Horse Racing

The 2011 Flight Stakes, one of four Group 1 features scheduled for Epsom Super Saturday at Randwick this weekend and the final race of the Sydney Spring Carnival’s Princes Series, has drawn 13 entries at nomination stage today.

Streama is the top rated 2011 Flight Stakes nominee

The top-rated three-year-old nominated for the $400,000 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) this year is the Guy Walter-trained Streama, the daughter of Stratum coming off back-to-back Group 2 wins in Sydney.

At her most recent run Streama defeated a top field in the Tea Rose Stakes (11500m) by an easy two lengths at Rosehill on September 17 and looks ready to step up to the mile for the first time this Saturday.

Tea Rose Stakes runner-up, the John Thompson-trained Pane In The Glass, is also set to back up in the Flight Stakes 2011.

Testa Rossa filly Pane In The Glass, who is nominated for the upcoming $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, was also defeated by Streama when fourth in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1400m) at the start of the month.

She did, however, get the better of her when winning the Group 3 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) first-up on August 20 at Warwick Farm and Pane In The Glass is tipped to improve when going to the 1600 metres.

Pane In The Glass has good form at the mile having run second, beaten only a length, by Peter Snowden’s ace colt Helmet in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick back in April.

Patinack Farm’s head trainer John Thompson has also entered maiden More Than Ready filly More Bubbly for the Flight Stakes this weekend.

Also with dual Flight Stakes nominations is premier Victorian horseman Peter Moody.

Moody has entered both Cute Emily and VRC Oaks-bound Hallowell Belle for the classic.

Of the duo Starcraft filly Hallowell Belle, if accepted, looks the strongest chance as she comes off imposing form in Melbourne this season including her second to Darley megastar Sepoy in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and her last-start second in the controversial Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 17.

Other notable 2011 Flight Stakes nominations include David Vandyke’s progressive Choice Words coming off a second in the Listed Reginald Allen Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill last Saturday, the Graeme Rogerson-trained Kiwi filly Dowager Queen and David Hayes’ up-and-coming Roma Giaconda who ran a game second behind Group 1 hero Manawanui in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) last weekend.

The Flight Stakes final field of acceptors will be released this Wednesday, so bookmark us here at Races.com.au to stay up to date with the latest.

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2011 Flight Stakes Nominations