Flight Stakes

The Flight Stakes is a 1600m mile event held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Epsom Handicap Day in Sydney.

2023 Flight Stakes Results

  • 1st: #3 Tropical Squall
  • 2nd: #2 Kimochi
  • 3rd: #10 Tutta La Vita




The Flight Stakes is a 1600m set weights race held at Randwick Racecourse on Epsom Handicap Day in late September or early October each Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. Hosted by the Australian Turf Club (ATC), the Group 1 race attracts the best three-year-old fillies from around the country to compete for the $750,000 prize money.

The Flight Stakes shares a race program with the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) making it one of the biggest Sydney race days over the spring, on part of a massive weekend of racing that also sees Melbourne host Turnbull Stakes Day.

Fillies often target the Flight Stakes following successful runs in earlier events such as the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes or Group 2 Furious Stakes. These races form the Princess Series with the Flight Stakes the last leg. Funstar (2019) followed by the fellow Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha (2022) are the last fillies to complete the Tea Rose Stakes – Flight Stakes double.

Some of the better runners in the Flight Stakes might continue onto other elite level races in Melbourne later in the spring including the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in a fortnight’s time at Caulfield. Global Glamour (2016) was the last filly to complete the Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas interstate double.

The best fillies out of the Flight Stakes will take on the boys next-up in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), a rare double achieved in 2020 by the history-making Montefilia.

As of 2021, the Flight Stakes also now serves as a potential lead-up for fillies invited to contest the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) back at Randwick on Bondi Stakes Day.

In 2021 trainer Gai Waterhouse celebrated her 10th Flight Stakes win and second in partnership with Adrian Bott thanks to an upset by Never Been Kissed ($41).

Waterhouse then extended her Flight Stakes success for an 11th victory, her third in partnership with Bott, in 2023 with Tropical Squall as Tulloch Lodge’s dominance in the race continued after Waterhouse’s father Tommy Smith won the race on 13 occasions.

Never Been Kissed went on to frank the 2021 Flight Stakes form running second to the boys next-up in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). The 2021 Flight Stakes runner-up Hinged meanwhile returned to win the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) the following autumn in 2022, while the third-placed Startantes ran second in the Surround before winning that winter’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane.

Each year the Flight Stakes winner also earns a ballot exemption into the following autumn’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) during April’s ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick.

The 2022 Flight Stakes form was franked with the runner-up She’s Extreme running third next-up in the Spring Champion Stakes before her win in Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m).

This season the Flight Stakes 2023 took place on Saturday September 30, 2023 as part of Randwick’s Epsom Handicap Day and was won in an impressive all-the-way performance by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Tropical Squall ($9). 

Flight Stakes
Date: Saturday September 30, 2023
Track: Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 1600m
Race Type: 3YO Fillies Set Weight
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $750,000

2023 Flight Stakes Results

See below for the official Flight Stakes 2023 Results & Finishing Order once the three-years-old fillies’ classic is run and won on Epsom Day, Saturday September 30, 2023.

  • 1st: #3 Tropical Squall ($9)
  • 2nd: #2 Kimochi
  • 3rd: #10 Tutta La Vita

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse celebrated her 11th success in the 2023 Flight Stakes results with the stable’s progressive Prized Icon filly Tropical Squall ($9) leading from barrier to box thanks to a gun front-running ride by Adam Hyeronimus to salute in the mile classic at just her fourth career start.

Read more on the impressive Flight Stakes 2023 win by Tropical Squall.

2023 Flight Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 TROPICAL SQUALL Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 5 56kg $9
2 2 KIMOCHI Gary Portelli Jason Collett 0.86L 7 56kg $6
3 10 TUTTA LA VITA Chris Waller Joao Moreira 2.01L 2 56kg $11
4 7 MOLLYNICKERS Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Ms Jamie Kah 2.12L 1 56kg $5.50
5 8 CAPTAIN AMELIA John O’Shea Blake Shinn 2.25L 9 56kg $81
6 1 TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Zac Lloyd (a) 2.65L 12 56kg $2.80F
7 9 PRIVATE LEGACY Gregory Hickman Tyler Schiller 3.49L 4 56kg $71
8 4 MISS JOELENE Kelly Schweida Ryan Maloney 5.22L 6 56kg $91
9 13 HASTY HONEY Brad Widdup Craig Williams 5.93L 8 56kg $151
10 12 UNIQUE AMBITION (NZ) John Sargent James McDonald 6.72L 11 56kg $8
11 5 FRENCH ENDEAVOUR Matthew Smith Dylan Gibbons (a) 8.31L 3 56kg $19
12 6 SUMMER LOVING Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Rachel King 10.17L 10 56kg $26
11 AUTUMN ANGEL Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Billy Egan 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Flight Stakes Betting Odds

The full Flight Stakes 2023 betting markets and updated Flight Stakes odds on the hopeful three-year-old fillies in the Epsom Handicap Day Group 1 are detailed below complete with links to Ladbrokes.com.au for you to back your Flight Stakes tips.

Funstar ($1.75 in 2019) was the last favourite in Flight Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

There was a notable upset in 2021 with Never Been Kissed winning at Flight Stakes odds of $41.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 FLIGHT STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Flight Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 FLIGHT STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Flight Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Flight Stakes 2023 Tips on the Randwick mile race for three-year-old fillies this Epsom Day.

  • To Win: #1 Tiz Invincible ($2.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Decent enough edition of the Flight Stakes and the favourite Tiz Invincible looks a hard to beat top elect going far too good to ignore as the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained I Am Invincible filly chases her fourth win on the trot. She has been the picture of consistency this prep beating the boys fresh in the Listed Rosebud before completing the Group 2 Furious Stakes – Tea Rose double. She comes via the traditional lead-ups and faces similar rivals up to Group 1 grade and the mile now. Rock-hard fit the favourite had 1.35 lengths to spare on the line last start so looks like she’ll get the mile without an issue. Drawn the outside barrier (13 of 13), but time to overcome and can still win with apprentice Zac Lloyd continuing associations and riding as well as this filly is racing.

2023 Flight Stakes Field

Each spring the Flight Stakes field attracts a line-up of quality three-year-old fillies that traditionally come out of the Tea Rose Stakes. The Tea Rose Stakes – Flight Stakes double was recently completed by Zougotcha (2022), Funstar (2019), Alizee (2017), Guelph (2013) and First Seal (2014).

Following a run in the Flight Stakes field there are a host of other potential Group 1 races for the fillies to target including a run against the boys in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), which the 2018 Flight Stakes winner Oohood ran third behind The Autumn Sun in.

The 2023 Flight Stakes field and barrier draw are released on Wednesday of race week and will be provided in full below as soon as final acceptances for the mile feature are released by Racing NSW.

The Flight Stakes 2023 final field features 13 classy spring fillies led in betting by the Furious Stakes – Tea Rose Stakes double winner Tiz Invincible from the Maher/Eustace stable.

Click here to read more on the key contenders in the 2023 Flight Stakes field and betting markets.

  • Update: #11 Autumn Angel (2) comes out in favour of a run in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 42×111 TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Zac Lloyd (a) 13 56kg 92
2 2x13x322 KIMOCHI Gary Portelli Jason Collett 8 56kg 84
3 1×13 TROPICAL SQUALL Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 56kg 80
4 14x1844x20 MISS JOELENE Kelly Schweida Ryan Maloney 7 56kg 78
5 2×1914 FRENCH ENDEAVOUR Matthew Smith Dylan Gibbons (a) 4 56kg 74
6 3330×2645 SUMMER LOVING Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Rachel King 11 56kg
7 2×114 MOLLYNICKERS Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Ms Jamie Kah 1 56kg 71
8 187×160 CAPTAIN AMELIA John O’Shea Blake Shinn 10 56kg 70
9 242806 PRIVATE LEGACY Gregory Hickman Tyler Schiller 5 56kg
10 221×67 TUTTA LA VITA Chris Waller Joao Moreira 3 56kg 69
11 2×13 AUTUMN ANGEL Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Billy Egan 2 56kg 65
12 2×20 UNIQUE AMBITION (NZ) John Sargent James McDonald 12 56kg
13 5×04 HASTY HONEY Brad Widdup Craig Williams 9 56kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Flight Stakes Nominations

The 2023 Flight Stakes nominations are released by Racing NSW on Monday the 4th of September, 2023.

The Flight Stakes 2023 nominations attracted 65 classy young fillies led in all-in betting by the in-form Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Group 2 Furious Stakes winner Tiz Invincible, Peter Moody’s progressive daughter of Justify Legacies, and the consistent Gary Portelli-trained Brave Smash filly Kimochi.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 2x AHURIRI (NZ) F 3 Chris Waller
2 19×50 AMAZONIAN LASS F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 70
3 312×6 APRILIA (NZ) F 3 Andrew Forsman
4 443×1 AUGUST BLOOM F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 72
5 2×1 AUTUMN ANGEL F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
6 15×18 AUTUMN BALLET F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 84
7 52 AUTUMNMATION F 3 Chris Waller
8 39×56 BIANCO NERO F 3 Matthew Smith
9 86x BOLERO BELLE F 3 Chris Waller
10 3 BROADCASTER F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
11 187×1 CAPTAIN AMELIA F 3 John O’Shea 70
12 567×8 CATHAY BRACELET (NZ) F 3 Bjorn Baker
13 20312x CHILL THE KRUG F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
14 CHILLI FILLY F 3 Kris Lees
15 100×24 DE SONIC BOOM F 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman
16 15 DISNEY CASTLE F 3 Chris Waller 60
17 36 DOMAIN GARDENS (NZ) F 3 John Sargent
18 42x EVELYN MAY (NZ) F 3 John O’Shea
19 5x FIRST PERSON F 3 Kris Lees
20 9 FORBIDDEN APPLE F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
21 2×191 FRENCH ENDEAVOUR F 3 Matthew Smith 70
22 4315 GLOBAL PIVOT F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
23 1 HARLOW MIST (NZ) F 3 John Sargent 58
24 2 HARVEST MOON F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
25 5×0 HASTY HONEY F 3 Brad Widdup
26 52514×983 INFATUATION F 3 Bjorn Baker 71
27 412326×31 INHIBITIONS F 3 James Cummings 78
28 8×17 JUST GISELLA F 3 Michael Freedman 60
29 25×1 JUST PRESS SEND (NZ) F 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman
30 2x13x32 KIMOCHI F 3 Gary Portelli 82
31 1x KONASANA F 3 Chris Waller 64
32 1×0 LAST STRAW F 3 John Sargent 65
33 11×2 LEGACIES F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
34 7×251 MANHATTAN’S F 3 Brad Widdup 59
35 14x1844x2 MISS JOELENE F 3 Kelly Schweida
36 2x11x MOLLYNICKERS F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
37 35×43 MUMBAI MUSE F 3 Michael Freedman
38 5 NANTUCKET ISLAND F 3 Edward Cummings
39 2×8 OCEAN DIVA (NZ) F 3 John Sargent
40 117×4 OCEANS OF ENERGY F 3 Matthew Dunn
41 0x4052x OUTCAST GIRL F 3 Marc Conners
42 8x OVERVIEW F 3 Chris Waller
43 3538x PIER PRESSURE F 3 Kris Lees
44 1x2220x76 PLATINUM JUBILEE F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 80
45 24280 PRIVATE LEGACY F 3 Gregory Hickman
46 2 REASONABLE F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
47 312×3 RIGHT TO PARTY F 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman
48 7616 SHEHASATTITUDE F 3 Anthony Cummings 59
49 60 SKOOZI YES F 3 Chris Waller
50 04×12 SUBRISING F 3 Nigel Blackiston
51 3330×264 SUMMER LOVING F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
52 SUPER INTELLIGENT F 3 Edward Cummings
53 SWEET HEAVEN F 3 Anthony Cummings
54 42×11 TIZ INVINCIBLE F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 88
55 8 TORIE’S ROSE F 3 Edward Cummings
56 5 TRAJECTILE F 3 Kris Lees
57 333331x TREASURWAY F 3 Jason Warren 73
58 1x TROPICAL SQUALL F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 65
59 221×6 TUTTA LA VITA F 3 Chris Waller 69
60 2×2 UNIQUE AMBITION (NZ) F 3 John Sargent 65
61 13x WAIMARIE F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
62 21 WRITE THIS WAY F 3 Michael Freedman 60
63 3 YARRAVILLE F 3 Anthony Cummings
64 111×0 ZARDOZI F 3 James Cummings 74
65 4x ZELTA F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Flight Stakes History

The Flight Stakes was named after the champion mare Flight, which won the Cox Plate in 1945 and 1946. One year later, the first Flight Stakes race was won by Nizam’s Ring. From 1947 to 1978, the event was a principal race however it then elevated to Group 2 status until 1984.

In 2007, the race was cancelled due to the spread of the Equine Flu. Many of the Flight Stakes winners come via the Group 2 Furious Stakes and the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes. Fillies which have placed or won this particular race have made up seven of the last nine Flight Stakes winners.

The Tea Rose Stakes / Flight Stakes double is a popular one for the punters, while the more difficult Furious Stakes / Tea Rose Stakes / Flight Stakes Treble has been won by the likes of Samantha Miss in 2008, Unworldly in 2000, Danglissa in 1999 and Sunline in 1998.

Gai Waterhouse has trained 11 Flight Stakes winners after taking out her third in partnership with Adrian Bott in 2023 with Tropical Squall.

Waterhouse’s father Tommy Smith holds the Flight Stakes training record with 13 victories.

Flight Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.

Flight Stakes Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Flight Stakes
1st Tropical Squall 1 minute 33.91 seconds
2nd Kimochi
3rd Tutta La Vita
2022
Flight Stakes
1st Zougotcha 1 minute 39.36 seconds
2nd She’s Extreme
3rd North Star Lass
2021
Flight Stakes
1st Never Been Kissed 1 minute 34.04 seconds
2nd Hinged
3rd Startantes
2020
Flight Stakes
1st Montefilia 1 minute 33.04 seconds
2nd Hungry Heart
3rd Vangelic
2019
Flight Stakes
1st Funstar 1 minute 37.31 seconds
2nd Probabeel
3rd Foxborough
2018
Flight Stakes
1st Oohood 1 minute 34.74 seconds
2nd Fiesta
3rd Nakeeta Jane
2017
Flight Stakes
1st Alizee 1 minute 34.83 seconds
2nd Champagne Cuddles
3rd Cellargirl
2016
Flight Stakes
1st Global Glamour 1 minute 35.8 seconds
2nd Yankee Rose
3rd Sezanne
2015
Flight Stakes
1st Speak Fondly 1 minute 35.91 seconds
2nd Honesta
3rd Perignon
2014
Flight Stakes
1st First Seal 1 minute 34.71 seconds
2nd Winx
3rd Thinking Of You
2013
Flight Stakes
1st Guelph 1 minute 36.23 seconds
2nd Sensibility
3rd Bound For Earth
2012
Flight Stakes
1st Norzita 1 minute 36.01 seconds
2nd Longport
3rd Dear Demi
2011
Flight Stakes
1st Streama 1 minute 36.70 seconds
2nd Hallowell Belle
3rd Dowager Queen
2010
Flight Stakes
1st Secret Admirer 1 minute 34.66 seconds
2nd More Strawberries
3rd Parables
2009
Flight Stakes
1st More Joyous 1 minute 40.06 seconds
2nd Sister Madly
3rd Hurtle Myrtle
2008
Flight Stakes
1st Samantha Miss 1 minute 38.49 seconds
2nd Portillo
3rd Kimillsy
2007
Flight Stakes
Race Not Held  
2006
Flight Stakes
1st Cheeky Choice 1 minute 35.95 seconds
2nd My Lady’s Chamber
3rd Fleur Royale
2005
Flight Stakes
1st Fashions Afield 1 minute 37.19 seconds
2nd Beauty Watch
3rd Mnemosyne
2004
Flight Stakes
1st Lotteria 1 minute 37.62 seconds
2nd Cincinnati Gal
3rd Covertly
2003
Flight Stakes
1st Unearthly 1 minute 36.57 seconds
2nd Santissima
3rd Classy Dane
2002
Flight Stakes
1st Royal Purler 1 minute 37.39 seconds
2nd Victory Vein
3rd Private Steer
2001
Flight Stakes
1st Ha Ha 1 minute 36.19 seconds
2nd Moonflute
3rd Hosannah
2000
Flight Stakes
1st Unworldly 1 minute 34.5 seconds
2nd Picholine
3rd Lady Mulan

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