing Victoria are undermining the VRC Oaks due to the $1 million prize money remaining equal from the 2022 VRC Oaks to the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks. In comparison to Racing New South Wales’s pledge of $20 million AUD more in prize money, as well as the new feature races being offered to rival Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival, this is a pitiful move, and resources should certainly be poured into larger prize pool for the connections of participants.

In relation to the $1 million AUD on offer to the participants of the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks, we have prepared a table below detailing the distribution of this large sum of money. Understand that the grand prize for winning the 2023 VRC Oaks of $580,000 AUD was the same takings by She’s Extreme who claimed the title in the 2022 VRC Oaks.

Placing	Prize Money
1st	$580,000
2nd	$190,000
3rd	$98,000
4th	$44,000
5th	$22,000
6th, 7th, and 8th	$10,000
9th and 10th	$8,000

2022 VRC Oaks Results

Now that you have an idea as to what the participants of the 2023 VRC Oaks are fighting for, in addition to the title and prestige that comes along with the money, we are going to look at the results and winner of the 2022 VRC Oaks. Please note that the odds provided in the table below are from PlayUp recorded and archived at the time of the jump for the 2022 VRC Oaks.

2022 VRC Oaks Finish	Horse Information (Name – Number & Gate, Trainer, Jockey)	Odds
1	1. She's Extreme (1) T: Anthony Cummings J: Tommy Berry	$2.35
2	4. Pavitra (10) T: R & W Freedman J: Ms Jamie Kah	$12.00
3	8. Queen Air (7) T: Lindsey Smith J: Blaike McDougall	$7.50
4	2. Zennzella (6) T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace J: James McDonald	$6.00
5	7. As Time Goes By (5) T: A & S Freedman J: Ben Melham	$15.00
6	6. Letsbefrankbaby (3) T: R Griffiths & M De Kock J: Lachlan King	$26.00
7	5. Foxy Cleopatra (9) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Blake Shinn	$10.00
8	9. Sirius Princess (11) T: Trevor J Andrews J: Dean Holland	$151.00
9	3. Renaissance Woman (8) T: Bjorn Baker J: Ms Rachel King	$10.00
10	11. Albanian Icon (2) T: Paul Koumis J: Ms Alana Kelly	$151.00
11	10. Makrana (4) T: M & L Kavanagh J: Michael Dee	$51.00

Please Note: All odds are provided by PlayUp.

The winner of the 2022 VRC Oaks was She’s Extreme, a young filly who claimed her first ever Group 1 victory this time last year. She's Extreme has been very consistent since being foaled, placing close to the winnings in her previous races coming into the 2022 VRC Oaks. On her third outing as a 2-year-old, she almost claimed her maiden victory, before placing second and seventh in her following two races, twice losing to Fireburn in the process.

She was able to defeat Fireburn, who has previously won the Golden Slipper in last year’s 2022 VRC Oaks along with all other competitors! It is important to remember that there was some hype around She’s Extreme going into the 2022 VRC Oaks due to the sheer level of consistent excellency she had shown up until that point, and it was expected that with more races under her belt and a bit more experience she would be a champion. Lo and behold, She’s Extreme won almost $600,000 AUD as first place in the 2022 VRC Oaks.

To round at the placings and majority of the cash on offer for 2022 VRC Oaks runners, Pavitra came second, and Queen Air third. Both coming in as underdogs according to PlayUp due to the amount of money backing She’s Extreme into a $2.35 favourite, Pavitra ($12.00) did well to cash some nice place bets, as did Queen Air who was jockeyed well on the day by Blaike McDougall.

Going into the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks which is slated to run on Thursday the 9th of November 2023 at Flemington Racecourse, we can expect some electric three-year-old fillies to shine and make a name for themselves going forward. This would follow the trend of many winners that have come before.

Below is a table that shows the placings for VRC Oaks races dating back to 2000! This list also includes winning time so you can compare the best of the winners. Please scroll down to the bottom of this 2023 VRC Oaks preview for a full list of every champion of the VRC Oaks, from Palestine in the 1861 VRC Oaks, to She’s Extreme in the 2022 Kennedy Oaks.

Edition	Winner	Second Place	Third Place	Winning Time
2022 VRC Oaks	She’s Extreme	Pavitra	Queen Air	2:39.14
2021 VRC Oaks	Willowy	Douceur	Biscayne Bay	2:40.99
2020 VRC Oaks	Personal	Salto Angel	Montefilia	2:36.98
2019 VRC Oaks	Miami Bound	Never Listen	Moonlight Maid	2:38.32
2018 VRC Oaks	Aristia	Greysful Glamour	Miner’s Miss	2:40.54
2017 VRC Oaks	Pinot	Bring Me Roses	Hiyaam	2:37.25
2016 VRC Oaks	Lasqueti Spirit	Harlow Gold	Eleonora	2:37.73
2015 VRC Oaks	Jameka	Honesta	Ambience	2:43.34
2014 VRC Oaks	Set Square	Thunder Lady	Golconda	2:39.33
2013 VRC Oaks	Kirramosa	Zanbagh	Solicit	2:40.64
2012 VRC Oaks	Dear Demi	Zydeco	Summerbliss	2:35.88
2011 VRC Oaks	Mosheen	Dowager Queen	Roma Giaconda	2:39.39
2010 VRC Oaks	Brazilian Pulse	Shamrocker	Placement	2:41.64
2009 VRC Oaks	Faint Perfume	Valdemoro	Savsbelle	2:37.2
2008 VRC Oaks	Samantha Miss	Miss Scarlatti	Allez Wonder	2:37.5
2007 VRC Oaks	Arapaho Miss	Serious Speed	Marjorie	2:36.8
2006 VRC Oaks	Miss Finland	Tuesday Joy	Anamato	2:37.2
2005 VRC Oaks	Serenade Rose	Florica Danica	Empress Lily	2:36.3
2004 VRC Oaks	Hollow Bullet	Kylikwong	Storm Alert	2:31.2
2003 VRC Oaks	Special Harmony	Dane Belltar	Timbourina	2:39.0
2002 VRC Oaks	Bulla Borghese	Lashed	Antique	2:36.3
2001 VRC Oaks	Magical Miss	Manang	Li Lo Lill	2:34.7
2000 VRC Oaks	Lovelorn	Lan Kwai Fong	Lolita Star	2:35.3

How to Bet on the 2024 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks

In some of my other previews to Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing events such as the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks, I will give out tips on how to figure out which available Australian bookmaker is the best idea for each person. However, for this preview to the 2023 VRC Oaks, I will provide a few different types of bets that I like for major meets and races such as the one coming up on November 9th at Flemington Racecourse.

Before getting into some of the markets I will be looking at for the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks, be sure to look through our in-depth Bookmaker Reviews to learn more about our favourite, most trustworthy Australian bookies, the services they can provide to you the punter, and how they stand out in what has become one of the most saturated markets in Australia, with great thanks to Betmakers.

If you are an enthusiastic horse racing lover like us all, then betting on the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks is practically a requirement, it should be a given. There will be a large variety of markets available to wager on during the early November Spring Racing Carnival in Victoria (as well as around Australia), with certain bookmakers, like Midasbet and PlayUp (see pros and cons table below), offering a comprehensive selection of Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing betting options.

To cover the full meet, my suggestion would be to place your punts on a variety of markets throughout the meet at Flemington Racecourse on Thursday the 9th of November 2023. I'll be betting on a bunch of fixed win/place odd singles for majority of the races, as well as some exotics like a quinella, a trifecta, and a first-four on each of the bigger races including the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks feature race itself.

In order to compete for a share of the pooled funds in that market, I will also be placing bets on the early and regular Quaddie markets with one of the bookies I have provided pros and cons tables for below. Finally, I'll make a multi-bet on a few of my best bet punts from the entire Flemington Racecourse meet.

One of the markets I am considering playing around with, but have not found much success with personally, is the Same Race-Multi feature on lots of available Australian bookmakers that offer markets on our best Group 1 thoroughbred horse races. See below, as well as our comprehensive Bookmaker Reviews page to find out which bookies offer a Same Race Multi market.

Track History of Flemington Racecourse – Home to the 2024 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks

The VRC Oaks has been intertwined with the history of Flemington Racecourse for the same amount of time as the Melbourne Cup has, both being inaugurated in 1861! That first edition, the 1861 VRC Oaks (before any Kennedy sponsorship) was won by Palestine. Since then a whole array of Australian champions and young up and comers have come through Flemington Racecourse and claimed victory in the VRC Oaks.

Whilst Flemington Racecourse is one of the best and most storied racing venues across Australia, it would feel unjust to try to fit the illustrious history of Flemington Racecourse in a section of this 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks preview. Therefore, I suggest checking out our Flemington Racecourse dedicated page which will illuminate the reasons and most important milestones that have made Flemington Racecourse arguably Australia’s most notable track.

Race History of the VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks

The history of the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks lies upon over 150 iterations of the almost the exact same race!

The name, the VRC Oaks was a standalone race name, the namesake of the Victorian Racing Club that birthed it at Flemington Racecourse in 1861. From 1861 to 2006 this remained a constant, 145 VRC Oaks were run under the same name. In 2007 this changed when Crown sponsored the event for the next decade. From 2017 however, Kennedy stepped into the picture and the race became known as the Kennedy Oaks. Nowadays, the 2023 Kennedy Oaks is wholly interchangeable with the 2023 VRC Oaks.

In terms of distance, this too has remained near identical since the 1861 VRC Oaks. The first 110 editions of the VRC Oaks were 1.5 mile races, or the equivalent of 2400 metres. From 1973 and on, the VRC Oaks has been run at a distance of 2500 metres.

A fun look at the recorded attendances at the VRC Oaks held at Flemington Racecourse since 2000 will show you the perhaps decrease in interest in the VRC Oaks due to other, more lucrative races popping up in other states.

2022 – 45,046
2021 – 10,000; please note this was maximum attendance due to imposed restrictions as a result of COVID-19
2020 – 0; please note this was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance was prohibited
2019 – 57,296
2018 – 61,355
2017 – 63,673
2016 – 60,888
2015 – 57,560
2014 – 64,430
2013 – 66,757
2012 – 71,825
2011 – 71,659
2010 – 75,088
2009 – 80,112
2008 – 89,338
2007 – 95,230
2006 – 104,131
2005 – 100,263
2004 – 110,677
2003 – 101,179
2002 – 103,269
2001 – 101,201
2000 – 96,406

To round out this penultimate portion of OnlyRacing’s 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks preview, let’s discuss some of the more notable winners in previous years. More specifically, the champions that won other big races that year.

Research – the 1988 VRC Oaks champion also went on to win the 1989 Australian Oaks/Australian Derby double!
Other notable winners include some names that went on to have great careers including Mosheen (2011 VRC Oaks champion – 2011 Crown Oaks champion), and Miss Finland (victor in the 2006 VRC Oaks feature race)

Past Winners of the VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks

To conclude this preview to the 2023 VRC Oaks – Kennedy Oaks, we have compiled a list of every winner of the VRC Oaks since its inception in 1861 where the race was won by Palestine. The list goes all the way up to the most recent VRC Oaks race, won in 2022 by She’s Extreme.

2022 - She's Extreme
2021 - Willowy
2020 - Personal
2019 - Miami Bound
2018 - Aristia
2017 - Pinot
2016 - Lasqueti Spirit
2015 - Jameka
2014 - Set Square
2013 - Kirramosa
2012 - Dear Demi
2011 - Mosheen
2010 - Brazilian Pulse
2009 - Faint Perfume
2008 - Samantha Miss
2007 - Arapaho Miss
2006 - Miss Finland
2005 - Serenade Rose
2004 - Hollow Bullet
2003 - Special Harmony
2002 - Bulla Borghese
2001 - Magical Miss
2000 - Lovelorn
1999 - Tributes
1998 - Grand Archway
1997 - Kensington Palace
1996 - My Brightia
1995 - Saleous
1994 - Northwood Plume
1993 - Arborea
1992 - Slight Chance
1991 - Richfield Lady
1990 - Weekend Delight
1989 - Tristanagh
1988 - Research
1987 - Sandy's Pleasure
1986 - Diamond Shower
1985 - My Tristram's Belle
1984 - Spirit Of Kingston
1983 - Taj Eclipse
1982 - Rom's Stiletto
1981 - Rose Of Kingston
1980 - November Rain
1979 - Brava Jeannie
1978 - Scomeld
1977 - Show Ego
1976 - Surround
1975 - Denise's Joy
1974 - Leica Show
1973 - Bonnybel
1972 - Toltrice
1971 - Kiss Me Cait
1970 - Sanderae
1969 - Goliette
1968 - Double Steel
1967 - Chosen Lady
1966 - Farmer's Daughter
1965 - Gipsy Queen
1964 - Light Fingers
1963 - Jingle Bells
1962 - Arctic Star
1961 - Indian Summer
1960 - Lady Sybil
1959 - Mintaway
1958 - Chicola
1957 - Amarco
1956 - Innesfell
1955 - Evening Peal
1954 - Lady Mogambo
1953 - Waltzing Lady
1952 - Waterlady
1951 - Lady Havers
1950 - True Course
1949 - Chicquita
1948 - Grey Nurse
1947 - Nizam's Ring
1946 - Sweet Chime
1945 - Cherie Marie
1944 - Provoke
1943 - Three Wheeler
1942 - East End
1941 - Primavera
1940 - Session
1939 - Triode
1938 - French Gem
1937 - Prairie Moon
1936 - Siren
1935 - Nalda
1934 - Alinura
1933 - Golden Hair
1932 - Protea
1931 - Gallantic
1930 - Barbette
1929 - Lineage
1928 - Opera Queen
1927 - Ninbela
1926 - Lanson
1925 - Redshank
1924 - Miss Disraeli
1923 - Frances Tressady
1922 - Scarlet
1921 - Furious
1920 - Mufti
1919 - Hyades
1918 - Stagegirl
1917 - Folly Queen
1916 - Thana
1915 - Rosanna
1914 - Carlita
1913 - Mint Sauce
1912 - Moe
1911 - Wilari
1910 - Styria
1909 - Lady San
1908 - Nushka
1907 - Lady Rylstone
1906 - Yabba Gabba
1905 - Lady Wallace
1904 - Red Streak
1903 - Sweet Nell
1902 - Fishery
1901 - Beanba
1900 - Haulette
1899 - Nitre
1898 - Symmetry
1897 - Eleusive
1896 - Thunder Queen
1895 - Auraria
1894 - Regina
1893 - The Dauphine
1892 - Etra Weenie
1891 - Tiraillerie
1890 - Litigant
1889 - Spice
1888 - Pearlshell
1887 - Dainty
1886 - The Nun
1885 - Uralla
1884 - Venetia
1883 - Quality
1882 - Vaucluse
1881 - Royal Maid
1880 - Sapphire
1879 - Petrea
1878 - Melita
1877 - Pardon
1876 - Briseis
1875 - Maid Of All Work
1874 - Gaslight
1873 - Rose D'amour
1872 - Sunshine
1871 - Formosa
1870 - Florence
1869 - Kestrel
1868 - My Dream
1867 - Sylvia
1866 - Sea Gull
1865 - Lady Heron
1864 - Illumination
1863 - Aruma
1862 – Modesty
1861 - Palestine

Hopefully this preview for the 2023 VRC Oaks, also known as the 2023 Kennedy Oaks, has assisted you in gaining knowledge towards the historied Group 1 thoroughbred horse race, and provided you with some ideas of where to punt and what punts to place come race day at Flemington Racecourse on the 9th of November 2023.

Be sure to check back in closer to the time for some tips for the 2023 VRC Oaks, as well as visit the OnlyRacing Tips page for a full slate of Flemington Racecourse tips for the meet, in addition to critical insights and analysis.