VRC Kennedy Oaks 2022

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the VRC Kennedy Oaks:

The VRC Kennedy Oaks is a Group One race over 2,500m and is run at Flemington Racecourse. The race, run exclusively for three-year-old fillies, is the headline act on the Thursday of Melbourne Cup week and is run under set weights conditions with a total prizemoney pool of $1,000,000. This year’s VRC Kennedy Oaks will be run on Thursday, November 3rd and was won by Willowy in 2021.

Oaks Day, which is on the Thursday of Melbourne Cup Week, is home to the VRC Kennedy Oaks – a 2,500m Group One race exclusively for three-year-old fillies. Run under set weights, 56kg, the Oaks holds a total prizemoney pool of $1M and is often the furthest test for the three-year-old fillies, at the young stage of their careers.

Being run first in 1861, won by Palestine, the VRC Oaks has seen some incredible mares kick start their career in the race, as fillies. Evening Peal and Light Fingers both won the VRC Oaks in one year then won the Melbourne Cup in the next.

Surround is one of the best to ever win the Oaks, having a spectacular three-year-old season that saw her take out the Cox Plate, then the VRC Oaks before winning the Australian Oaks in the Autumn preparation.

Research was another filly to have an incredible three-year-old season, winning the VRC Oaks in Spring before being the first filly to complete the AJC Derby and AJC Oaks in Autumn.

Miami Bound won the race in 2019 but has only been able to win one race since then, the G2 Moonee Valley Cup in 2020. Personal, the 2020 winner of the VRC Oaks who ran the second fastest time over the last 10 years, followed a similar path to Miami Bound by failing to win a race in her three-year-old Autumn preparation.

The VRC Kennedy Oaks is an Australian Group One race that brings the best three-year-old fillies to the races and it also attracts the attention of many Aussies who like to have a casual punt. Our expert tipsters will put together a short list of VRC Kennedy Oaks tips to look out for in the leadup to the big race.

Given nominations are yet to be accepted for the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks, it is hard to provide any updates at this time. However, as the Spring Carnival gets going, the horses that are targeting this race will become clearer and we will be able to provide you with updates. If you are after VRC Kennedy Oaks horse tips, then we will keep you informed with which horses are likely to be running, so you can place your futures bets with confidence!

We will list The Sharks’ VRC Kennedy Oaks best tips for the race this year closer to the time of the race. Make sure you check back on this page for updates!

VRC Kennedy Oaks Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the VRC Kennedy Oaks in 2022 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the VRC Kennedy Oaks is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available. Stay tuned, or alternatively you can chat to The Shark to get the best tips for every day!

Due to the size and quality of the field, the VRC Kennedy Oaks can be a difficult race to find a winner in. However, the Shark is always analysing every aspect of the race and we have found some important factors when trying to find the VRC Kennedy Oaks top bets.

Is Two-Year-Old Form Vital for VRC Kennedy Oaks success?

When looking at the VRC Kennedy Oaks betting tips, two-year-old form is actually not required. Four of the last six winners of the Oaks didn’t win a race as a two-year-old and two of the six didn’t even race as a two-year-old.

Personal (2020) is the only winner over the last six years to have won a race as a two-year-old. However, the filly only won one of her four races in her first season and it was just a two-year-old handicap race, coming 3rd in the Blue Diamond and 12th in the Golden Slipper. Willowy (2021) didn’t race as a two-year-old.

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the VRC Kennedy Oaks?

While just one of the last 11 winners have had double digit odds, it is actually best to bet around the favourite. In fact, just two of the last 10 favourites have actually come out on top in the VRC Kennedy Oaks, Kirramosa at $2.70 in 2013 and Willowy at $3.70 in 2021.

Over the last five years, the second favourite has won twice and the third favourite has won twice, with odds ranging between $4.20 and $6. Lasqueti Spirit is the one outlier, who won the race in 2016 despite having lost her previous nine races and jumping at $101. Personal won in 2020 when jumping as third favourite, priced at $6, while Miami Bound was second favourite in 2019 with a price of $4.20.

Formlines Heading into the VRC Kennedy Oaks

There are definitely some mixed formlines of the lead up for VRC Kennedy Oaks winners, however each of the last four contested the Wakeful Stakes in the run prior to the Oaks, with Willowy (2021), Miami Bound (2019) and Aristia (2018) winning the Wakeful, while Personal came a narrow second in 2020.

The Ethereal Stakes, Manifold Stakes and Tranquil Star are other races where at least two of the last five winners of the Oaks contested that in the lead-up. In 2020, Personal actually didn’t win any of her four runs in the lead up to the Oaks, contesting it fifth up. The previous four winners before Personal contested the Oaks either sixth or seventh up. Willowy was sixth up when winning in 2021, breaking her maiden in her fourth run of the prep before winning the Wakeful 5th up.

VRC Kennedy Oaks Best Bets

Our tips are not out for the VRC Kennedy Oaks in 2022 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the VRC Kennedy Oaks is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available. Stay tuned, or alternatively you can chat to The Shark to get the best tips for every day!

Long before the VRC Kennedy Oaks field is officially announced online bookies will open early markets, or all-in markets, for VRC Kennedy Oaks betting. This is prime time to bet on your favourite horse, as you might be able to bet on strong contenders for the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks at double-digit odds.

Once the bookies release the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks odds, they will obviously fluctuate frequently in the lead up to the race, especially when we have a better idea of which fillies will be targeting the race and how well they have returned as a three-year-old.

Punting early on these markets can find you a favourite at prices of $10 or more, which will retain you a much higher return on investment. However, there is increased risk with doing this and you should be well aware.

Depending on when you place a futures bet on the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks, your horse may not even run but you won’t get your money back, occurring when the market is ‘All-In’ or closer to the starting date. If you are betting when it says ‘Before Noms’, you have the security of receiving your money back if your horse doesn’t run.

The VRC Kennedy Oaks field has the best staying three-year-old fillies from Australia and abroad. Due to its $1M prizepool and illustrious prestige, the Oaks normally has large fields of quality runners. The final VRC Kennedy Oaks field will be announced at the barrier draw, which is set to take place on Monday, November 1st.

With the 2022 VRC Kennedy Oaks field yet to be determined, let’s take a look back at the 2021 field, headlined by winner Willowy:

With the race yet to be run, we still don’t know what the VRC Kennedy Oaks results for 2022 will be! However, check back in after the race and we will have all of the information on how the big race went and what the results are.

Looking back at the 2021 race, Willowy, underneath Damien Oliver, was able to find the strength to power over the top of Douceur, winning by a head. Biscayne Bay was able to sneak in for third, ahead of Elusive Express (4th) and Daises (5th).

Willowy jumped well from the inside draw and it allowed her to secure a great spot in running throughout. Olly was able to find a back and trail someone into the home straight, forcing his main rivals to go even wider. Douceur kicked for home and looked to be too far ahead to be caught, but Olly gave Willowy everything he had, and she responded, powering to the line for the win.

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2021 VRC Kennedy Oaks race:

Here are the full results from the VRC Kennedy Oaks in 2021:

VRC Kennedy Oaks Winners

The results for the upcoming VRC Kennedy Oaks are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: