The Group 1 Flight Stakes in October has been put on the spring agenda for the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Dame Giselle who returned a winner at Royal Randwick taking out a thrilling edition of the Silver Shadow Stakes in 2020.

Dame Giselle (inside, yellow silks) lead all-the-way to win the 2020 Silver Shadow Stakes on Winx Stakes Day. Photo: Steve Hart.

The talented daughter of I Am Invincible took her career wins up to three at her seventh start on Winx Stakes Day, jockey Tommy Berry riding her confidently for an all-the-way victory in the Group 2 $200,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m).

Winner of Rosehill’s $1 million Golden Gift last November and the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) in the autumn, Dame Giselle showed she had lost none of her gleam kicking off her three-year-old campaign with style.

More comfortable in a trailing position, she bounced the gates and Berry, who also rode last year’s Silver Shadow Stakes winner Libertini to victory for trainer Anthony Cummings, had no hesitation allowing her to race out of her usual pattern leading the Silver Shadow Stakes field around.

“That wasn’t our intention to be that far forward, there was obviously quite a lot of speed inside us, but once she jumped as well as she did…she had a really nice run in front,” co-trainer Paul Snowden told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the race.

“It’s not her go but she was just too good in the end. Class rose to the top.”

Dame Giselle had the easy lead from September Run, while the Godolphin-raced Exosphere filly Thermosphere, winner of the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) as a juvenile, was also up on the speed.

Turning for home Berry had a good grip on the front runner, while Thermosphere pulled out to challenge in the closing stages.

With 200m left to go, Dame Giselle lifted and found another level, holding on to defeat the fast-finishing Thermosphere by a head.

In a photo for third the Silver Shadow Stakes trifecta was rounded out by the Kris Lees-trained Miss Canada who just nudged out her stablemate Redoute’s Image (4^th).

It was a disappointing result for the race favourite See You Soon meanwhile who wouldn’t load into the barriers and was scratched just before the jump.

The Silver Shadow Stakes is the opening leg of the spring’s Darley-sponsored Princess Series that culminates with the Group 1 $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) back at Randwick on Epsom Handicap Day, October 3.

Snowden confirmed they were sticking to the Princess Series path with Dame Giselle who will race next-up in the second leg, the Group 2 $200,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) on September 5.

“She’s got a good campaign in front of her,” he said.

“And obviously she’s not screwed right down yet.

“Let’s see if we can get a bit more of this sun and dry weather around.”

The third leg takes place a fortnight after that with the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 19 serving as the final lead-up into the Flight Stakes over the mile.

Libertini (2019) completed the Silver Shadow Stakes – Flight Stakes double last Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, a feat Dame Giselle will be out to emulate this season.

All-in 2020 Flight Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Dame Giselle listed at $12, while See You Soon eased out from $10 to $17.

Click here for the updated Flight Stakes 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Silver Shadow Stakes Results

Colour	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	1	DAME GISELLE	Peter & Paul Snowden	Tommy Berry		8	57kg		$3.60F
	2	2	THERMOSPHERE	James Cummings	Kerrin McEvoy	0.2L	2	56kg		$17
	3	8	MISS CANADA	Kris Lees	Ms Rachel King	2L	1	55kg		$26
	4	6	REDOUTE’S IMAGE	Kris Lees	Jason Collett	2.2L	7	55kg		$5
	5	5	SEPTEMBER RUN	Chris Waller	James McDonald	3.1L	6	55kg (cd 55.5kg)		$6
	6	4	PHILIZZY	Anthony Cummings	Regan Bayliss	4.1L	5	55kg		$17
	7	10	FALL ON A STAR	Kris Lees	Brenton Avdulla	4.3L	4	55kg		$26
	8	9	HYBRID THEORY	Bjorn Baker	Glyn Schofield	19.1L	3	55kg		$51
	SB	3	SEE YOU SOON	Jean Dubois	Sam Clipperton		0	55kg
		7	KAAKIT AKIT	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Tim Clark		0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.