Held over the Randwick mile (1600m), the Group 1 Flight Stakes is a three year old fillies race, run during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. The $750k feature is named in honour of champion mare, Flight, who won 24 races including two Cox Plates, and the race has been taken out by some terrific fillies in their own right. Never Been Kissed was victorious in last year’s edition and was sent around at cricket score odds.
Looking at the odds with Dabble, Golden Slipper winner, Fireburn, has come up favourite at $2.40 for this year’s race. In form filly, Zougotcha, is a $3.30 chance and G1 Randwick mile winner, She’s Extreme, is also well in the market at $6.50. Wolverine is next best at $8.50 and rounds out the main hopes according to the market.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and last year’s rough result was a prime example. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Flight Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Fireburn (9) – $2.40F
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 56kg
Trainer – Gary Portelli
Made good late headway in the Run To The Rose first up before again finishing hard last Saturday in the Golden Rose from an outside gate. Gets back to her own sex here and will relish the mile. Clearly the one to beat.
2. She’s Extreme (5) – $6.50
Jockey – Tommy Berry 56kg
Trainer – Anthony Cummings
Had a nice run behind the leaders in last week’s Golden Rose and was just fair late. She’s a G1 winner here at the Randwick mile and should be peaking third up. Looks like one of the main dangers.
3. Zougotcha (2) – $3.30
Jockey – James McDonald 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
.@cwallerracing is well represented in Saturday’s features!
He runs through his contenders in the Epsom, Metropolitan and Flight Stakes. pic.twitter.com/kYw6GFTJJg
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 29, 2022
Rode the speed and was too good first up defeating In Secret. Fought hard last start in the Tea Rose to keep her unbeaten record intact this prep. Will get a soft run from the gate and will look the winner at some stage in the straight.
4. North Star Lass (8) – $13
Jockey – Tim Clark 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Front running filly who is racing well this prep. Had some excuses last start after getting galloped on and should get a good run up front here. The mile is the query but she should be rock hard fit and gets the country’s best front running jockey on board.
5. Wolverine (1) – $8.50
Jockey – Jason Collett 56kg
Trainer – Kris Lees
Former kiwi filly who has hit the line strong in both runs back this prep, suggesting the 1600m here will be right up her alley. Will get a soft run from the inside gate and will be right in the mix providing she gets some luck in the straight.
6. Madame Pommery (6) – $14
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Loomed up and looked the winner last start in the Tea Rose, only to be outgunned by her stablemate in the final stages. Step up in trip looks no issue and she should be in the mix again here.
Plenty of Group 1 action this weekend @royalrandwick & @FlemingtonVRC. See below a preview of our runners in the Flight Stakes, Epsom, Metropolitan & Turnbull Stakes. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️@SkyRacingAU @7horseracing @Racing pic.twitter.com/G5zoGM7mx3
— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) September 28, 2022
7. Pavitra (4) – $51
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56kg
Trainer – Richard & Will Freedman
Led and bolted in an 1860m Newcastle maiden before another solid win last start over 1500m at the provincials. Will roll forward with the shades on here and might give some cheek at big odds.
8. Renaissance Woman (3) – $81
Jockey – Rachel King 56kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Scone maiden winner who did a good job to finish midfield in the Tea Rose last start. Bred to relish the added journey and although it’s hard to have her in the numbers, she isn’t hopeless.
9. Byron Belle (10) – $126
Jockey – William Pike 56kg
Trainer – John Sargent
Made some late ground up the fence in the Tea Rose. Should only improve up in trip but needs to find a few lengths to be winning one would think.
10. Whisker To Whisker (7) – $126
Jockey – Chad Schofield 56kg
Trainer – John Thompson
Found the line well last start in Kembla maiden, but this is much stronger. Dam was runner up the VRC and ATC Oaks suggesting she will be better over the mile here, but may still want further.
Final Word
Some of the best 3YO fillies line up here in Saturday’s G1 Flight Stakes. As well publicised, there is rain forecast and the Randwick track will most likely be in the heavy range.
“She’s telling me she’s right to go… she can do it given the opportunity.”@GaryPortelli is very confident in Fireburn’s Flight Stakes chances! #BlackBookers pic.twitter.com/PlSTooZt9g
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 29, 2022
There looks to be even tempo in the race, with Pravitra and North Star Lass the most likely leaders. Expect Zougotcha and She’s Extreme to use their good gates to full advantage and also race handy.
Hard to go past favourite, Fireburn, as the on top selection. Her closing sectionals in both the Run To The Rose and the Golden Rose were strong, she looks ready for the mile third up and the wet ground is a bonus. She’s been well found in the market and punters won’t be retiring if she wins, but she looks the obvious.
Expect She’s Extreme to be ridden forward and be strong at the mile. She’s already a G1 winner at this track and trip and hasn’t been far away in two runs this prep.
Zougotcha comes through different form lines to the favourite, Fireburn, but is racing in great form. She maps well from the low draw and handles all conditions. No surprise to see her make it three in a row. Stablemate, Madame Pommery, and the Kris Lees trained, Wolverine, will be closing strongly and have to be respected on what they produced last start.
Flight Stakes Tip
1. Fireburn – Win ($2.40)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
