Flight Stakes Tips - Upset on the cards as Apocalyptic bids to take out Triple Crown for fillies

The $750,000 Group 1 mile contest has long been a springboard for stars, with winners including Samantha Miss, More Joyous, Alizee and most recently Lady Shenandoah. 

The history of the race points strongly to the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) as the key form reference, and this year is no exception with Apocalyptic arriving as the standout of the 11 contenders after dominant back-to-back victories. 

The Mitchell Freedman-trained galloper was brilliant late in the Furious Stakes (1200m) and then wide throughout before storming clear in the Tea Rose and the mile shapes as a natural progression. 

The main dangers come from those behind her in the Tea Rose. Tupakara, while still a maiden, has built a profile as the consistent bridesmaid of the crop, running top three in black-type races throughout the autumn and spring. She has the depth of form but must overcome a wide draw. 

Queen Of Clubs has been flashing home in her runs and gives every impression that the mile will suit perfectly, while Within The Law finally gets a favourable barrier after being forced back from awkward draws in her lead-ups. All three are capable of making Apocalyptic earn her victory.

Outside of the obvious, several others bring intrigue. Artistic Venture and Magenta Skies tie in closely on form and look suited by the step to 1600m, while Enviable, a Frankel filly, caught the eye with a late surge in the Tea Rose and looks the best roughie to make ground. 

Others such as Reflect and Karinska could add depth to exotics, but will need to lift against the established fillies. 

The Flight Stakes is Race 6 of 10 at Randwick on Saturday October 4 and will be run at 3:00PM AEST. 

There might be a lack of speed here, as there was in the Tea Rose Stakes. Expect Tupakara to be forced to cross over from barrier 11, while Next Jen and Reflect are others that might go forward but the field lacks an obvious leader. Apocalyptic draws barrier 7 and won’t be far away in the run, while the likes of Queen Of Clubs and Within The Law have a chance to be within striking distance from their respective barriers. 

Willing to take on the favourite in the Flight Stakes and willing to have something on Within The Law. She can land much little closer in the run after drawing barrier 2 and has been caught back in slowly run affairs when amongst the beaten brigade behind Apocalyptic. Her best performance as a two-year-old in terms of benchmark figures came in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) in the autumn at the track and trip when a narrow runner-up behind Nepotism so she should tick the 1600m box. Not much between this lot with Apocalyptic going just 4.7 lengths faster than standard benchmark last time and is a bit of a risk at the odds on. 

Queen Of Clubs was set for this series after a dominant win over the 1400m at Rosehill in the winter has caught the eye late in her two runs since then, closing off with the fastest last 200m in the Tea Rose to land two lengths off Apocalyptic. She should have scope for further improvement at her third run since the break and the daughter of Maurice gives every indication that the 1600m will suit. From barrier 4, Nash Rawiler can keep them within striking distance and we can expect her to be closing off well.