Flight Stakes Review 2026: What The Jockeys Said

Global Goal dug deep late to beat De Armas and favourite Bangkok Hottie in a three-way thriller for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, giving Dylan Gibbons and John Sargent another elite fillies scalp. Here’s what the riders had to say.

It is always important to hear what the jockeys say after the race, as you can forgive a horse’s bad run or even find a winner next start, so head to the post-race comments below.

PARISEST MAGIC (Rachel King) – 7th

Just a bit outclassed today.

STRIKING ALIBI (James McDonald) – 6th

She just found the mile tough as well as the wet ground.

SUMAC (Jason Collett) – 5th

She stuck on. She may be an Oaks filly.

QUEEN’S GAMBLE (Tommy Berry) – 4th

We tried something different with her just to get into a rhythm which we weren’t able to do last start. Battled on well but not a miler. We found that out today. Plenty of nice races next prep.

BANGKOK HOTTIE (Kerrin McEvoy) – 3rd

Really good run. She is going to enjoy getting into a race with more pressure. That ground might have gone against her a little bit today.

DE ARMAS (Zac Lloyd) – 2nd

She is a beautiful filly. She brought in different form lines today. She was a bit relentless trying to hang in the whole way. Maybe cost her hanging into the inferior going. Gone very well.

GLOBAL GOAL (Dylan Gibbons) – 1st

If the other day was a Group 1, I probably get on my bike a bit earlier, but everything was obviously about the Group 1and getting her ready for this. I just had to ignore that the other day and ultimately you’ve seen she got her knickers in the knot a bit and didn’t know how to go.

When I saw I drew out today, I thought we’re going to get clear air, and when you give her clear air, she’s an absolute demon.

So, once I set out after them – and to her credit she has chased down some good fillies because that last furlong I thought I was motoring well enough to win but when I wasn’t taking ground off them, I got a bit worried. But her last fifty or twenty metres, that’s a horse that wants to win.

She’s an amazing horse because the first time I trialled her, she pinged and led over 700 and I couldn’t hold her, and every other time I’ve ridden her since she doesn’t know how to get on the bridle. She’s obviously maturing as time goes on. You ride her at home, and you wouldn’t think she hits a flat spot because there are no flat spots at home. She’s just a little ripper. All she’s done is please us this whole prep and I’m just thrilled for John and the owners. They’ve stuck solid the whole way through and they’re a great bunch of people to ride for.