Golden Rose runner up Champagne Cuddles is set to back up this Saturday after being included in the nominations for the Group 1 $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Alizee, above in royal blue colours, is included in the nominations for the Flight Stakes at Randwick. Photo buy Steve Hart.

Alizee, above in royal blue colours, is included in the nominations for the Flight Stakes at Randwick. Photo buy Steve Hart.

Eleven fillies were nominated for the Flight Stakes this morning forcing the Australian Turf Club to extend the entry deadline until 11am on Tuesday September 26, 2017.

Champagne Cuddles has been in the runner’s up stall at her last three outings, including her last start second to runaway winner Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker informed Sky Racing News that the  Champagne Cuddles had pulled up well after Saturday’s effort and will now step up to the 1600m of the Flight Stakes.

Champagne Cuddles could be lining up for her third Saturday in a row after finishing second to Alizee in the Group 2 $200,000 McGrath Estate Agents Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 16.

The James Cummings trained Alizee is also among the Flight Stakes nominations and will be one of the main chances going her impressive Tea Rose Stakes win.

Tea Rose Stakes winning jockey Glyn Schofield said that Alizee was now ready to be tested over 1600m after feeling strong at the end of the 1400m.

“Alizee was strong to the line and on that run I would think she would run 1600m if the stable decided to go to the Flight Stakes,’’ Schofield said.

“Everyone has been waiting for her to show up and run well and she has been able to do that.”

Queensland filly Cellargirl ran third behind Alizee and Champagne Cuddles in the Tea Rose Stakes and trainer Kelly Schweida has nominated the More Than Ready filly for the Flight Stakes.

Randwick trainer John Thompson has entered three fillies for the Flight Stakes, One More Honey, Smooth Landing and Sweet Deal.

All three ran in the Tea Rose Stakes with One More Honey finishing fifth just ahead of Sweet Deal with Smooth Landing in eighth position.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable will be represented with Pandemonium who could only beat one runner home last start when ninth in the Tea Rose Stakes.

Nominations for the 2017 Flight Stakes (1600m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 425×1241 ALIZEE F 3 James Cummings 86
2 140x1x123 CELLARGIRL F 3 Kelly Schweida 80
3 1x1x3222 CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES F 3 Bjorn Baker 90
4 31×537 I AM EXCITED F 3 David Pfieffer 77
5 6x57130x21 LEGAL GIRL F 3 Clarry Conners 68
6 177 LUVALUVA (NZ) F 3 John Sargent 57
7 15195×45 ONE MORE HONEY F 3 John P Thompson 78
8 359×4119 PANDEMONIUM F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 70
9 674×348 SMOOTH LANDING F 3 John P Thompson
10 324×6216 SWEET DEAL F 3 John P Thompson 66
11 643×3 TOUCH OF MINK F 3 Matthew Smith

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.