Key points about the Flight Stakes
FLIGHT STAKES
1600m, $500,000, set weights 3YO Fillies
HISTORY
* Sydney spring carnival’s premier race for three-year-old fillies
* Race named after champion horse Flight, the highest stakes winning mare in Australasia at the time and winner of the W S Cox Plate in 1945 and 1946
* Most recent winners have been Oohood (2018), Alizee (2017), Global Glamour (2016) and Speak Fondly (2015)
* In 2007 the race was cancelled because of the spread of Equine flu
* Trainer Gai Waterhouse has trained eight Flight Stakes winners
* Last non-NSW trained Flight Stakes winner before Oohood was Sunline in 1998
* Yankee Rose was later disqualified after running second in 2016
* Redoute’s Choice sired the Flight Stakes winner four times in a row (2004-2008)
* Sydney-based jockey Hugh Bowman has a solid record in the Flight Stakes with four wins
NOTABLE WINNERS
Wenona Girl (1960), Cap D’Antibes (1974), Bounding Away (1986), Research (1988), Triscay (1990), Slight Chance (1992), Angst (1993), Pontal Lass (1995), Assertive Lass/ Dashing Eagle (1996), Sunline (1998), Unworldly (2000), Ha Ha (2001), Lotteria (2004), Fashions Afield (2005), Samantha Miss (2008), More Joyous (2009), Streama (2011), Guelph (2013), First Seal (2014), Alizee (2017)
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“She’s drawn well in gate two and it gives James McDonald options. She should just be able to land where she is comfortable. The 1600 metres won’t be a problem. She’s a half sister to Youngstar who is an Oaks winner so she ticks most boxes” – Funstar’s trainer Chris Waller.
“I’ve just kept things pretty simple. She’s a filly that could become pretty dour if we stepped up her work too much, so we’ve kept it sharp. “She is eating well, held her condition, and I think she looks terrific” – Probabeel’s trainer Jamie Richards
“The top two look very hard to beat and based on the race we were in two weeks ago, we’ve got to find five lengths and do things right to finish with them. With a three-year-old spring filly, if you think they’ve got ability, I think you’ve got to try them in those better races” – St Covet’s Spirit’s trainer Jason Coyle