Flight Stakes: Date, how to watch, past winners, latest odds and more

The Flight Stakes is a Group 1 thoroughbred horse race which takes place at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, in October each year.

Aimed at elite three-year-old fillies, who race under Set Weights conditions, the Flight Stakes is one of the highlights of the Sydney Spring carnival.

Indeed, it is the only Group 1 race exclusively for three-year-old fillies in Sydney, so attracts a stellar field.

Here is our guide to the Flight Stakes.

Flight Stakes date

The Flight Stakes is one of the main races in the Sydney Spring Carnival and takes place in early October each year.

The 2024 edition of The Metropolitan will be held on Saturday 5th October.

Flight Stakes time

The exact time for the Flight Stakes has yet to be announced, but in 2023 it was Race 6 on the card and it is likely to be the same again in 2024.

Flight Stakes venue

The Flight Stakes more often than not takes place at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales.

There have been just two occasions when the race was held elsewhere. In 1983 and 2001 it was Warwick Farm Racecourse, also in Sydney, which staged the Flight Stakes.

Flight Stakes how to watch

The Flight Stakes will be shown free-to-air on Channel 7 and also via the 7plus App.

Flight Stakes prize money

The total amount of prize money for the Flight Stakes stands at a cool $750,000.

The winner will earn $430,000, while second place will take home $141,000 and $71,500 goes to third place.

The top 10 all earn prize money, with ninth and 10th picking up $7,500 for their efforts.

Flight Stakes history

The Flight Stakes has a long and proud history and was raced for the first time in 1947, with the very first edition won by Nizam’s Ring.

It started out as a principal race before earning Group 2 status in 1979. It was upgraded again to Group 1 status in 1985 and has remained that way ever since.

The race is named after Flight, the Australian Racing Hall of Fame mare who won a total of 24 races, including two Cox Plates.

Flight Stakes past winners

Tropical Squall was the winner of the 2023 edition of the Flight Stakes for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and jockey Adam Hyeronimus.

It was Waterhouse’s 12th win in the Flight Stakes, continuing a proud family tradition in the race. Her father TJ Smith also won the Flight Stakes on 12 occasions.

Some famous fillies have won the Flight Stakes, including Sunline in 1998, Samantha Miss in 2008 and More Joyous in 2009.

Flight Stakes odds

Autumn Glow is the hot fancy at 2.25 to win the 2024 edition of the Flight Stakes.

Manaal looks to be the biggest threat to Autumn Glow at 6.00, while Ameena can be backed at 11.00.