The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival continues with another nine races on Thursday’s Crown Oaks Day.
It’s always a highlight of the carnival, but we’ll be treated to a classic renewal of the Crown Oaks when a capacity field of three-year-old fillies meets the starter at 2500m.
Read on for our next Flemington tip sheet, including 2026 Crown Oaks best bets.
Autumn Slide has been a consistent performer throughout her career, and she returned to action with a fine performance to only just miss in BM70 company at Cranbourne. She strips fitter and boasts a strong second up record.
| 4. Autumn Slide (14) 60.5kg253×2 | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months 2nd of 9 in a F&M Bm70 at Cranbourne on October 23 over 1400m, 0.8 len behind Bajaria with 60.5kg at $14. Previously second-up 3rd of 7 in a F&M Bm78 at Caulfield on April 4 over 1600m, 2.25 len behind Terilee carrying 56.5kg at $10. Consistent and should be fitter for the suitable rise in trip. | |||
Youre Not The King returned to action with a strong effort to strike in BM64 company at Hawkesbury last month, and he franked that performance when hitting the line to win well again at Warwick Farm most recently. This is another rise in class, but he’s down in the weights, Rachel King retains the ride and it does look the next logical step for him to take.
| 14. Youre Not The King (2) 53kg27×11 | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.75 len in a Cg&E Bm64 at Hawkesbury on October 8 over 1100m defeating Alabama Showdown with 60.5kg at $1.35. Second run from a spell raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.2 len in a Bm72 at Warwick Farm on October 21 over 1300m defeating Bryant carrying 59kg at $4.60. Progressive horse who maps well for sharp yard. | |||
Pinstriped finished down the order over 1400m at Caulfield last time out, but his form prior to that was competitive, and saw him find form around the likes of Cosmic Crusader and Evaporate. Back to Flemington, back out to a mile and from the low draw, he shapes as one of the better each way prospects on the program, in my opinion.
| 3. Pinstriped (2) 59kg44260 | |||
| At the latest run 11th of 14 in the LR Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 over 1400m, 4.5 len behind Persian Spirit with 59.5kg at $20. Before that 6th of 8 in the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 over 1800m, 6 len behind Birdman with 59kg at $41. Needs to find best. | |||
Sass Appeal has been a consistent performer in good company since debuting, winning five of ten starts and finishing the runner up a further two times. A repeat of her effort for fourth in last Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes would see her far too good for this field.
| 2. Sass Appeal (7) 59.5kg14424 | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 11 in the G1 Empire Rose Stakes at this track on October 31 over 1600m, 3.5 len behind Lady Shenandoah with 56.5kg at $18. The run before that set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 9 in the G2 Stocks Stakes at Caulfield on September 27 over 1600m, 1.0 len behind Changing Colours carrying 58kg at $2.15. Very good on Saturday and this is a lot easier, very hard to catch. | |||
Perisher was a model of consistency over in Ireland and the UK earlier this year, while he completed the perfect Australian debut when kicking clear to win over 1500m at Rosehill last month. He should only improve for that effort and getting out to 1800m this week, and he’s my best bet on the program.
| 9. Perisher (12) 56.5kg113×1 | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months won by 1.75 len in a Bm88 at Rosehill on October 14 over 1500m on a soft track defeating Nobler carrying 55kg at $3.50. Previously second-up won by a head in a 3yo Mdn Sw at Gowran Park on April 22 over 1609m on a rain affected track defeating Alphonsus Liguori carrying 61kg at $2.40. Very progressive and looks the one to beat. | |||
Spirited Defence was an impressive winner in BM78 company ay Ballarat back in August, but he was below par behind the likes of Buccleuch at Sandown in September. Having been freshened, he returned to action at Bendigo last week and produced a big turn of foot to finish third behind the likes of Bel Mezyann, running on impressively on a day where it was hard to make up ground.
| 3. Spirited Defence (11) 57.5kg44103 | |||
| At the latest run ran on from midfield; 3rd of 14 in a Bm78 at Bendigo on October 28 over 1400m, 1.5 len behind Bel Mezyaan carrying 58.5kg at $17. The start before that 11th of 14 in a Bm78 at Sandown-Hillside on September 9 over 1400m, on a slow track; 6 len behind Buccleuch carrying 59kg at $21. In the each way mix off last start. | |||
Sequinned was too good for her rivals first and second up this time, and while she weathered a tough run to ultimately finish fifth in the Tea Rose Stakes two back, she returned to winning form in dominant fashion at Caulfield last time out. Having been kept up to the mark with a trial, James McDonald retains the ride and should be able to find some cover from barrier 9 before calling on the horse’s turn of speed.
| 3. Sequinned (9) 56kgx1151 | |||
| Most recently favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 2.5 len in a 3yo F SWP at Caulfield on October 10 over 1200m defeating Almost An Angel carrying 56kg at $2.80. Before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 9 in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick on September 19 over 1400m, 2.75 len behind Bangkok Hottie carrying 56kg at $17. Flying and finds another ideal target with McDonald sticking. | |||
The Wakeful Stakes has proven to be the key Oaks form race in recent years and with that in mind, I’m eager to have the Wakeful Stakes winner De Armas on top of my Crown Oaks selections. De Armas has continued to improve with each of four runs back this time, finishing a close second in the Group 1 Flight Stakes in Sydney before arriving in Melbourne for fourth in the Thousand Guineas. She relished getting out in trip and racing here at Flemington on Saturday, hitting the line to win impressively, and she looks well placing getting further out again on the quick back up.
| 4. De Armas (1) 56kgx5241 | |||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run favourite; ran on 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 with 56kg at $3.60. The race before that 4th of 12 in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 17 over 1600m, 3 len behind Saintly Dancer with 56kg at $8.50. Very strong on Saturday and should stay this out well. | |||
Bev’s Nine enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence at the beginning of the year, winning a couple of nice races at Rosehill and Canterbury before ultimately breaking through for his first black type success in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone. While he is yet to strike in two runs back this season, he wasn’t far away from the winner at either start, including a third placing in the Caulfield Sprint last time out, and with further improvement this week, he can be right in the finish.
| 3. Bev’s Nine (6) 58kg21×33 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 9 in a Bm100 at Caulfield on September 19 over 1100m, 0.8 len behind Pallaton with 59.5kg at $5. Last start raced on speed throughout when 3rd of 10 in the G2 Caulfield Sprint on October 17 over 1000m, 1.75 len behind Cavalry Girl carrying 56kg at $5.50. Speedy sort who has each way claims again. | |||
Best – Race 5 No. 9 Perisher
Next Best – Race 4 No. 4 Sass Appeal
Value – Race 3 No. 3 Pinstriped