Palestine was the inaugural winner of the race now known as the Kennedy Oaks when it was first run in 1861. The event began as a principal race run over 12 furlongs and remained the same for over a century until Australia adopted the metric system and converted the race distance to 2400m in 1972. The following year the length was increased to 2500m and it reached Group 1 status not long after in 1979.

Notable Crown Oaks / Kennedy Oaks winners include Research (1988), Miss Finland (2006), Samantha Miss (2008), and Mosheen (2011).

Ciaron Maher trained back-to-back VRC Oaks winners in 2014 and 2015 with Set Square and Jameka – the latter also winning the following year’s Caulfield Cup.

In 2016 Lasqueti Spirit went down as one of the most impressive Crown Oaks winners in history, leading all the way to score a gutsy win at Crown Oaks odds of $101!

The 2017 VRC Oaks winner Pinot handed Australia’s leading lady of racing Gai Waterhouse with her first win in the spring classic.

In 2018 and 2019 both the Kennedy Oaks winners came off a lead-up win in the Wakeful Stakes with Aristia (2018) and Miami Bound (2019) completing the double on the quick back-up on successive years.

The 2021 Kennedy Oaks winner Willowy saluted for the punters as the $3.70 favourite and became the latest filly to complete the Wakeful – VRC Oaks double with jockey Damien Oliver riding his record equalling eighth VRC Oaks winner.

The 2022 VRC Oaks winner She’s Extreme improved on a lead-up third against the boys in Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) to salute for the punters at Flemington as the $2.30 favourite in Kennedy Oaks betting.

The 2023 VRC Oaks winner was the $2.70 favourite Zardozi prepared by James Cummings and ridden to a brilliant two length victory by James McDonald.

Recent Crown Oaks / VRC Oaks Winners

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2023 Kennedy Oaks	1st	Zardozi	2 minutes 38.59 seconds
	2nd	Aethelflaed
	3rd	Basilinna
2022 Kennedy Oaks	1st	She’s Extreme	2 minutes 39.14 seconds
	2nd	Pavitra
	3rd	Queen Air
2021 Kennedy Oaks	1st	Willowy	2 minutes 40.99 seconds
	2nd	Douceur
	3rd	Biscayne Bay
2020 Kennedy Oaks	1st	Personal	2 minutes 36.98 seconds
	2nd	Salto Angel
	3rd	Montefilia
2019 Kennedy Oaks	1st	Miami Bound	2 minutes 38.32 seconds
	2nd	Never Listen
	3rd	Moonlight Maid
2018 Kennedy Oaks	1st	Aristia	2 minutes 40.54 seconds
	2nd	Greysful Glamour
	3rd	Miner’s Miss
2017 Kennedy Oaks	1st	Pinot	2 minutes 37.25 seconds
	2nd	Bring Me Roses
	3rd	Hiyaam
2016 Crown Oaks	1st	Lasqueti Spirit	2 minutes 37.73 seconds
	2nd	Harlow Gold
	3rd	Eleonora
2015 Crown Oaks	1st	Jameka	2 minutes 43.34 seconds
	2nd	Honesta
	3rd	Ambience
2014 Crown Oaks	1st	Set Square	2 minutes 39.33 seconds
	2nd	Thunder Lady
	3rd	Golconda
2013 Crown Oaks	1st	Kirramosa	2 minutes 40.64 seconds
	2nd	Zanbagh
	3rd	Solicit
2012 Crown Oaks	1st	Dear Demi	2 minutes 35.88 seconds
	2nd	Zydeco
	3rd	Summerbliss
2011 Crown Oaks	1st	Mosheen	2 minutes 39.39 seconds
	2nd	Dowager Queen
	3rd	Roma Giaconda
2010 Crown Oaks	1st	Brazillian Pulse	2 minutes 41.64 seconds
	2nd	Shamrocker
	3rd	Placement
2009 Crown Oaks	1st	Faint Perfume	2 minutes 37.2 seconds
	2nd	Valdemoro
	3rd	Savsbelle
2008 Crown Oaks	1st	Samantha Miss	2 minutes 37.5 seconds
	2nd	Miss Scarlatti
	3rd	Allez Wonder
2007 Crown Oaks	1st	Arapaho Miss	2 minutes 36.8 seconds
	2nd	Serious Speed
	3rd	Aarjorie
2006 Crown Oaks	1st	Miss Finland	2 minutes 37.2 seconds
	2nd	Tuesday Joy
	3rd	Anamato
2005 Crown Oaks	1st	Serenade Rose	2 minutes 36.3 seconds
	2nd	Florica Danica
	3rd	Empress Lily
2004 Crown Oaks	1st	Hollow Bullet	2 minutes 31.2 seconds
	2nd	Kylikwong
	3rd	Storm Alert
2003 Crown Oaks	1st	Special Harmony	2 minutes 39 seconds
	2nd	Dane Belltar
	3rd	Timbourina
2002 Crown Oaks	1st	Bulla Borghese	2 minutes 36.3 seconds
	2nd	Lashed
	3rd	Antique
2001 Crown Oaks	1st	Magical Miss	2 minutes 34.7 seconds
	2nd	Manang
	3rd	Li Lo Lill
2000 Crown Oaks	1st	Lovelorn	2 minutes 35.3 seconds
	2nd	Lan Kwai Fong
	3rd	Lolita Star