That was the name John Oaksey gave to a fast Tudor Melody 2yo filly of 1970 owned by Lord Howard de Walden called Magic Flute. She was generally reckoned to be the best juvenile filly of her generation and won 3 races as a 2yo finishing with the Cheveley Park Stakes (it was after this race Oaksey named her as she was a very fast but sparely made filly). Her first race as a 3yo was the 1000Guineas but despite being the choice of new stable jockey Geoff Lewis she finished behind her stable companion Altesse Royale. Magic Flute recovered from that defeat, later winning the Coronation Stakes and the Strensall Stakes. She retired to stud a highly prized mare, but was not a great success at stud and her best produce was a Nureyev colt called Eagling, whose best effort was a win in the Scottish Derby. As a 15yo mare Magic Flute dropped a Habitat filly named La Papagena who didn't ever get to the races but was retained for breeding by Lord Howard's Plantation Stud. Her second foal was the Chief's Crown colt Grand Lodge who started off at the King George Ascot meeting winning the 6f race for previously unraced 2yos (race seems to have gone now: always liked these races) and went on to win the Somerville Tattersall Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. He only won one more race, the St James Palace Stakes, but ran with distinction with placings in the 2000G, Irish 2000G, Sussex Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes. He went to stud and produced the Derby and Arc winner Sinndar, but died from a paddock accident in Australia as a 12yo. By then Lord Howard had died so did not get to see La Papagena's best filly, La Persiana by Daylami. A pretty, yet powerful grey, she raced for 3 seasons winning 5 races (including 2 listed events) and was also Group placed for Gillian, Lady Howard de Walden who continues to breed horses at her Avington Stud (but only about 4 mares). At stud she's dutifully got into foal and produced one winner in Qushchi (by Encosta de Lago: she won 3 times) so far. The reason for this thread is her daughter Djinni runs for the second time today at Windsor. First time out she was one of 5 Hannon runners and probably not fully wound up yet finished 4th. Today she may mean business with Hughes in the saddle. A beautifully bred Invincible Spirit filly she is quite odd these days in having all the best family lines there but having little in-breeding (4 X 5 to Sir Gaylord, and 5 X 5 to Never Bend). So I very much hope The Flying Bedstead's great grandaughter goes in today. I'm not going to say she'll win because when I do that they don't.
