We have expert tips for the Kennedy Oaks available.

The Oaks is a time-honoured race held on the third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

Held two days after the Melbourne Cup, the Oaks features the best staying fillies and it has always been one of the highlight races of the carnival. 

Known as the VRC Oaks from 1861-2006, Kennedy took over sponsorship in 2017 and there’s plenty of history attached to the race. It is held on Ladies' Day, the most fashionable race day during carnival and the crowd attendance is significantly building over the last few years.

Over 70,000 people attend the glamourous race day each year and although the “Fashions on the Field” is a big attraction, punters look towards the Oaks as a major betting race.

Some of Australia’s best staying fillies have won the Oaks, including Light Fingers, Surround and Research. They’re greats of the Australian turf and we haven’t yet mentioned more recent names such as Miss Finland, Samantha Miss and Caulfield Cup winner Jameka.

Throughout the course of history there has been many critics stating that the Oaks shouldn’t be held over 2500m on the third day of the carnival, but the Oaks tradition is strong and it’s unlikely to change any time soon.

It’s usually the classy fillies that take home the Kennedy Oaks and punters should look for the favourites when betting this race.

Four of the last 10 favourites have won the Oaks and four have failed to place, including Yankee Rose at 1.90, which finished a disappointing 14th after running well in the Cox Plate prior.

Favourites have a good overall record with 15 favourites winning since 1983 and many of them were well-backed to win. Faint Perfume (1.70), Samantha Miss (1.90) and Tristanagh (1.35) were some of the more heavily-supported winners of the Oaks.

There have been only five winners pay double-figure odds in the last 35 years.

Barrier draws often don’t make much difference over this distance but barriers two and seven have yielded the most winners recently.

The major lead-up to the Oaks is the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes. Held on Victoria Derby Day, the key form guide has produced some quality winners over the years.

The Cox Plate has been used in the past as the three-year-old fillies get into the Cox Plate with 49kg on their back, but they don’t always run well in the Oaks. Samantha Miss was an exception in 2008 when she placed in the Cox Plate before taking out the Oaks.

2017 winner Pinot took out the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield prior to her win, but easily the best race to keep tabs on is the Wakeful, which has produced five recent winners.