The Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m, $1 million purse, $600,000 to the winner) runs on Thursday, 5 November 2026 at Flemington — Race 8 at 5:10pm AEDT — on Ladies Day, the final day of the VRC Fashions on the Field competition. The fillies’ classic was first run in 1861.
The final field holds 16 three-year-old fillies plus four emergencies, all carrying 56kg set weights. One scratching was noted on the afternoon of November 4.
The favourite is the unbeaten Proxima Dea (trainer David Payne, jockey Zac Lloyd, barrier 19), five wins from five starts including the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 24. She is quoted around $2.25–$2.60 — but from barrier 19 (gate 15 at best with emergencies out) she would have to become the widest-drawn Oaks winner in more than 25 years.
The main danger looks like De Armas (trainer Chris Waller, jockey James McDonald, barrier 1) at around $3.20 and firming, after a 1.3-length win in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on October 31. Icelady (trainer Ciaron Maher, jockey Ethan Brown) at around $7 reunites the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer-jockey combination, while roughie Quick Finish (trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy, jockey Jye McNeil) at $11–$13 recently raced against the colts in the Victoria Derby.
The wide draw is the entire race in a nutshell: if Zac Lloyd can negotiate barrier 19 without burning too much petrol, Proxima Dea’s unbeaten record suggests class will tell. But De Armas from the pole has the perfect launching pad — and Thursday’s Ladies Day crowd should get a thriller either way.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.