Luck of the Irish prevails as Strictly Business wins VRC Oaks

Two Irishmen who are Australian neighbours have hijacked the VRC Oaks ambitions for some of the richest owners in racing as Strictly Business swept to a memorable win in the $1 million race at Flemington.

Trainer Thomas Carberry and jockey John Allen became the toast of Flemington on Tuesday, combining to bring Strictly Business from spring obscurity to Oaks glory in less than a fortnight.

“Unbelievable. What a filly. She won her maiden only less than two weeks ago,” Allen told the Nine Network.

“I think you’d be talking about this for years if it was Chris Waller or Ciaron Maher or someone else who has done it.

“An unbelievable training performance.”

Allen, who made Australia his home in 2011, is well-accustomed to Group 1 success with the Oaks triumph his 21st win at the elite level.

Carberry is less well-known, with a modest stable with no more than a dozen horses in work at Ballarat.

But Allen says it would be foolish to underestimate Carberry’s skill as a trainer.

“Tommy’s a neighbour of mine. He only lives two doors down for me,” Allen said.

“He’s a great horseman. He’s from a family of great horsemen.”

Carberry, who hadn’t trained a Flemington winner until Thursday, had the Oaks as a long-range target for Strictly Business but feared an interrupted campaign may have conspired against the filly. 

“We sort of probably had this race in mind for her early on,” Carberry said.

“Then she missed her first engagement at Geelong, so we were put on the back foot a little bit.”

Coming from an outside barrier at just her fourth start, Strictly Business settled towards the back of the field before Allen navigated his way through traffic to have his mount ready to strike.

Showing superior stamina, Strictly Business, the $7.50 second favourite, did the rest, joining in at the 200m before clearing away for a three-and-a-half length win.

Remember the name 🌟

STRICTLY BUSINESS does the business to take out the Crown Oaks on #OaksDay for John Allen and Thomas Carberry.

🎥 @wwos | #OaksDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/7sdRggNdQH

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— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 6, 2025

The Waller-trained The Pearl ($8) finished second with Arabian Summer ($31) another half-length away third.

Getta Good Feeling, the filly raced by billionaire owner Jonathan Munz who accounted for Strictly Business in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington last Saturday, finished sixth as the $1.80 favourite.

Strictly Business made a late-season juvenile debut in 2024/25 but wasn’t seen at the races again until winning first-up on her home track over 1400m on October 24.

“When she came through that so well, we decided to take our chance in the Wakeful because, you know, she’s that type of horse,” Carberry said. 

“And then today came on the radar when she ran so well there.

“She definitely looked there (in the Wakeful) that she needed a 2500-metre trip.” 

Strictly Business is the second Group 1 winner for her sire Grunt, a support act on a Yulong roster that includes champion stallion Written Tycoon and rising star Alabama Express.

She is the third foal from Tivoli Lass, an Uncle Mo who counted a Wodonga win in Maiden class as her only victory in 11 starts.

But her stocks as a broodmare were on the improve before Strictly Business arrived on the scene as the dam of Tasmanian Derby placegetter Kicking King, also trained by Carberry.

There are more clues to Strictly Business’ staying potential further back in the maternal family, with the 1984 Caulfield Cup winner turning up in her pedigree.

Allen was confident that it would come to the fore when it mattered.

“I knew when they started making the moves at the 600 (metres), I was still going well,” he said.

“(There were) no worries about her on the trip. So certainly my confidence grew at that stage.”