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The final leg of Sydney’s Princess Series takes place at Royal Randwick as part of a bumper Epsom Handicap Day card on Saturday with just seven hopeful fillies set to line-up in the mile classic, and Races.com.au are here with our full 2026 Flight Stakes preview, tips and betting update to help find the winner.
One of a trio of elite level races taking place at the meeting, this year’s Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) field has drawn a compact but class line-up of young hopefuls and it is a tight market on the feature at Ladbrokes.
Current Flight Stakes odds are led by Striking Alibi ($2.60) who is one of two final acceptors for the race’s three-time winning trainer Chris Waller.
The progressive Hanseatic filly began her career in WA and kicked things off with a big win on debut at Ascot back in April saluting by three-lengths as a 50/1 outsider.
She transferred to the powerhouse Waller stable over the winter and has had two runs for the team showing plenty of talent for placings in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (3rd) at a blowout price and then Group 2 Tea Rose (2nd).
Presenting fit third-up and looking suited to the step-up in trip, Striking Alibi will jump from barrier two with master hoop James McDonald booked for the ride.
Waller’s other 2026 Flight Stakes hope is the rails-drawn De Armas who was a $31 outsider before early money has seen her firm right into $18 at time of publish with Saturday marking the dual New Zealand winner’s first Group race assignment.
A wide-open edition of the event sees another filly installed at Flight Stakes odds of $3 as Bangkok Hottie chases a Princess Series hat-trick.
Prepared by David Payne, who won the event back in 2020 with Montefilia, the flying daughter of Too Darn Hot has enjoyed an impressive rise through the grades this prep to take her record up to four wins from seven starts ahead of her Group 1 test.
After a distant second in the Silver Shadow back in August, Bangkok Hottie has proved to be the benchmark middle-distance filly of the spring completing the Furious Stakes – Tea Rose Stakes double.
She had three-quarters of a length to spare over Striking Alibi last time out and has Kerrin McEvoy sticking aboard in gate three on Saturday as she looks to do the Tea Rose – Flight Stakes double for the second year running after Apocalyptic (2025) last spring.
The other major danger on the third line of Flight Stakes betting meanwhile following the top two in the markets closely at $3.20 is Global Goal for John Sargent.
She comes via two traditional lead-ups in the Silver Shadow and Tea Rose placing third in both and is being kept safe in the markets with natural improvement and fitness putting her right in the frame.
The Matthew Smith-trained Queens Gamble is the next best on the drift out from $6 to $10 now after the Anders filly ran sixth in the Tea Rose in her first black-type performances.
Sumac ($61) and Parisest Magic ($151) complete the field and markets looking to buck the trend of single-figure Flight Stakes winners with a blowout result on Epsom Day.
The 2026 Flight Stakes is scheduled to run as Randwick Race 6 at 3:00pm (AEST) as the opening Group 1 on the bumper 10-race card.
Flight Stakes 2026 Best Bets
Favourite: No. 2 Striking Alibi
| 2. Striking Alibi (2) J: James McDonald 56kg 10×32 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming ran on from midfield; 3rd of 10 in the G2 Furious Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Bangkok Hottie carrying 56kg at $21. Last start 2nd of 9 in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m, 0.7 len behind Bangkok Hottie with 56kg at $2.70. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 1 Bangkok Hottie
| 1. Bangkok Hottie (3) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56kg x3211 T: David Payne | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.7 len in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m defeating Striking Alibi carrying 56kg at $3.90. Before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.5 len in the G2 Furious Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1200m defeating Chilly Girl carrying 56kg at $8.50. | |||
Best Roughie: No. 5 De Armas
| 5. De Armas (1) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 1x4x5 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Racing second-up today. Last outing eased back early on 5th of 10 in a 3yo Bm68 at Warwick Farm on September 23 over 1200m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Blessed Eagle carrying 61kg at $71. At only start last preparation 4th of 14 in the LR Karaka Millions 2yo at Ellerslie on January 24 over 1200m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Dream Roca carrying 55kg at $10. | |||
Latest Flight Stakes 2026 Odds
| 1. Bangkok Hottie (3) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56kg x3211 T: David Payne | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.7 len in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m defeating Striking Alibi carrying 56kg at $3.90. Before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.5 len in the G2 Furious Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1200m defeating Chilly Girl carrying 56kg at $8.50. | |||
| 2. Striking Alibi (2) J: James McDonald 56kg 10×32 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming ran on from midfield; 3rd of 10 in the G2 Furious Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Bangkok Hottie carrying 56kg at $21. Last start 2nd of 9 in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m, 0.7 len behind Bangkok Hottie with 56kg at $2.70. | |||
| 3. Global Goal (5) J: Dylan Gibbons 56kg 1×33 T: John Sargent | |||
| Third-up today. First-up 3rd of 10 in the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes at this track on August 22 over 1200m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Pembrey carrying 55kg at $14. Last start 3rd of 9 in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m, 1.1 len behind Bangkok Hottie with 56kg at $7.50. | |||
| 4. Queen’s Gamble (7) J: Tommy Berry 56kg 22116 T: Matthew Smith | |||
| Last start 6th of 9 in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m, 4 len behind Bangkok Hottie carrying 56kg at $13. The start before that won by 3.5 len in a F&M Bm72 at Warwick Farm on September 2 over 1400m defeating Samarelle carrying 56kg at $2.25. | |||
| 5. De Armas (1) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 1x4x5 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Racing second-up today. Last outing eased back early on 5th of 10 in a 3yo Bm68 at Warwick Farm on September 23 over 1200m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Blessed Eagle carrying 61kg at $71. At only start last preparation 4th of 14 in the LR Karaka Millions 2yo at Ellerslie on January 24 over 1200m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Dream Roca carrying 55kg at $10. | |||
| 6. Sumac (6) J: Jason Collett 56kg 87×67 T: Lee & Cherie Curtis | |||
| Third-up today. First-up 6th of 11 in a Super 3yo Mdn at Warwick Farm on September 2 over 1400m, 2.5 len behind Sing Your Song with 55kg at $13. Second-up got back early 7th of 9 in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1400m, 5 len behind Bangkok Hottie carrying 56kg at $151. | |||
| 7. Parisest Magic (4) J: Rachel King 56kg 39×4 T: Alexandre Lemarie | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months 4th of 10 in a Super Mdn at Hawkesbury on September 10 over 1300m, 4 len behind Call Me Coach with 56.5kg at $31. Previously second-up ran last of 9 in a 2yo Hcp at Rosehill on May 30 over 1300m, on rain affected going; 10 len behind Tron Bolt carrying 54kg at $14. | |||
