Join Ladbrokes Races.com.au Favourite Bookmaker!
Join Ladbrokes through Races.com.au and be ready when the gates open.
Code used for tracking purposes only.
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Join Ladbrokes Races.com.au Favourite Bookmaker!
Join Ladbrokes through Races.com.au and be ready when the gates open.
Code used for tracking purposes only.
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Once the 166th edition of the iconic Melbourne Cup race is run and won on Tuesday attention at Flemington will turn to Thursday’s key Group 1 staying feature for the fillies, and the Races.com.au team are here with our insider 2026 VRC Oaks betting preview, field tips and predictions for the million-dollar clash.
The highlight of Day 3 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the 2026 Crown Oaks – also known as the VRC Oaks – features one of the best fields in recent memory with a stack of talented three-year-old fillies coming off hot form ready to do battle in the gruelling 2500m event.
The well supported favourite in VRC Oaks betting at Ladbrokes paying a short $2.70 (out from $2.45) to keep her flawless record intact is the David Payne-trained Proxima Dea who has been nothing short of brilliant since her devastatingly close win on debut at Randwick paying 40/1 on a Heavy (9) track back in July.
The daughter of Tarzino has gone from strength-to-strength since and is yet to taste defeat going on to win her next four starts on the trot including back-to-back Sydney wins over the boys this spring.
Fresh, she denied Wonka in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) where she never gave up showing true guts to get the job done in her first Black-Type assignment.
Her quick progression through the grades continued as Payne sent her into the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and she delivered, giving all her heart to beat Global Goal by 1.5 lengths in a big late charge.
Payne was supremely confident after she collected the Group 1 trophy that the extra 500m in the Oaks would present zero issues, and now she’s out to prove that and salute for the punters with Thursday marking her first go in the Melbourne direction.
Gun young hoop Zac Lloyd, who will ride British raider Hopewell Rock in the 2026 Melbourne Cup, is also flying and continues associations in another tick.
The downside for VRC Oaks favourite backers? Proxima Dea drew out in the carpark with barrier 19, which will become gate 15 at best with emergencies out, and she’ll have to buck the stats to become the widest-drawn winner in over 25 years.
That hasn’t stopped the punters coming for her however as she’s predicted to cross, lead and go all-the-way to VRC Oaks glory come Thursday afternoon.
The danger in the latest VRC Oaks odds paying $3.30 and firming is the Chris Waller-trained market mover De Armas.
The Kiwi-bred daughter of Ardrossan had opposite luck in the VRC Oaks barrier draw coming up trumps with the inside alley which last produced a winner in 2022 with She’s Extreme.
James McDonald is arguably the world’s best hoop and the fact he comes aboard for De Armas’ big assignment this week is a huge tick.
She was ridden to Derby Day victory last Saturday by Blake Shinn who gave her a prime ride to take out the traditional Oaks lead-up in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes and, while she’s a tricky filly to keep balanced, J-Mac is a master and should have it covered.
Treasurethe Moment (2024) was the last to do the Wakeful Stakes – VRC Oaks double, and the money is coming for De Armas to be the next.
In a tight top half of the markets the other single-figure Oaks contender paying $6.50 at time of publish is the consistent Ciaron Maher-trained Icelady.
Maher has seven stayers lining up in the Melbourne Cup 2026 field, and he’s also in with a big winning Oaks chance two days later with Maurice filly Icelady who doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
She’s finished out of the top three just once in her seven starts to date but her sole success came in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude three runs back.
Following that she was brave at double figures when second to Saintly Dancer in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas over the mile before her third with merit in the Wakeful which she’ll be out to improve on up in distance from a favourable barrier four draw for jockey Ethan Brown.
Another filly on a quick turnaround after a big run last weekend and one that’s flying under the radar at $12 with Ladbrokes is the impressive Quick Finish for Tony & Calvin McEvoy.
The McEvoy’s certainly know how to prepare a genuine stayer having won the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double with Half Yours in 2025, and they look to have a very good type on their hands with this daughter of Grunt.
Quick Finish won three on the trot including the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes before being thrown into the deep end as a 20/1 outsider in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) against the colt.
Showing great tenacity, she placed third to Stormy Marco over the same track and trip she returns to back against her own kind on Thursday and from barrier five with Jye McNeil retaining the ride she’ll get every chance to get back in winning form.
The 2026 Crown Oaks is set to run as Flemington Race 8 at 5:10pm (AEDT) on Thursday.
2026 VRC Oaks Best Bets
Favourite: No. No. 1 Proxima Dea
| 1. Proxima Dea (19) 56kg11111 | |||
| Unbeaten after five appearances. Last start raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.5 len in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 24 over 2000m defeating Global Goal with 54.5kg at $3.70. Before that ran on from midfield and won by a neck in the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on October 10 over 1800m defeating Wonka carrying 54.5kg at $4. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 4 De Armas
| 4. De Armas (1) 56kgx5241 | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start came from midfield and won by 1.3 len in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m defeating Girl With A Pearl carrying 56kg at $3.60. The start before that 4th of 12 in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 17 over 1600m, 3 len behind Saintly Dancer carrying 56kg at $8.50. | |||
Best Roughie: No. 3 Quick Finish
| 3. Quick Finish (5) 56kg51113 | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start held ground to the line 3rd of 16 in the G1 Victoria Derby at this track on October 31 over 2500m, 3.5 len behind Stormy Marco carrying 55kg at $21. The race before that won by 0.5 len in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m defeating Your Colour carrying 56kg at $15. Well placed. | |||
2026 VRC Oaks Same Race Multi Selections
$9 (at time of publish) through Ladbrokes
- Top 3 – No. 1 Proxima Dea
- Top 3 – No. 4 De Armas
- Top 4 – No. 3 Quick Finish
VRC Oaks 2026 Odds
| 1. Proxima Dea (19) 56kg11111 | |||
| Unbeaten after five appearances. Last start raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.5 len in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 24 over 2000m defeating Global Goal with 54.5kg at $3.70. Before that ran on from midfield and won by a neck in the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on October 10 over 1800m defeating Wonka carrying 54.5kg at $4. | |||
| 2. Icelady (4) 56kgx2123 | |||
| Recent form sound. Most recently set the pace for much of the race 3rd of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 2.75 len behind De Armas carrying 57kg at $3.60. Before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 12 in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 17 over 1600m, 1.3 len behind Saintly Dancer with 56kg at $11. Well placed. | |||
| 3. Quick Finish (5) 56kg51113 | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start held ground to the line 3rd of 16 in the G1 Victoria Derby at this track on October 31 over 2500m, 3.5 len behind Stormy Marco carrying 55kg at $21. The race before that won by 0.5 len in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m defeating Your Colour carrying 56kg at $15. Well placed. | |||
| 4. De Armas (1) 56kgx5241 | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start came from midfield and won by 1.3 len in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m defeating Girl With A Pearl carrying 56kg at $3.60. The start before that 4th of 12 in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 17 over 1600m, 3 len behind Saintly Dancer carrying 56kg at $8.50. | |||
| 5. Voynichese (7) 56kgx8777 | |||
| Last start 7th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 6 len behind De Armas with 56kg at $18. The race before that 7th of 14 in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m, 2 len behind Quick Finish carrying 57kg at $8. | |||
| 6. Salann (12) 56kgx8063 | |||
| Most recently 3rd of 11 in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase at this track on October 24 over 2040m, 2.25 len behind True Rebel with 55kg at $7. Before that from last on the turn 6th of 12 in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 17 over 1600m, 3.5 len behind Saintly Dancer with 56kg at $101. Made headway last time. | |||
| 7. Churchill Rose (10) 56kg62124 | |||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 4 len behind De Armas with 55kg at $19. The race before that gave a sight but was run down late 2nd of 8 in the LR Hill Smith Stakes at Morphettville on October 17 over 1800m, head behind Kosaji carrying 55kg at $15. | |||
| 8. Your Colour (14) 56kg01320 | |||
| At the latest run 11th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 7 len behind De Armas with 55kg at $5. The race before that 2nd of 14 in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m, 0.5 len behind Quick Finish carrying 56kg at $9. | |||
| 9. Joely (18) 56kg1627 | |||
| At the latest run 7th of 11 in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase at this track on October 24 over 2040m, 4 len behind True Rebel carrying 55kg at $4.40. The start before that 2nd of 11 in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1600m, on heavy track; 6 len behind Saintly Dancer carrying 56kg at $14. | |||
| 10. Expensive Taste (11) 56kg74625 | |||
| Most recently 5th of 13 in the LR Geelong Classic on October 21 over 2200m, 4.5 len behind Murshidi carrying 55kg at $31. The run before that 2nd of 14 in a Mdn-Sw at Ballarat on September 30 over 2016m, 2.25 len behind Sister’s Run carrying 55kg at $5. | |||
| 11. Notified (15) 56kg12488 | |||
| Most recently 8th of 14 in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m, 2 len behind Quick Finish with 56kg at $91. The start before that got back early 8th of 12 in the LR Super Impose Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1800m, in the wet; 11 len behind Miss Waititi carrying 55kg at $20. | |||
| 12. Refuse To Curtsy (13) 56kg0x413 | |||
| Last start 3rd of 14 in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m, 1.0 len behind Quick Finish carrying 56kg at $26. The race before that ran on from midfield and won by 1.75 len in a 3yo Mdn-Sw at Kilmore on September 28 over 1450m defeating Levent carrying 56kg at $2. | |||
| 13. Nikitria (16) 56kgx1056 | |||
| At the latest run 6th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 6 len behind De Armas with 55kg at $20. The start before that from last on the turn 5th of 8 in a 3yo Bm70 at Caulfield on October 14 over 1600m, 3.5 len behind Mister Whiskers carrying 56.5kg at $17. | |||
| 14. Waiheke Rose (6) 56kg251 | |||
| Last start favourite; won by 3 len in a F&M Mdn at Kembla Grange on October 10 over 1500m defeating Satin Serenade carrying 57.5kg at $2.70. The run before that faded in the straight 5th of 8 in a F&M Mdn at Newcastle on September 18 over 1400m, 1.2 len behind Your Colour carrying 58kg at $1.75. | |||
| 15. Tharwa (17) 56kg43249 | |||
| Most recently 9th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 7 len behind De Armas carrying 55kg at $8.50. The race before that 4th of 14 in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m, 1.1 len behind Quick Finish with 56kg at $14. | |||
| 16. Shameful Impulse (8) 56kg51395 | |||
| Last start 5th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 5.5 len behind De Armas carrying 55kg at $101. The start before that 9th of 14 in a G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 2000m, 5 len behind Quick Finish carrying 56kg at $61. | |||
| 17. Quynh (3) 56kgx4410 | |||
| Last start got back early 10th of 17 in the G2 Wakeful Stakes at this track on October 31 over 2000m, 7 len behind De Armas carrying 55kg at $61. Before that came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in a 3yo Mdn-Sw at Bendigo on October 17 over 1600m defeating Adakite carrying 56kg at $9. | |||
| 18. Little Ally Bama (2) 56kg5431 | |||
| Most recently won by a nose in a Mdn-Sw at Horsham on October 18 over 2100m defeating Courting carrying 55kg at $2.50. Before that 3rd of 9 in a Mdn-Sw at Geelong on October 7 over 1765m, slow going 6 len behind Fringilla with 55kg at $20. | |||
| 19. Courting (20) 56kg0332 | |||
| Last start raced on speed throughout when 2nd of 9 in a Mdn-Sw at Horsham on October 18 over 2100m, nose behind Little Ally Bama carrying 55kg at $1.85. The start before that came from midfield; 3rd of 14 in a Mdn-Sw at Ballarat on September 30 over 2016m, 5.5 len behind Sister’s Run with 55kg at $5.50. | |||
| 20. Chocolate Freckles (9) 56kg682 | |||
| Last start came home strongly from last on the turn; 2nd of 10 in a Mdn-Sw at Mornington on October 22 over 1500m, long-neck behind Top Rich with 55kg at $19. The run before that 8th of 12 in a F&M Mdn-Sw at Kyneton on October 8 over 1203m, on a slow track; 5 len behind Blue Dream with 53.5kg at $101. | |||
