Only Eight In Flight Stakes Nominations

The 2014 Flight Stakes nominations have been extended until tomorrow after only eight fillies were included in the entries for the Group 1 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

First Seal will have the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Flight Stakes this weekend.

First Seal will have the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Flight Stakes this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

First Seal stamped herself as a filly to watch when she took out the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 20 and she will be one of the leading chances in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) this weekend.

The John Thompson-trained filly finished over the top of Winx and Earthquake to record her maiden win at stakes level in the Tea Rose Stakes and based on that performance, the step-up to a mile will be ideal.

Winx had her undefeated run ended by First Seal in the Tea Rose Stakes, but she will have the chance to turn-the-tables on her rival in the Flight Stakes this weekend.

The daughter of Street Cry recorded a dominant victory on a heavy track in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and she lost no admirers in her Tea Rose Stakes defeat.

Team Hawkes-trained Lady Sharapova beat home just a single runner in the Tea Rose Stakes, but has also been included in the Flight Stakes nominations.

Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse has won the Flight Stakes on seven occasions and she has included Echo Gal, Muscovado and Twirl in the nominations for the $400,000 event.

Twirl was set to run in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 27, but he sustained minor off hind foot injury during the week and Waterhouse was forced to scratch the filly from the race.

The daughter of Lonhro is yet to record a race win, but she has form around the likes of Rubick, Mossfun, Believe Yourself and Earthquake as a two-year-old and won a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on September 19 in impressive fashion.

Echo Gal will be making her Group 1 debut if she runs in the Flight Stakes after she finished second behind Kuro in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on September 20, while Muscovado was third in the Reginald Allen Quality on Saturday.

The Flight Stakes nominations are rounded out by Peter Moody-trained Thinking Of You, wo has recorded two race wins at Wondonga and Caulfield since making her racing debut at the start of the month.

The 2013 edition of the Flight Stakes was won by Guelph, while Norzita, Streama, Secret Admirer, More Joyous and Samantha Miss have all won the race in recent years.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.