<p>The Flight Stakes, run over 1600m at Randwick, is the premier Group 1 race for 3YO fillies during the Spring Racing Carnival in Sydney.</p> <p>The Flight Stakes is named after the champion mare Flight, who was a star of the 1940s. The race was first run in 1947. It was upgraded to a Group 1 in 1985.</p> <p>The Flight Stakes is the fourth leg of the Princess Series which began with the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m, won by Savvy Hallie) followed by the Furious Stakes (1200m, won by Apocalyptic) and the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m, won by Apocalyptic).&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year’s Flight Stakes was won by Chris Waller’s star, Lady Shenandoah, ridden by Zac Lloyd), after Waller’s unbeaten pre-post favourite Autumn Glow was scratched on race morning.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Flight Stakes 2025 Preview and Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Track</strong>: Randwick.</p> <p><strong>Distance/type/conditions</strong>: 1600m. 3YO Fillies. Set weights.</p> <p><strong>Date</strong>: Saturday, 4 October.</p> <p><strong>Total prize money</strong>: $750,000</p> <p><strong>First prize</strong>: $430,000</p> <p><strong>Flight Stakes – Race and Time</strong>: Race 6 (3.00 pm)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Weather and Track</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 on Wednesday. The BOM is predicting fine and warm weather for the rest of the week. Bet on a Good surface.</p> <p><strong>The rail</strong> is true. The most recent Randwick meeting (Good 4) was on September 20 when the rail was out 7m (1600m-post) and out 4m (remainder). The track played fair. With fresh ground on the rail, play for a slight on-pace rails bias.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Trainers</h3> <p>The legendary Tommy Smith trained a record 13 Flight Stakes winners, challenged only by his daughter Gai Waterhouse, who has trained 11. Waterhouse doesn’t have a runner this year.</p> <p><strong>Chris Waller </strong>has trained three of the past six Flight Stakes winners, but his two runners this year, Karinska and Enviable are considered outsiders. Waller is the only trainer with runners this year who has won a Flight Stakes.</p> <p><strong>Michael Freedman</strong> had two of the hot chances, the pre-post favourite Apocalyptic, winner of the Furious Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes, and the English-bred filly, Magenta Skies, who has exceptional winning her maiden at Newcastle.</p> <p><strong>Annabel and Rob Archibald</strong>, who saddle the smart Tupakara and longshot Next Jen, are aiming to be the first husband and wife team to win the Flight Stakes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Jockeys</h3> <p>The great George Moore holds the riding record of eight Flight Stakes wins. He is chased by the now Hong Kong-based Hugh Bowman with five.</p> <p>Of the current jockeys, the leader of the pack is James McDonald with two, but he’s riding Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.<strong> Tim Clark</strong> also has two Flight Stakes on his CV. He will ride the promising Magenta Skies.</p> <p>Last year’s winning rider<strong> Zac Lloyd </strong>will be on Karinska;<strong> Adam Hyeronimus</strong>, who won on Tropical Squall in 2023, rides Reflect;<strong> Nash Rawiller</strong> (Queen Of Clubs) is chasing a second Flight Stakes after winning his first way back in 2009;<strong> Kerrin McEvoy</strong> (Enviable) won on Guelph in 2013; and<strong> Tommy Berry</strong>, who won his first on Speak Fondly in 2015, has the plum ride on the hot favourite Apocalyptic.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Speed Map</h3> <p>It’s a difficult speed map to predict with no genuine on-pace runners and no obvious speed.&nbsp;</p> <p>The go-forward horses on form look to be<strong> Lighthouse Lass</strong>, who has raced on the pace over much shorter distances, and <strong>Reflect</strong>, who sat third in winning her maiden at Kembla Grange. Neither looks a contender.&nbsp;</p> <p>With the second favourite, <strong>Tupakara</strong>, drawn in 11, it’s a distinct possibility her trainers, Mr and Mrs Archibald, could advise jockey Ethan Brown to go forward to lead or sit outside the leader. Going back and giving her rivals a start doesn’t look an option.&nbsp;</p> <p>The favourite, <strong>Apocalyptic</strong>, has drawn perfectly in barrier 7 to cover any unusual moves. She looks bomb-proof, and if she jumps quickly, she could roll forward to stay out of trouble.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Point of Interest</h3> <p><em>Princess Series</em>:<strong> Within The Law</strong> is the only filly to compete in the first three legs of the Princess Series. Her best run was her first when she was second behind Savvy Hallie in the Silver Shadow Stakes in August. Oohood (2018) was beaten in the three lead-ups before winning the Flight.</p> <p><em>The teacup tip</em>. The Tea Rose Stakes (1400m, Randwick) is the best guide to finding the Flight Stakes winner. There have been 17 fillies who have won the Tea Rose-Flight double. <strong>Apocalyptic </strong>is aiming to be the 18th.</p> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2>Flight Stakes 2025 Racing Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Flight Stakes Top Tip&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong>Apocalyptic</strong></p> <p>After winning the Furious Stakes (1200m) first-up, this impressive filly worked wide and proved too good for her rivals in the Tea Rose (1400m). Draw to be able to stalk her rivals. She should be too good again.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Flight Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Artistic Venture</strong></p> <p>After an easy maiden win, she made the big jump into Group 2 company in the Tea Rose. Had little room early in the straight before running on hard late. Emerging filly with the ideal draw in barrier one.</p> <p><strong>Magenta Skies</strong></p> <p>Bred in England to Southern Hemisphere time. Big winner at Newcastle when she was green but very strong at the end 1400m. The 1600m should be perfect. Stablemate of the favourite. Looks to be a raw talent. Capable of causing an upset.</p> <p><strong>Within The Law</strong></p> <p>Tough little filly trained by Bjorn Baker. She has run in all three legs of the Princess Series. Barrier two should ensure she can settle midfield. Ready for 1600m.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Flight Roughy</h3> <p><strong>Queen Of Clubs</strong></p> <p>She ran on gamely for third in the Silver Shadow (1200m) in August, and then didn’t race for a month when she caught the eye with a strong-finishing fourth in the Tea Rose (1400m). The 1600m is right down her alley.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Flight Stakes Same Race Multi (pick a combination)</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Apocalyptic </strong>– to win</p> <p><strong>Artistic Venture</strong> – top three</p> <p><strong>Tupakara, Magenta Skies, Within The Law</strong> – top four</p> <p><strong>Queen Of Clubs</strong> – top five</p>