The Tulloch Lodge domination in the Group 1 Flight Stakes continued in 2023 with co-trainer Gai Waterhouse celebrating her 11th success in the fillies’ feature with impressive all-the-way champion Tropical Squall.

2023 Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall was excellent leading all-the-way over the mile. Photo: Steve Hart.

Waterhouse’s late, great father Tommy Smith prepared a record 13 Flight Stakes winners over his career and today his daughter took her overall record in the mile classic to 11 with her third in partnership with Adrian Bott.

The winner was the nicely-bred Prized Icon filly Tropical Squall ($9) purchased for a steal at under $10,000 as a weanling.

She produced the goods today continuing her rapid rise through the grades to claim the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at just her fourth career starts.

“She’d been crying out for the mile, I was really confident coming here today if we could make it a nice test for them and try and draw a bit of the speed and brilliance out of those others, because we know she was prepped for this and ready. Just delighted that it’s come off,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.

Jockey Adam Hyeronimus celebrated his second Group 1 success in the saddle, pinging out the gates and going straight to an uncontested lead aboard the bonny black three-year-old.

From there he just steadied her up before letting down at the right time, quickening on the straight to extend her lead and salute from barrier to box off a lovely front-running ride.

“He’s obviously a great front-running rider,” Bott said of Hyeronimus.

“He’s been keen on this filly for a long time, he’s spoken so highly.

“He’s had plenty of good opportunities all the way through and he said there’s a lot of things he would give up to stick with the filly.

“He’s been spot on the money there and I’m delighted for him to get another big one.”

Finishing a brave second in another solid effort was Gary Portelli‘s perennial place-getter, Brave Smash filly Kimochi ($6) finishing runner-up for the third time on the trot.

“Great run. Sat in behind the winner and came off its back like I was going to win but couldn’t get it down,” second-placed rider Jason Collett said.

She has now placed in every leg of the Princess Series having narrowly been denied in the Silver Shadow (3rd), Furious Stakes (2nd), Tea Rose Stakes (2nd), and now the Flight Stakes.

Tropical Squall also had her final lead-up in the Tea Rose when third behind the winner Tiz Invincible who was shooting for her fourth win on the trot in the Flight.

“Very unfortunate. When the barriers came out I knew we were going to be in strife. They made it a genuine mile and she was three deep,” apprentice Zac Lloyd said after jumping off the beaten favourite.

She was forced into a three-wide position with no cover however and was never able to slot in and challenge in a disappointing result for favourite backers.

Third meanwhile went to the Chris Waller-trained Tutta La Vita ($11) who was ridden by the ‘Magic Man’ and last weekend’s Golden Rose winning hoop Joao Moreira.

Eye-catching to run a close fourth after losing the plot when the pace quickened before picking herself back up was the well-supported Victorian Mollynickers ($5.50) who will only improve on her Epsom Day performance.

2023 Flight Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.