2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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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
Flight Stakes News
- Tiz Invincible Leads 2023 Flight Stakes Field & Betting
- Tea Rose Results: Winner Tiz Invincible Firms in 2023 Flight Stakes Betting
- 2023 Flight Stakes Odds Firm on Silver Shadow Winner Autumn Ballet
- 2022 Flight Stakes Results: Zougotcha Flies Home to Wrap-Up Princess Series
- 2022 Flight Stakes Field & Odds: Fireburn Firming Favourite
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 | ||
