The Flight Stakes 2026 is the headline three-year-old fillies’ feature of the Sydney spring, a prestigious Group 1 1600m showdown at Royal Randwick that consistently launches future stars. As the final leg of the Princess Series, the race brings together the best emerging fillies building through the Silver Shadow, Furious and Tea Rose Stakes, giving punters a clear read on who’s peaking at the mile. With class, tempo and the famous Randwick rise all set to shape the result, our Flight Stakes guide delivers the latest Flight Stakes odds, form insights and expert analysis to help you stay ahead of the market and find value in one of Australia’s most influential Group 1 races for fillies.

2026 Flight Stakes Results

See below for the official Flight Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing Order once the three-years-old fillies’ classic is run and won on Epsom Day, Saturday October 3, 2026.

• 1st: TBD
• 2nd: TBD
• 3rd: TBD
• Winning Margin: TBD
• Winning Time: TBD

Flight Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Flight Stakes 2026 Tips on the Randwick mile race for three-year-old fillies this Epsom Day.

Flight Stakes News

Furious Winner Bangkok Hottie New 2026 Flight Stakes Favourite

• Flight Stakes 2026 Odds Firm on Impressive Silver Shadow Winner Pembrey
• 2026 Silver Shadow Stakes Field, Tips & Betting Update
• Apocalyptic Wins 2025 Flight Stakes, Firms for Thousand Guineas
• Apocalyptic Dominates 2025 Flight Stakes Field & Odds
• 2025 Flight Stakes Odds Firm Into $2 for Tea Rose Winner Apocalyptic

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) and Apocalyptic (2025) 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).

The 2023 Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall franked the form the following autumn winning the Group 1 Surround Stakes in 2024.

The 2024 Flight Stakes form was firmly franked with the winner Lady Shenandoah returning the following autumn to win her next three starts on the trot including the Group 1 Surround Stakes and Group 1 Coolmore Classic in 2025.

2026 Flight Stakes Betting

The full Flight Stakes 2026 betting markets and updated Flight Stakes odds on the hopeful three-year-old fillies in the Epsom Handicap Day Group 1 will be available at Races.com.au complete with links to Ladbrokes for you to back your Flight Stakes tips.

Funstar ($1.75 in 2019) and Apocalyptic ($1.65 in 2025) are the latest favourites 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.

Flight Stakes Field

2026 Flight Stakes Form

The Flight Stakes form guide is the key resource punters rely on to assess every runner heading into Randwick’s premier Group 1 mile test for three-year-old fillies. As the final leg of the Princess Series, the form guide brings together each filly’s recent runs, sectional strength, progression through the series, pedigree, jockey changes, and suitability to the Randwick mile. Because the Flight Stakes consistently produces future Group 1 stars, a detailed form read is essential for identifying which fillies are ready to peak on the big stage.

What Punters Should Look for in the Flight Stakes Form Guide:

• Princess Series progression — The Silver Shadow, Furious and Tea Rose Stakes provide the strongest lead-up lines. Look for fillies improving with each run.
• Randwick mile suitability — The rise to the line at Randwick is testing. Fillies with proven strength late at 1400-1600m are a major tick.
• Sectional data — Strong last-400m and last-200m splits in lead-up races often signal a filly ready to peak at the mile.
• Barrier draw — Inside gates help tactical fillies hold a position, while swoopers need a draw that allows clean momentum.
• Race tempo — The Flight Stakes can be genuinely run. Identifying leaders, on-pacers and fillies who map for economical runs is crucial.
• Stable plans — Some fillies are set for the Princess Series from day one. Those targeted specifically for the mile often show sharper improvement.
• Market moves — Early firmers, especially those rising in distance or improving deeper in their preps, are worth close attention.

FULL 2026 FLIGHT STAKES FORM GUIDE

2026 Flight Stakes Nominations

The 2026 Flight Stakes nominations are released by Racing NSW on Monday the 7th of September 2026.

The Flight Stakes 2026 nominations are now out featuring 48 hopeful three-year-old fillies including David Payne’s impressive Furious Stakes winner Bangkok Hottie and the progressive John Sargent-trained Global Goal who ran third in the Silver Shadow first-up.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2026 Flight Stakes Final 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 Apocalyptic (2025), 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 2026 Flight Stakes field and barrier draw are released on Tuesday of race week and will be provided in full below as soon as final acceptances for the mile feature are released by Racing NSW.

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 Apocalyptic in 2025, 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 Previous Race Winners

Flight Stakes results and winning times since 2020 are listed below.

Flight Stakes FAQs

What is the Flight Stakes?
The Flight Stakes is a prestigious Group 1 1600m race for three-year-old fillies, run at Royal Randwick as the final leg of Sydney’s Princess Series.

When is the Flight Stakes held?
The Flight Stakes is traditionally run on the first Saturday of October, during the peak of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. The 2026 edition is set to run on Saturday October 3.

Where is the Flight Stakes run?
The race takes place at Royal Randwick, a track known for its testing rise and ability to expose fillies who aren’t strong at the mile.

What distance is the Flight Stakes?
The Flight Stakes is run over 1600 metres, providing a genuine test of class, stamina and tactical speed for emerging fillies.

How many fillies run in the Flight Stakes?
The race generally attracts a field of 12–16 fillies, depending on acceptances and the strength of the Princess Series form.

What type of fillies contest the Flight Stakes?
Progressive three-year-old fillies rising through the Princess Series — often those showing strong late sectionals and improving with each run.

What are the key lead-up races?
The Silver Shadow Stakes, Furious Stakes, and Tea Rose Stakes are the major form races heading into the Flight Stakes.

Is the Flight Stakes a reliable spring form race?
Yes — Flight Stakes winners and placegetters often progress to major Group 1 races later in the season and across their three-year-old season.

Where can I find Flight Stakes odds?
Updated markets are available as soon as betting opens at Ladbrokes, with odds influenced by Princess Series form, barriers, tempo projections and stable confidence.