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Oakbank Easter Carnival
14th & 16th April 2001
Meeting Preview - Clipsal Stakes

The feature flat race of the first day of the carnival is the Clipsal Stakes. Formerly known as the Hills Railway Stakes is was first run in 1877 when the winner was Sarchedon.

The first multiple winner of the event was M Neckersgat who is still the only horse to win the race three times with his successes coming in 1915, 1917 and 1918. During the same era jockey JV Hopwood won the race six years in a row from 1915 to 1920 and was also successful in 1913. The Kirk won the race in successive years in 1929 and 1930 and the feat wasn't repeated until 1960 and 1961 where Mikadis gave jockey John Letts his first principal race wins at Oakbank.

Idle Study won in 1976 and 1977 then Dallas Girl did likewise in 1978 and 1979 with no horse winning the race in successive years since. Bar Flyer won in 1992 and returned to the winners circle three years later in 1995. In 1993 Gently Bently was successful and he is now in retirement and forging a career as a dressage horse.

Ambala was victorious in 1994 and then went on to win the Group 1 Goodwood Hcp a short time later. Brinkman's Image ridden by Jason Holder won in 1996 and in 1997 Vari Gold won for R Jolly.

Recent winners have been Pride of Tarlton in 1998, Charleston Gold in 1999 and Flight Pattern in 2000. Flight Pattern was sent to Dubai after his victory and has continued his career with success.

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