Post-race jockey reports from the 2024 Flight Stakes

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Zac Lloyd guides Lady Shenandoah to victory in the Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Lady Shenandoah carried on her winning way when trouncing her opposition in the $750,000 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Make way for the lady!

Lady Shenandoah makes a mess of the G1 Flight Stakes with a dominant win for @ZacLloydx and @cwallerracing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/GAlwl6Ber6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024

The win was Lady Shenandoah’s two from four starts and took her earnings to more than $600,000.

Lady Shenandoah is a three-year-old filly by Snitzel, she was ridden by Zac Lloyd and is trained by Chris Waller.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Flight Stakes.

1st - LADY SHENANDOAH (Zac Lloyd (a)) That was a good first impression, that’s for sure. What a filly and obviously I’m very lucky to land on her, but I’m very honoured to get the ride for Hermitage and Mr Waller and hopefully I can get a couple more Group 1s as easy as that. It was scintillating. It was a bit tricky early, obviously with the speed, no-one was quite sure who would take it up and probably the last horse I expected was Tommy (Berry) to take it up (on Powers Of Opal). I really wanted to get cover on her because I thought if I just get her to switch on she would have a good turn of foot. Lucky I was able to get in the one-one. She travelled like the winner the whole way and I just had to count to five before I let her go. But I don’t think it mattered, she’s very good.

2nd - HARLEM QUEEN (Sam Clipperton) Super run. Couldn’t be more proud of her. The winner dropped her on sprinting but she relished the mile and will relish perhaps even 2000m and beyond. Really nice filly going forward.

3rd - SNOW IN MAY (Kerrin McEvoy) I thought she ran a nice race there. She travelled well. The winner just kicked away from us at the top of the lane. She will be better into next preparation as well.

4th - POWERS OF OPAL (Tommy Berry) Obviously not the place we want to be on a horse who is usually getting back. But there was just no tempo in the race. They went pretty slow in the middle stages and she was outsprinted in the straight. Stuck on well for a horse heading to the Oaks.

5th - LAZZURA (Craig Williams) She got a bit upset before enacting the start. Subsequently she came out last and I couldn’t ride to my instructions pre-race. I thought at that level at the 1600m she only stayed on fairly.

6th - MISS BUSSLINGER (Dylan Gibbons) Had a similar idea to Tommy (Berry). We just didn’t have that class to keep going on with it today.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2024 Flight Stakes