The Sydney spring feature for 3-year-old fillies, the G1 Darley Flight S. is the final leg in the Darley Princess Series which has taken place over the last two months.
The winner's list for the Flight is rich with beautiful pedigrees and names that would soon star in their own right as top producers.
In the last 10 years, five winners were positioned like Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible), victorious last start in the G2 Tea Rose S., including last year's winner Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and 2017 winner Alizee (Sepoy). 2018 winner Oohood (I Am Invincible) ran fourth in the Tea Rose, while Global Glamour (Star Witness) ran sixth in the same race in 2016.
Vangelic's (Vancouver) co-trainer Gai Waterhouse is the winning-most trainer of the G1 Flight S., with seven wins to her name since 1999 - no other trainer has won more than one running over the same period. Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) will be piloted by Hugh Bowman who has won four Flight S. in the last 20 years.
No. 1 Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible x Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}))
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Barrier: 1
After impressively taking out the first three legs of the Darley Princess Series, Dame Giselle will bid to become the third filly to complete the clean sweep of the series. Samantha Miss (Redoute's Choice) also completed the quaddie in 2008, with Angst (Kala Dancer {GB}) the first in 1993.
Purchased by Go Bloodstock for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Sledmere Stud, Dame Giselle is the sixth foal to race out of multiple Group winner Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who China Horse Club purchased in foal with this filly for $350,000 in 2017.
She is a half-sister to Group 1 performer Cha Siu Bao (Smart Missile) and the Group-placed stakes producer The Fairy’s Kiss (Elusive Quality {USA}). Ballet Society is out of Centuria (NZ) (Centaine), making her a half-sister to dual New Zealand Group 1 winner Cent Home (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
Dame Giselle has a yearling half-brother by Pride Of Dubai, while Ballet Society missed to I Am Invincible last year.
China Horse Club have already picked up nominations to Harry Angel (Ire), Frosted (USA) and Microphone as the breeder of Dame Giselle who won the first three legs, a generous accompanying prize provided by sponsor Darley. The breeder of the winner of the Flight will take home a nomination to Too Darn Hot (GB).
Dame Giselle
No. 2 Hungry Heart (Frankel (GB) x Harlech (GB) (Pivotal {GB}))
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: James McDonald
Barrier: 4
Hungry Heart was conceived overseas and foaled in Australia. Yulong purchased her dam Harlech (GB) for £60,000 (AU$124,000) at the Tattersalls July Sale and put her in foal to unbeaten superstar Frankel (GB), on Southern Hemisphere time before sending her to Australia.
Yulong then offered her filly through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she fetched $300,000 to Belmont Bloodstock as part of a buyback on behalf of Yueshang Zhang's wife.
Harlech herself only raced once and is a daughter of Listed winner Zoowraa (GB) (Azamour {Ire}), while she is also a half-sister to G3 Atalanta S. winner Maamora (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). She has a 2-year-old colt and a yearling filly who are both by champion sire Snitzel, while she was not served in 2019.
Hungry Heart as a yearling
No. 3 Vangelic (Vancouver x Angel Bee (NZ) (Pins)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Tim Clark
Barrier: 3
Multiple stakes-placed filly Vangelic was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing for $400,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud and she is the third foal to race and win out of Pins mare Angel Bee.
Angel Bee is out of Group 3 winner Zabeels Angel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), making her a half-sister to the stakes-placed O’Angel (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}) and Turnstiles (NZ) (Anabaa {USA}), who is also the dam of the Group-placed Revolving Door (Sebring) and Golden Spin (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Angel Bee has a 2-year-old colt by the late Hinchinbrook who realised $80,000 to the bid of Blueblood Thoroughbreds, Mick Price Racing and Sheamus Mills at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, while she is currently in foal to Written Tycoon.
Vangelic as a yearling
No. 4 Montefilia (Kermadec (NZ) - Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco {GB}))
Trainer: David Payne
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Barrier: 6
Montefilia was originally purchased as a weanling by Baystone Farm for $62,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale from the draft of Tyreel Stud before being again offered under the Tyreel Stud banner at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Payne Racing for $130,000.
She is the third winner from four to race out of Bana Wu (GB) who herself placed at stakes level in the UK three times. Her second dam is Ausherra (USA) (Diesis {GB}), who is also responsible for dual Group 2 winner and the G1 Dewhurst S.-placed Strategic Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Bana Wu has a 2-year-old filly by Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Ire), who was purchased by Ciaron Maher Racing for $160,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, while she has a yearling colt by Ribchester (Ire).
Montefilia as a yearling
No. 5 Joviality (I Am Invincible - Limbo Down (NZ) (Fastnet Rock))
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Barrier: 5
Joviality was a $330,000 buy for Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Fairhill Farm.
Her dam, Limbo Down (NZ), has three metropolitan winners, including Limbo Soul (I Am Invincible) and Howlowcanyougo (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The extended family includes stakes winners Handsome Ransom (Red Ransom {USA}) and Danajaya (Danehill {USA}).
Star Thoroughbreds was also the winning bidder on Joviality's now 2-year-old sister, named Affability, for $350,000 at the Classic Sale this year.
Limbo Down, who is owned by Reg Kemister, produced a colt by I Am Invincible last year and is now in foal to Pierro.
Joviality as a yearling
No. 6 Miravalle (Redoute’s Choice - Condesaar (Xaar {GB}))
Trainer: Mark Newnham
Jockey: Joshua Parr
Barrier: 7
Miravalle was a $460,000 purchase by Rick Worthington out of the Kulani Park draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Her dam Condesaar has five winners from five to race, highlighted by dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American), who is now embarking on her breeding career in Japan.
Miravalle’s third dam is G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Condessa (GB) (Condorcet {Fr}), who is also responsible for Japanese stakes winner Biko Pegasus (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
Now owned by Rosemont Stud, who paid $320,000 for her at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Condesaar has a yearling filly by Redoute’s Choice and was covered by Starcraft (NZ) last spring.
Miravalle as a yearling
No. 7 Alighted (Smart Missile - Aloona (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}))
Trainer: Anthony Cummings
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
Barrier: 2
Alighted was purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services and Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds for $360,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
She is the third foal to race out of winning French mare Aloona (USA), making her a half-sister to G2 Todman S. winner Aylmerton (Siyouni {Fr}). Aloona herself is a half-sister to dual stakes winner Galatee (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), who is also the dam of multiple Group scorers Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Manatee (GB) (Monsun {Ger}).
Aloona has a 2-year-old colt by Astern who is named Arnaqueur and a yearling colt by pensioned Arrowfield sire Not A Single Doubt, while she is currently in foal to Snitzel.
Alighted as a yearling
