Oaks Day Magic
FLYING FINN: Wonder filly Miss Finland completed a rare treble, claiming the Golden Slipper, Thousand Guineas and the 2006 VRC Oaks with star jockey Craig Williams in the saddle. (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
‘A s they pass Chicquita Lodge …’ In his judicious race calls at Flemington, official broadcaster Matt Hill often positions the field as the horses approach the furthest point from the grandstand. ‘Chicquita Lodge’ remains a coded tribute to the champion filly who won the VRC Oaks in 1949, nearly three-quarters of a century ago. She became one of the sweethearts of the Australian turf. Chicquita’s Flemington successes in addition to the Oaks included the Edward Manifold Stakes, the Wakeful, and the weight-for-age Craiglee, twice. Altogether in her career she won 16 of her 36 starts, with 12 placings. Other big wins included the One Thousand Guineas and Liston Stakes at Caulfield, and the Feehan and the Alister Clark at Moonee Valley. She had a famous rivalry with Comic Court whom she beat in the 1950 Craiglee by a short half-head before he turned the tables to win the Mackinnon Stakes and the Melbourne Cup. Grey Boots narrowly deprived her of a Caulfield Cup win. Chicquita’s magic transformed the life and career of her trainer, Tony Lopes – 29 when she won the Oaks for him. On the strength of her success he relocated from Mentone to lease new on-course stabling at Flemington, naming the complex Chicquita Lodge. He spelt out his champion’s name in prominent lettering running the length of the stable’s red brick wall. You can still discern the legend behind sponsors’ placards today. Now named the Kennedy Oaks, the premium race for three-year-old staying fillies at Flemington was inspired by the English classic. It has a history as venerable as that of the Lexus Melbourne Cup. In fact, the very first Oaks at Flemington was held in 1859 two years earlier than the first Cup – although the entries were few and, on the day, only one filly, Birdswing, came to the
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