The Group One $400,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) to be run at Randwick on Saturday.-
* First run in 1947 when won by Nizam’s Ring.
* For three-year-old fillies and named after the champion mare Flight whose major wins included the Cox Plate (twice), Mackinnon Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Adrian Knox Stakes and Craven Plate (twice).
* Notable gallopers to have won the race include Wenona Girl (1960), Reveille (1964), Cap d’Antibes (1974), Fiancee (1980), Bounding Away (1986), Research (1988), A Little Kiss (1989), Triscay (1990), Slight Chance (1992), Angst (1993), Assertive Lass (dead-heat 1996), Sunline (1998), Unworldly (2000), Ha Ha (2001), Lotteria (2004), Samantha Miss (2008), More Joyous (2009) and Secret Admirer (2010).
* The late TJ Smith is by far the most successful trainer with 12 winners – Jan’s Image (1962), Candy Floss (1966), Flying Gauntlet (1967), Flying Fable (1968), Natal Lass (1969), Better Gleam (1971), Siduri (1972), Jubilee Walk (1978), Snowing (1979), Gelsomino (1982), Bounding Away (1986) and A Little Kiss (1989).
* Smith’s daughter Gai Waterhouse has won the Flight Stakes seven times with Assertive Lass (dead-heat 1996), Danglissa (1999), Ha Ha (2001), Lotteria (2004), Fashions Afield (2005), Cheeky Choice (2006) and More Joyous (2009).
* The Flight Stakes is the final leg of the four-race Princess Series which has been won only twice, by Angst in 1993 and Samantha Miss in 2008.
* Victory Vein just failed to complete the clean sweep when second to Royal Purler in 2002 after earlier scoring in the Silver Shadow, Furious and Tea Rose Stakes while champion Sunline did not start in the first leg, the Silver Shadow, in 1998 but won the last three races.
* Trainers who have won the race with a runner on Saturday: Gai Waterhouse – Urban Groove (Assertive Lass -dead-heat 1996, Danglissa 1999, Ha Ha 2001, Lotteria 2004, Fashions Afield 2005, Cheeky Choice 2006, More Joyous 2009); David Payne – Chez Harmony (Unearthly 2003); Clarry Conners – Dear Demi (Research 1988, Pontal Lass 1995); Bart Cummings – Norzita, Duet (Cap d’Antibes 1974, Apollua 1976, Sun Sally 1977, Danarani 1994).
* Jockeys who have scored in the race with a ride on Saturday: Hugh Bowman – Norzita (Cheeky Choice 2006, Samantha Miss 2008, Streama 2011); Corey Brown – Gondokoro (Unearthly 2003); Nash Rawiller – Urban Groove (More Joyous 2009).
