Without a win in her first nine starts, Beneteau filly Lasqueti Spirit chose the biggest stage of all to break her maiden in Thursday's $1 million Group I VRC Crown Oaks (2500m) a Flemington.
Even the most casual racegoer could sniff an upset as Brenton Avdulla had the $101 chance freewheeling on the lead. By the 800 metre
While short-priced favourite Yankee Rose could not mount a challenge at any stage, the Lee Curtis-trained Lasqueti Spirit kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Marlow Gold (Tavistock) by three and a quarter lengths and allow Avdulla to take an extended bow to the crowd, which cost him $1,000.
Damien Oliver's well-fancied mount Eleonora ( Makfi) was one and a quarter lengths further back in third with $61 chance Peeking Duck (Al Samer) in fourth. (photos Grant Courtney).
Beaten into fourth in
The winner that day was Prized Icon who would frank that form by winning last Saturday's VRC Derby.
Curtis admitted he was on the lookout for a Golden Slipper horse at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale.
"When we found out she couldn't sprint we said, well she better be able to stay," Curtis said.
"This is the race we set her for and we built her up in distance. It's been a plan all year since the Fernhill.
"We had nothing to lose. We were 150 or 200 to 1. One bloke got 500 to 1 about her.
"We could afford to take a gamble and ride her a bit silly and if it came off, we're geniuses. If not, who cares. Nobody was going to worry about us."
Brenton Avdulla said he had not planned to ride at Flemington carnival but the lure of the big occasion proved irresistible.
"We thought realistically she would run well without winning but he (Curtis) said, 'let's make it a true staying test'," Avdulla said.
"I thought to get on with it and get her flowing, that would be my best chance. She got into a lovely rhythm.
"I cranked up again at the 1000(m) and she was at her top at the 700(m). I had a sneak peek at one of the TVs at the 300 and she was still four in front.
"I thought she was going to stop and I heard ( racecaller) Greg Miles yell out, 'and Lasqueti Spirit's still five in front' and every emotion started running through me."
There are precious few clues in the pedigree of Lasqueti Spirit to believe she could win an Oaks.
She becomes the first Group 1winner for Redoute's Choice's sadly missed son Beneteau whose two wins came at
Remarkably, Lasqueti Spirit is the second VRC Oaks winner in as many years out of a daughter of the sprint star General Nediym after Jameka took the classic last year before adding to her haul by winning this year's Caulfield Cup.
It was getting towards the end of the 2015 Magic Millions Yearling sale when Lee Curtis made the winning bid of $150,000 for lot 892.
Offered by Robyn Wise (as agent), the bay filly is the third live foal of Supriym Story who had been purchased off Patinack Farm for $27,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale.
She is a half-sister to Listed winner My Destiny (Stratum) and the stakes-placed winner Queen's Elect (Holy Roman Emperor).
