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Can two high class fillies be joined in the Flight Stakes run at Randwick on Saturday?
Samantha Miss won the Princess Series and it could happen again in the 2020 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
2020 Flight Stakes: Nominations
2020 FLIGHT STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Flight Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights conditions for three year old fillies at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.
The Flight Stakes is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1947 and was won by Nizam's Ring.
The Flight Stakes has only been run over the mile.
Originally under the Principal Race scale, the Flight Stakes was a Group 2 until 1984 then a Group 1 after that.
The Flight Stakes has twice been run at Warwick Farm, the most recent being in 2001 won by Ha Ha.
Gai Waterhouse has been incredibly dominant winning it 9 times.
Redoute's Choice sired the Flight Stakes winner four times in a row (2004-2008) and now sons of his are winning it as a sire.
When you look at the honour roll, some of the greatest fillies/mares of our time have won the Flight Stakes.
Last non-NSW trained Flight Stakes winner was Oohood for Tony McEvoy in 2018 but before that it was Sunline in 1998.
In 2008, Samantha Miss became the first filly since Angst in 1993 to win all four legs of the Princess Series - the Silver Shadow Stakes, the Furious Stakes, the Tea Rose Stakes and the Flight Stakes.
Golden Slipper/Flight Stakes double – Bounding Away and Ha Ha.
Only three times in the last 20 years has the Tea Rose Stakes not provided the winner of the Flight.
Fillies to take the Tea Rose Stakes/Flight Stakes double are Funstar, Alizee, First Seal, Guelph, Streama, More Joyous, Samantha Miss, Cheeky Choice, Ha Ha, Unworldly, Danglissa, Sunline, Assertive Lass, Pontal Lass, Danarani and Angst.
Assertive Lass and Dashing Eagle quinellad the Furious and Tea Rose Stakes in 1996 and then for good measure dead-heated in the Flight Stakes.
Unworldly won brilliantly in 2000 but then subsequently suffered a severe track work injury after her win when set for the Cox Plate and could not be saved.
Oohood broke her maiden in a G1 race by getting up by a nose in 2018.
The 2007 race was not held due to the Equine Influenza break out.
The Flight Stakes was worth $500,000 in 2020.
Notable winners of the Flight Stakes include Alizee (2017), Global Glamour (2016), First Seal (2014), Guelph (2013), Norzita (2012), Streama (2011), Secret Admirer (2010), More Joyous (2009), Samantha Miss (2008), Fashions Afield (2005), Lotteria (2004), Ha Ha (2001), Unworldly (2000), Sunline (1998), Assertive Lass/Dashing Eagle (1996), Angst (1993), Slight Chance (1992), Triscay (1990), Research (1988), Bounding Away (1986), Cap D'Antibes (1974) and Wenona Girl (1960).
The 2019 Flight Stakes was won by Funstar from Probabeel and Foxborough.
