Flight Stakes – 2022

Track: Heavy   Weather: Showers Easing

Ten runners have accepted for the $750,000 Group 1 Flight Stakes and there has been no early scratchings. The Chris Waller stable has two runners entered for the event whilst the rest of the trainers have just one entry each.

Fireburn and Zougotcha are joint early favourites at $3.00. Fireburn is on the quick backup following a brilliant fifth last weekend in the Golden Rose. She made ground from a long way back and should have finished much closer in the end. Zougotcha is aiming for three wins on the trot following another nice win in the Tea Rose Stakes. This will be her first go at the mile.

She’s Extreme and Wolverine are joint second/third favourites at $6.50. She’s Extreme is also coming through the Golden Rose after she ran a decent 3.2 length sixth and she is no stranger to the mile after taking out the Champagne Stakes earlier in the year. Wolverine savaged the line in the Tea Rose Stakes, coming from near last to finish 2.1 lengths off Zougotcha in third.

1. Fireburn (9)

On the quick backup following her brilliant display in the Golden Rose. She came from near last on the turn to finish 2.1 lengths back in fifth, in a race where she goes close to winning with a decent draw. Back to her own sex, up to the mile and the wet track brings her right into calculations.

2. She’s Extreme (5)

Finished just off Fireburn in the Golden Rose, 3.2 lengths back in sixth. Not sure if the quick backup suits but she gets to the mile again and is drawn beautifully. Place chance.

3. Zougotcha (2)

Coming through the Tea Rose Stakes where she was an impressive half-length winner, holding off the flyers in Madame Pommery and Wolverine. She has drawn a plum gate and should get a fantastic run throughout. If she has improved adequately, she will be hard to beat.

4. North Star Lass (8)

Got injured during her 3 length fourth in the Tea Rose Stakes. Her best can shake this up but she would need things to go her way.

5. Wolverine (1)

Savaged the line in the Tea Rose Stakes behind Zougotcha. She is going to appreciate the mile and is drawn to sit closer in the run should they want to, but the pace around may just have her buried on the fence. If you backed her last start, it would be hard to drop off now.

6. Madame Pommery (6)

She took Zougotcha to the edge in the Tea Rose Stakes and came home quicker than Wolverine. She has drawn a nice gate and gets Hugh Bowman aboard which is ideal. The mile looks like it’s going to suit her down to the ground and her current price is value if she has improved any.

7. Pavitra (4)

Going for three wins in a row. She is also entered for another race on the day as well as Flemington. Will need to improve massively to win this.

8. Renaissance Woman (3)

Making up the numbers here.

9. Byron Belle (10)

Can’t have her on recent form.

10. Whisker To Whisker (7)

Yet to win in four starts. Also entered for Hawkesbury on Thursday. Prefer others.

The following are the top 4 selections for this year’s race.

Josh’s Tips	Jo’s Tips
6 Madame Pommery	3 Zougotcha
1 Fireburn	1 Fireburn
5 Wolverine	6 Madame Pommery
3 Zougotcha	7 Pavitra

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	3 Zougotcha
2nd	2 She’s Extreme	2 lengths
3rd	4 North Star Lass	2.27 lengths
4th	1 Fireburn	4.41 lengths

The track was rated as Heavy 8.

There were no scratchings.