The Flight Stakes is a Group 1 race at Randwick on Saturday, which showcases the best 1600m fillies in Australia.
Flight Stakes odds have the top three runners split by only 50c, so it’s a tight market for the 3YO contest.
Flight Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| 3. Global Goal (5) J: Dylan Gibbons 56kg 1×33 T: John Sargent | ||
| 5. De Armas (1) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 1x4x5 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Bangkok Hottie (3) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56kg x3211 T: David Payne | ||
| 4. Queen’s Gamble (7) J: Tommy Berry 56kg 22116 T: Matthew Smith | ||
| 6. Sumac (6) J: Jason Collett 56kg 87×67 T: Lee & Cherie Curtis | ||
| 2. Striking Alibi (2) J: James McDonald 56kg 10×32 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 7. Parisest Magic (4) J: Rachel King 56kg 39×4 T: Alexandre Lemarie |
It’s only a Flight Stakes field of seven runners, so barrier draws aren’t too important. However, they can still get caught wide over this distance at Randwick.
Looking to take luck out of the equation is Bangkok Hottie from barrier 3. She will press forward and look to keep Striking Alibi in a pocket for the length of the straight.
The big market mover is former NZ runner De Armas, who opened at $34 before being heavily backed into $14. She is an upset danger, and the betting support for the Chris Waller-trained filly is a good sign.
Flight Stakes Form Guide 2026
She has proven herself by winning the last two races of this series, and we thought she would open as the favourite. She was unlucky at times during her first preparation, including getting caught wide, but more positive rides have seen her turn unlucky form into winning form. She will sit right on their hammer in the Flight Stakes, and she’s tough to get past, as Striking Alibi and Global Goal have found out.
| 1. Bangkok Hottie (3) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56kg x3211 T: David Payne |
It’s not surprising to see Striking Alibi open as the favourite. Punters like looking for a runner hitting the line, and she ran good sectionals in the Tea Rose Stakes. However, she keeps running into one or two better, and that’s always a concern. Barrier 2 with JMac riding doesn’t hurt, but if she can’t find room at the top of the straight, it could be another hard-luck story.
| 2. Striking Alibi (2) J: James McDonald 56kg 10×32 T: Chris Waller |
She was also closing off well in the Tea Rose Stakes, and she ran the quickest late sectionals. That’s all well and good, but if she is too far off the leaders coming for home, she will have to run even better sectionals to get past them. That’s the problem when backing runners who will get back, especially in a small field, where the tempo could be soft. However, she is smart, and she should run well.
| 3. Global Goal (5) J: Dylan Gibbons 56kg 1×33 T: John Sargent |
A big drifter with Flight Stakes odds after opening at $7, and that’s not a good sign. She graduated from midweek company to finish sixth behind most of these last start, but she was closing off well enough. She might need to find 3-4 lengths to win this race, hence the betting drift.
| 4. Queen’s Gamble (7) J: Tommy Berry 56kg 22116 T: Matthew Smith |
One of the most interesting runners in the field. She showed excellent speed in New Zealand, albeit racing a tough greenly. However, she has since moved to the Waller barn, and she came through her preparation run at Warwick Farm in good order. She opened at $34 and was immediately backed into $14, which is a serious move for a runner who hasn’t been seen much in Aus.
| 5. De Armas (1) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 1x4x5 T: Chris Waller |
Lee and Cherie Curtis have pulled off big upsets in the past, but this would top them all. She hasn’t shown enough in her preparation runs to suggest that she can win at Group 1 level, let alone in something much easier.
| 6. Sumac (6) J: Jason Collett 56kg 87×67 T: Lee & Cherie Curtis |
Rachel King might send her forward and hope to pinch a soft lead. Based on her form, she will be gone by the 200m mark.
| 7. Parisest Magic (4) J: Rachel King 56kg 39×4 T: Alexandre Lemarie |