The glorious Melbourne Cup Carnival continues at Flemington Racecourse tomorrow as the VRC welcomes racegoers for Kennedy Oaks Day, the third day of Australia’s premier racing festival.

The action is headlined on the track by the three-year-old fillies in the $1 million Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m), a race which dates back to 1861, the same year as the first running of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

The Racing

Group 1 winner She’s Extreme heads TAB markets at $2.60 with trainer Anthony Cummings looking to join his father, nine-time winner Bart, and son James as a Kennedy Oaks-winning trainer. The filly, who won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in the autumn, will be ridden by Tommy Berry, who is also looking for his first Kennedy Oaks.

Among her rivals is Zennzella, winner of the Group 2 Racing and Sports Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Penfolds Victoria Derby Day, while that race’s runner-up Pavitra, third As Time Goes By, fourth Queen Air and fifth Let’sbefrankbaby are also among the field of 11.

The fillies and mares are at the forefront throughout the day with other stakes races including the $200,000 Group 3 Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) as well as the $300,000 10 News First Red Roses Stakes (1100m) and the $175,000 Listed Off the Track Desirable Stakes (1400m), both for the three-year-old fillies.

The $250,000 Inglis Bracelet (1600m), restricted to those fillies and mares bought through an Inglis auction, will be run for the third time.

The Kennedy Oaks undercard will also feature the $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m), restricted to Victorian-based stables who saddled up less than 15 Melbourne metropolitan winners in the 2021-22 season, while the $175,000 G.H. Mumm Century Stakes (1000m) - a race won by eventual Group 1 winners like Temple Of Boom, Lankan Rupee, The Quarterback and Redzel early in their careers - is set to unveil another future sprinting star.

The Fashion

The hotly contested Myer Fashions on the Field competition reaches its crescendo in the Best Dressed and Best Suited categories, with the Cup Week daily finalists set to come up against the digital winners in the National Final at 3:10pm and 3:25pm respectively.

National Final judges will include legendary milliner Stephen Jones OBE, international model and Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Nicole Trunfio, Jaimee Kennedy from Kennedy Watches and Jewellery,  Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassadors Christian Wilkins, Demi Brereton and Aaron Mitchell, Myer Ambassador Kris Smith and Myer Fashions on the Field Ambassadors Tayla Damir and Tim Kano.

Winners and finalists of Myer Fashions on the Field will share in an amazing suite of prizes from Myer, Kennedy Watches & Jewellery, TCL and Sofitel Melbourne On Collins. The VRC’s Principal Partner Lexus also continues to show their incredible support of the competition, with the overall winners of the Best Dressed and Best Suited categories each receiving a brand-new Lexus UX 200 2WD Luxury vehicle. 

The Birdcage

The world-renowned Birdcage Enclosure will play host to an array of celebrities including footballer Christian Petracca in Kennedy, racing royalty Kate Waterhouse in Lexus, media personality Nikki Phillips in G.H.Mumm, supermodel Nicole Trunfio and Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Christian Wilkins and father Richard Wilkins in Villa Paradiso.

The stars of the Australian Equestrian Team will also be at Flemington tomorrow. Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy has won three gold medals, two silvers and a bronze, including team silver and individual bronze at last year’s Tokyo Games in eventing. He will be joined by his Tokyo team-mate Shane Rose, Australian team-mate from this year’s World Championships Shenae Lowings, Sydney Olympian Amanda Ross, and New Zealand eventer Brittany Fowler. They will be joined by six-time Olympic dressage rider Mary Hanna and dual Paralympian Emma Booth.

The Park

The Park is the ultimate destination for general admission racegoers with the precinct bringing together the best in fashion, food, fun and entertainment.

The Park Live Stage will host an epic line-up on Kennedy Oaks Day including DJ Sunshine and her Disco Faith Choir (2:05pm-2:50pm), Australian dance music royalty Sneaky Sound System (3:10pm-3:55pm) and techno pioneers Carl Cox and Eric Powell who combine as a house duo with Carl & Eric’s Hot Sauce (4:15pm-6:30pm).

Melbourne’s favourite foodie hotspots are also represented in The Park, including tasty Mexican street food from Dos Amigos, Asian fusion delights at Hochi Mama and delectable burgers from Goldie Boy Co. Step back in time by heading to The Pony Bar and Motel, straight out of the 1960s, enjoy an ice cold Furphy at the Furphy Beer Garden or freshen up by testing out the Smirnoff Seltzer Springs.

The Community

The Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Pin & Win campaign has raised nearly $7 million for charities so far and this year will see pins sold across the course for new charity partner, Australian Childhood Foundation. The commemorative pins cost $5 for the Cup pin and $10 for the diamante horseshoe, with all purchasers eligible to enter the draw to win over $130,000 worth of prizes including a brand new 2022 Lexus NX 350h 2WD F Sport Hybrid.