The Flight Stakes is a 1600m mile event held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Epsom Handicap Day in Sydney.
2024 Flight Stakes Results
- 1st: #4 Lady Shenandoah
- 2nd: #7 Harlem Queen
- 3rd: #2 Snow In May
Flight Stakes News
- Autumn Glow Scratched from Flight Stakes 2024 Field – Out of Spring
- Autumn Glow Heads 2024 Flight Stakes Field & Betting
- Unbeaten Tea Rose Winner Autumn Glow Favourite in 2024 Flight Stakes Betting
- 2023 Flight Stakes Results: Waterhouse Wins 11th with Tropical Squall
- Tiz Invincible Leads 2023 Flight Stakes Field & Betting
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).
The 2023 Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall franked the form the following autumn winning the Group 1 Surround Stakes in 2024.
This season the Flight Stakes 2024 took place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 as part of Randwick’s Epsom Handicap Day and was won in runaway fashion by the promising Chris Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah ($3.10) who saluted by over three lengths.
| Flight Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, October 5, 2024 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1600m |
| Race Type: | 3YO Fillies Set Weight |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $750,000 |
2024 Flight Stakes Results
See below for the official Flight Stakes 2024 Results & Finishing Order once the three-years-old fillies’ classic is run and won on Epsom Day, Saturday, October 5, 2024 .
- 1st: #4 Lady Shenandoah ($3.10)
- 2nd: #7 Harlem Queen
- 3rd: #2 Snow In May
The sky’s the limit for Chris Waller’s filly Lady Shenandoah ($3.10) who backed-up off a Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality win to beat home her closest rival by over three lengths in an impressive mile performance in Saturday’s 2024 Flight Stakes results.
Click here for the full story.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd (a) | 4 | 56kg | $3.10 | |||
| 2 | 7 | HARLEM QUEEN | Nathan Doyle | Sam Clipperton | 3.17L | 2 | 56kg | $7.50 | ||
| 3 | 2 | SNOW IN MAY | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Kerrin McEvoy | 3.51L | 5 | 56kg | $2.60F | ||
| 4 | 9 | POWERS OF OPAL (NZ) | John Sargent | Tommy Berry | 4.5L | 1 | 56kg | $6.50 | ||
| 5 | 3 | LAZZURA | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 5.66L | 6 | 56kg | $7.50 | ||
| 6 | 6 | MISS BUSSLINGER | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 10.23L | 3 | 56kg | $31 | ||
| 1 | AUTUMN GLOW | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 0 | ||||||
| 8 | WINGS OF DESIRE | Michael Freedman | Jason Collett | 0 | ||||||
| 5 | DECLICHY BOULEVARD | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Flight Stakes Betting Odds
The full Flight Stakes 2024 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 2024 FLIGHT STAKES ODDS (Final Field)
2024 Flight Stakes Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 FLIGHT STAKES FORM GUIDE
2024 Flight Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Flight Stakes 2024 Tips on the Randwick mile race for three-year-old fillies this Epsom Day.
- To Win: #4 Lady Shenandoah ($2.70 at time of publish) – BET NOW
There’s been three early scratchings further diminishing the already diminutive Flight Stakes 2024 field. The Group 1 has been thrown wide open with Autumn Glow one of the withdrawals due to needing bone chip removal surgery that has her out for the rest of the spring in the blow for the Waller stable. Have another of his remaining fillies, Lady Shenandoah, on top now with talented apprentice Zac Lloyd racing well. This daughter of Snitzel was a first-up Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality winner beating the colts in mid-September and can win again here with the 1600m to suit.
2024 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 2024 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.
The Flight Stakes 2024 final field features a diminutive but ace field of fillies led by Chris Waller’s unbeaten daughter of The Autumn Sun, Autumn Glow, in gate three looking for her fourth win from as many career starts.
UPDATE: Autumn Glow has been scratched from the Flight Stakes and the spring due to lameness requiring surgery to remove a bone chip from her right front knee. Click here for the full story.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2024 Flight Stakes field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111 | AUTUMN GLOW | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 3 | 56kg | 98 | ||
| 2 | 1×12 | SNOW IN MAY | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 56kg | 86 | ||
| 3 | 11×34 | LAZZURA | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 8 | 56kg | 82 | ||
| 4 | 32×1 | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd (a) | 6 | 56kg | 74 | ||
| 5 | 8x21x32 | DECLICHY BOULEVARD | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 4 | 56kg | 72 | ||
| 6 | 41445×07 | MISS BUSSLINGER | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 5 | 56kg | 72 | ||
| 7 | 34×11 | HARLEM QUEEN | Nathan Doyle | Sam Clipperton | 2 | 56kg | 67 | ||
| 8 | 112 | WINGS OF DESIRE | Michael Freedman | Jason Collett | 9 | 56kg | 67 | ||
| 9 | 56×43 | POWERS OF OPAL (NZ) | John Sargent | Tommy Berry | 1 | 56kg | 64 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Flight Stakes Nominations
The 2024 Flight Stakes nominations are released by Racing NSW on Monday the 9th of September, 2024.
The Flight Stakes 2024 nominations attracted 43 three-year-old fillies with the latest all-in markets led by Chris Waller’s The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Glow who is undefeated at time of publish after winning the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes in style.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 416 | AELIANA (NZ) | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 65 |
| 2 | 1129×12 | AMEENA | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 96 |
| 3 | ASCOT GREEN | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings | ||
| 4 | 11 | AUTUMN GLOW | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 80 |
| 5 | 30×3313 | BELLA KHADIJAH | F | 3 | Brad Widdup | 66 |
| 6 | 23x45335x | CANARA | F | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 7 | 15×6 | CONCORDIA WIND | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 62 |
| 8 | 8x21x3 | DECLICHY BOULEVARD | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 65 |
| 9 | DORALEE | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings | ||
| 10 | 725×4421 | DREAM SMART | F | 3 | Liam Birchley | |
| 11 | 21934274×7 | EL MORZILLO | F | 3 | Kelly Schweida | 85 |
| 12 | 10×4 | EMPRESS OF JAPAN (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 61 |
| 13 | 8124313×4 | ERNO’S CUBE | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 92 |
| 14 | 43354×27 | EXTREME DIVA | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings | |
| 15 | 1882×4 | GRACEFUL ARTIST | F | 3 | Richard & Will Freedman | 61 |
| 16 | 13×9 | HALLETT | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 70 |
| 17 | 34×1 | HARLEM QUEEN | F | 3 | Nathan Doyle | 62 |
| 18 | 0x | HORIZONS | F | 3 | Richard & Will Freedman | |
| 19 | 41 | HURRICANE GEORGIE | F | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 20 | 2x | JELLICIOUS | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 21 | 18x4541x | JENNI’S MEADOW | F | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 22 | 32x | LADY SHENANDOAH | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 68 |
| 23 | 11×3 | LAZZURA | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 82 |
| 24 | 4×12 | LILAC | F | 3 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 64 |
| 25 | 1x21514x31 | MANAAL | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 102 |
| 26 | 337x1x | MATISSE | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 74 |
| 27 | 41445×0 | MISS BUSSLINGER | F | 3 | Kris Lees | 73 |
| 28 | 3 | MOLLIFY (NZ) | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |
| 29 | 16×5 | MORE TERRITORIES | F | 3 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 78 |
| 30 | MOTOSCAFO | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings | ||
| 31 | 41 | PLEASURE ARTIST | F | 3 | Richard & Will Freedman | 59 |
| 32 | 56×43 | POWERS OF OPAL (NZ) | F | 3 | John Sargent | |
| 33 | 13x6x | RAG QUEEN | F | 3 | David Payne | 73 |
| 34 | 325×221 | SILMARILLION | F | 3 | James Cummings | |
| 35 | 27112x | SNEAKY SUNRISE | F | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 36 | 1×1 | SNOW IN MAY | F | 3 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 63 |
| 37 | 1×4 | STAR CROUPIER | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 38 | STARPHISTOCATED | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings | ||
| 39 | 5 | TI AMO TANTO | F | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 40 | 138×8 | TOO DARN LIZZIE | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 78 |
| 41 | 39×1 | WAVE BREAKER | F | 3 | Peter Snowden | 67 |
| 42 | 11 | WINGS OF DESIRE | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 66 |
| 43 | 544x | ZOUBABY | F | 3 | Richard & Will Freedman |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Flight Stakes |
1st | Lady Shenandoah | 1 minute 34.83 seconds |
| 2nd | Harlem Queen | ||
| 3rd | Snow In May | ||
| 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 | ||
