Surround Stakes 2023

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the Surround Stakes:

The Surround Stakes is a Group 1 race which takes place each year in February. The race in 2023 will be held on Saturday 25th of February at Randwick Racecourse. Looking back to the race in 2022, it was won by Hinged.

This race was first run in 1979 and initially classed as a Group 3 contest for three-year-old fillies over the 1400m at set weights at Warwick Farm. The race has been run at Randwick since 2016 and was elevated to Group 1 level in 2018.

The race is named in honour of the 1976-77 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, Surround. She was a small little grey filly trained by the enigmatic but masterful trainer Geoff Murphy at his Caulfield stables.

She was bred in New Zealand by Sovereign Edition (NZ) out of Micheline (NZ). As a three-year-old she started on 16 occasions and won 12 of them including becoming the first, and as of now the only, three-year-old filly to win the W.S.Cox Plate. She suffered an injury in her four-year-old season and was retired.

The race only gained Group 1 status recently and the honour roll suggests the rise in status was well deserved. Hosannah won in 2002, Gold Edition in 2007 before the bonny John Singleton owned filly More Joyous got the prize in 2010.

The multiple Group 1 winning New Zealand mare won this race in 2020 before progressing to top class.

The Surround Stakes is an Australian Group 1 held at Randwick Racecourse, it is one of the first major races in the calendar year and the $600,000 prizemoney attached to it means the race brings some of the best horses from across the country to Sydney, whilst also attracting many Australians, just like the team here at The Shark, who like to have a punt. Our expert tipsters will put together a list of their best Surround Stakes tips, so look out for them in the leadup to the big race.

Given nominations are still not accepted for the 2023 Surround Stakes, it is hard to provide any updates at this time. However, as the new racing season starts to kick into gear, the group of horses that are targeting this race will become clear and then we will be able to provide updates. If you are after Surround Stakes horse tips, then we will keep you informed with which horses are likely to get a run, so you can place your futures bets with confidence!

Unfortunately no betting agencies have Surround Stakes odds available, but we will keep on top of this for you and bring you the information as it comes in. When looking for Surround Stakes tips, we have indicated some important factors to success in the betting section below!

We will list The Sharks’ Surround Stakes best tips for the race this year closer to the time of the race. Make sure you check back on this page for updates!

Surround Stakes Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the Surround Stakes in 2023 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the Surround Stakes is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2023 Surround Stakes. Be sure to check back here closer to the time of the race.

There are a lot of important factors to consider before betting on the Surround Stakes. Make sure you have a read on below before you place your bets:

Is Previous Surround Stakes Form a Good Indicator of Future Success?

This race is open to three-year-old fillies only. The form from the previous Surround Stakes is irrelevant except for watching the lead-up races that winners have come from.

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the Surround Stakes?

Yes. Nakeeta Jane was $3.60 favourite when she won in 2019 and with the set weights format it will always suggest that the best filly will get her chance.

She is the only favourite that has won in the last 5 years but favourites are never far away in this race. In 2022, the favourite, Espiona, finished in third place.

Formlines from Lead Up Races

The Light Fingers Stakes over the 1200m at Randwick is the logical lead-up to the Surround Stakes. Nakeeta Jane managed to complete the double back in 2019 and that is the preferred race to contest prior to the Surround.

The last couple of winners have come from varying lead-up races. Probabeel went back home to New Zealand and won the three-year-old Karaka Million before returning across the Tasman and winning the Surround Stakes at her next start.

The winner in 2021, Forbidden Love had gone north and disappointed in the Magic Millions Guineas on the Gold Coast before bouncing back for an impressive Surround Stakes win at double figure odds.

In 2022, Hinged contested the Light Fingers, as many others have in the past. But she didn’t really put up that good of a performance in that race, finishing 7th, in a field of 14.

Age

This race is for three-year-old fillies only.

Weight

The Surround Stakes is run under set-weights conditions and all fillies carry the same weight. This will suggest that the best filly will get her chance.

Gender

Dedicated race for three-year-old fillies.

Surround Stakes Best Bets

Our Surround Stakes best bets for 2023 are not out just yet, make sure you keep an eye out on this page as we will provide more details about our best bets when the final field is announced.

You will find our best bets below once available. Stay tuned!

Before the Surround Stakes field is officially announced – many online bookies will open early markets, or all-in markets, for Surround Stakes betting. This is probably the best time to bet on your favourite horse, as you might be able to bet on strong runners for the 2023 Surround Stakes at nice odds.

Once the bookies release their 2023 Surround Stakes odds, they will tend to fluctuate everyday in the lead up to race day, especially when there is a better idea of the group of horses that will be targeting the Surround Stakes, as well as their form leading into the race.

Getting on these markets early means you could find the favourite at a double digit price, which means if your chosen horse does win, you will get a much higher return! However, there is increased risk with doing this, so you should be aware before placing your hard earned cash down.

Depending on when you put your 2023 Surround Stakes futures bet on, your horse may not even run in the race, but you also won’t get your money back, occurring when the market is ‘All-In’ or closer to the starting date. If you decide to bet when it says ‘Before Noms’, then you have the security of receiving your cash back if your horse doesn’t get a run.

The 2023 Surround Stakes odds are out, and Zougotcha is the narrow favourite ahead of  In Secret, who is on the second line of betting. Here are the current odds, courtesy of Neds, as of early-February:

The 2o22 Surround Stakes field was stacked, to say the least. However, due to the sheer amount of rain Sydney had received in the week leading up to the race, including on the race day, the track was a Heavy 10, and we saw two scratchings, plus another scratching from an emergency.

In the end, there were 15 horses that went around the soaking Randwick track. Of the 15 runners, only two of them were under double digit odds, which were Espiona ($2.60) and Fangirl ($3.50).

Having contested the Light Fingers in her previous race, and finishing 2nd, Espiona started as favourite. She had never raced on a heavy track before, but her overall record coming into this race was 3:2-1-0.

Fangirl was the winner of the Light Fingers in her previous start, and like Espiona, she had also never raced on a heavy track. The 3YO had a record of 6:4-0-1 prior to the running of the Surround Stakes in 2022.

The Randwick track was tricky, to say the least. It was a Heavy 10, and if the ratings went past 10, it probably would have for this race! After rain all week in the lead up to the race, including heavy rain on race day, it was a surprise the meeting wasn’t cancelled.

As is usually the case when it comes to a heavy track, the results brought up something a little different, as $10 priced Hinged got the chocolates for the Surround Stakes. Hinged finished just 0.06L in front of Startantes, who was a $19 chance. To round out the minor placings was the favourite, Espiona, who was 1.23L behind the winner.

Espiona just had too much to do, as she was back in 9th place at the 400m mark. While Startantes seemed to love the heavy track, she was 10th at the 400m and absolutely stormed home to give Hinged something to think about in the final couple of strides.

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2022 Surround Stakes race:

Surround Stakes Winners

The results for the upcoming Surround Stakes are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: