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As racing clubs such as Flemington\u2019s Victoria Racing Club continue to grapple with the balance of tradition and innovation, Thursday\u2019s time-honoured VRC Oaks reminded punters of bygone eras.<\/p>\n
For the 12th time, a Cummings trained the winner. This year, it was James, grandson of nine-time winner Bart and son of last year\u2019s winner Anthony, who claimed his second group 1 Oaks with the filly Zardozi.<\/p>\n
Incredibly, for jockey James McDonald who has won nearly every group 1 race on the calendar, he claimed his first Oaks on Thursday – a race first run in the same year as the Melbourne Cup, in 1861.<\/p>\n
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Jockey James McDonald claims the Oaks for the first time.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Racing Photos \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n The third of four race days in Cup week – once known as \u2018Ladies Day\u2019 but a notion the club no longer holds on to as it aims to progress with the times – drew a crowd of 46,596. Sydney\u2019s Everest meeting last month drew 46,498 – a modern-day record at Royal Randwick, but still short of Thursday\u2019s mark at Flemington.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re delighted with a crowd today of 46,596, which is the third-biggest crowd anywhere on a racetrack in Australia this calendar year, only behind the Derby and Cup that preceded it a few days earlier,\u201d VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said.<\/p>\n For Saturday\u2019s Champions Day – formerly Stakes day, or colloquially known as family day – another 60,000 are tipped to attend Flemington, to take the overall crowd figure beyond 260,000 over the four days, surpassing the 240,000 who attended last year.<\/p>\n Fashion on the field at Flemington. Winners Eleanor Campbell and Domingo Martinez.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Eddie Jim<\/cite><\/p>\n Brands Schweppes and Furphy treated Oaks Day as a day for clients and customers. Whereas on Cup Day at the Furphy marquee, owner Lion played host to a raft of visiting federal politicians including Nationals leader David Littleproud, former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley and Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer, at Oaks Day the marquee was filled with publicans and other customers of parent company Lion.<\/p>\n Schweppes dialled down on politicians in favour of a party atmosphere for guests which included Melbourne captain Max Gawn, who was later spotted at the Crown Casino rooftop just metres away from AFL boss Andrew Dillon enjoying a beers but not much luck with his betting.<\/p>\n In the Penfolds Pavilion, singer Mike Snell got the crowd, include Carlton Football Club chief executive Brian Cook and his wife Claire up on their feet.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the stands, in the committee room and in the Birdcage the deals that would have been done over history would be in the trillions.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier at Penfolds, Paul Guerra, chief executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, had dropped in. He attended Derby Day on Saturday, Cup Day on Tuesday as well as Oaks Day on Thursday, observing business executives interacting in the members stand, committee room and the Birdcage.<\/p>\n \u201cMelburnians are the relationship experts,\u201d said Guerra, who part-owns star racehorse Zaaki, who will try and go back-to-back-to-back in Saturday\u2019s Champion Stakes.<\/p>\n \u201cSporting events bring Melburnians together and when there are sporting events that are world-class, you will find business people en masse.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the stands, in the committee room and in the Birdcage the deals that would have been done over history would be in the trillions.\u201d<\/p>\n Guerra said this year was about business returning in force to spring racing and the atmosphere was \u201cfabulous to see\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOaks Day is the day you run into people. People relax a bit. Derby Day and Cup Day are the traditional race days. Oaks Day is a traditional corporate sponsorship and relationship day.<\/p>\n \u201cBusiness people giving their views to politicians in a relaxed environment should help with decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n Englishman Nick Luck is one of the world\u2019s most high-profile racing reporters. Having recently flown into Melbourne after attending the Breeders\u2019 Cup in America, Luck has been to all the world\u2019s biggest carnivals.<\/p>\n Pumped: In-form jockey James McDonald after winning the Oaks.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Racing Photos \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n He believes the crowds at Flemington this week show racing still has a place in the sporting and entertainment calendar in Australia, and in fact, places Cup week comfortably alongside the likes of the five-day Royal Ascot carnival.<\/p>\n But he said Australian racing\u2019s constant battle to stay relevant and meet its social licence is no different to other race clubs around the world. Whether it be equine welfare, the perception of whips, or simply attracting racegoers to the course on a working day, the same conversations are happening at other racing clubs globally.<\/p>\n \u201cEach of the major racing jurisdictions are experiencing the same challenges to a greater or lesser degree,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fundamentally whether the sport can modernise and adapt to keep pace with changing values. Australia is no exception to that. You\u2019ve seen debate about animal welfare, tightened veterinary protocols, and it\u2019s a question of whether the sport can move fast enough, as fast as society is moving.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about being as inclusive and accepting as possible of as many people as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I can see here suggests you are [moving with the times] because you\u2019ve got an incredibly robust and enthusiastic crowd for outstanding sport and sport that\u2019s run in a broadly safe and responsible way.\u201d<\/p>\n The win by another Cummings in the Oaks was a flashback to times gone by, however.<\/p>\n Bart Cummings won the race a record nine times. Grandson James has now won twice in three years, winning with Willowy in 2021. James\u2019 father Anthony won the race last year with She\u2019s Extreme.<\/p>\n \u201cAll these group 1s are special. A time-honoured VRC Oaks, it\u2019s going to go straight to the poolroom,\u201d James Cummings said.<\/p>\n McDonald said it was a thrill to win one of the big features during Cup week, after claiming the Derby on Riff Rocket on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cDerbies and Oaks, there\u2019s something special about them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never won a VRC Oaks, and it\u2019s a test of training ability, horsepower and obviously, you\u2019ve got to execute pretty well because they\u2019re immature still.<\/p>\n \u201cMy trainer\u2019s a freak, he just set this horse for this race, and it\u2019s paid off, and she had to do it, she\u2019s a star filly, executed beautifully, bang, crash, whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Damien Oliver, a seven-time Oaks-winning jockey, finished third on Basilinna in his final Oaks before retirement.<\/p>\n \u201cHad a beautiful run, and she moved up nicely in the straight, I thought I was a real chance, but the first two were just a little bit too strong for her over this distance this time,\u201d Oliver said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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