An old firm renewed acquaintances to win the opening race at Flemington on VRC Oaks day.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd and Wodonga-based trainer Sylvia Thompson joined forces to take out the 7news Plate (1700m).

Supported from $21 to $18, Allelu scored by a short-neck from Miss Maggiebeel ($11) with Kansas Sunflower ($7) and half-head away third.

Thompson and Rodd have had a long association, stretching back to Rodd's days as an apprentice jockey based at the Gold Coast.

As an assistant to former leading Gold Coast trainer Alan Bailey, Thompson was responsible for supplying Rodd with one of his first race rides.

"I was ecstatic that he took the ride for me today," Thompson said.

Thompson spent 18 years on the Gold Coast before retiring to Wodonga four years ago where she has 14 horses in work.

"I came home to retire and had half a dozen horses in work but it's got a little bigger than we expected," she said.

Rodd said he got a special kick out of riding a winner for Thompson.

"It's just funny to think all these years later that I'd be riding a winner for her at Flemington. "She's a wonderful horsewoman," he said.