Gary Portelli’s dual Group 1 winning filly, Fireburn, on the quick back-up has firmed into favouritism to claim her third elite level victory in the 2022 Flight Stakes this weekend in Sydney.

Golden Slipper winning filly Fireburn has firmed into favouritism to win the 2022 Flight Stakes in Sydney this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

As a two-year-old the talented daughter of Rebel Dane put together a picket fence with five straight victories headlined by her Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes – Inglis Sires’ double.

A second over this track and distance in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in the wet behind She’s Extreme followed to cap off her autumn, and Fireburn is third-up and fit this weekend.

She has run fifth in her two lead-up runs for the spring at Rosehill Gardens, the latest of which saw her cross under two lengths off Jacquinot in a huge run in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) last weekend.

Racing on successive Saturdays, she now takes to the Randwick mile for the Group 1 $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) back against her own kind in a 10-filly field.

Jumping from barrier nine with Brenton Avdulla continuing associations, Fireburn has been well backed into $2.60 and now sits top of the Flight Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The danger is one-time favourite, Zougotcha, who has eased out from $3.10 to $3.30 to post her third straight win this prep.

The airborne daughter of Zoustar from the Chris Waller stable has won both the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) this prep ahead of her first mile test on the weekend.

James McDonald retains the ride after his second Flight Stakes win following his 2019 success aboard the fellow Waller-trained Funstar who was also the last to do the Tea Rose – Flight Stakes double.

A further two fillies in the Flight Stakes field are also at single-figures for the win with the Anthony Cummings-trained Group 1 Champagne Stakes winner She’s Extreme ($6.50) third-up in gate five and Kris Lees’ rails-drawn Wolverine ($8.50).

Extreme Choice filly She’s Extreme was good fresh running third to North Star Lass in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) run in the wet before her solid sixth in the Golden Rose last weekend with improvement to come getting up to 1600m.

Former New Zealand-trained Tivaci filly Wolverine is also a graduate out of the Silver Shadow (6th) and Tea Rose (3rd) and is back in Group 1 grade for the first time since her second back across the Tasman in Manawatu Sires’ Produce back in April.

The 2022 Flight Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 6 at 2:45pm (AEST) as part of the bumper 10-race Epsom Day card.

Click here for the latest markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 Flight Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.