The Surround Stakes is a Group 1, set weights race for 3yo fillies, held at Royal Randwick over 1400m. Named in honour of the lone 3yo filly to win a Cox Plate, Surround, the $600k feature is a key target for many fillies on the Sydney Autumn calendar.
Some notable winners in recent years have been Toowoomba-trained filly, Gold Edition (2007), Gai’s champion mare More Joyous (2010) and First Seal, who defeated, yes you read correctly, defeated Winx in this race in 2015. This year’s race looks to be a ripper, providing the weather gods are kind, with a capacity field of quality fillies lining up.
Looking at the market, leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has a strong hand in the race. Sportsbet has his star filly Espiona a $2.20 favourite, ahead of stablemate Fangirl at $4.20. It’s double figures the rest, headed by Jamaea at $12.
Revenge for Espiona? Fangirl repeats the dose? Is there an upset? Who do you like the Group 1 Surround Stakes on Saturday? pic.twitter.com/wAWj9PeH9R
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 23, 2022
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and it’s a race like this that can throw up any sort of result. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Surround Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Yearning (2) – $26 – Scratched
Jockey – William Pike 56kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
G1 1000 Guineas winner resuming. Handles the wet and has had the benefit of two trials. Capable of running a big race fresh here.
2. Never Been Kissed (9) – $26
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Maiden to G1 winner last prep. Untried on heavy ground, but has to be respected on what she’s produced thus far. Given a strong hit out in her latest trial. Can race well fresh.
3. Fangirl (16) – $4.20
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Upset the stablemate and favourite Espiona first up in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes here at Randwick. That effort was no fluke. The gate (16) probably forces Bowman to ride her cold again, but if she can get through the track, there is no reason why she can’t win again.
4. Four Moves Ahead (18) – $21
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56kg
Trainer – John Sargent
Disappointing first up in the Light Fingers, where she was in the market. Blinkers come off here to help her relax better, and she’s 1 for 1 on the heavy. Downfall is, she has drawn the car park.
5. Hinged (1) – $19
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Former Qld galloper who was good first up behind Fangirl. Got back and made good late headway on that occasion. Step up to 1400m is a plus and she loves the wet. Can figure in the finish here.
6. Jamaea (8) – $12
Jockey – Brock Ryan 56kg
Trainer – Robert & Luke Price
Good run first up in the Light Fingers, where she loomed to win at the furlong. Is yet to win past 1200m, and hasn’t seen a heavy track. Will get a good run from the gate, but I’m willing to risk her here.
7. Espiona (13) – $2.20F
Jockey – James McDonald 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Boom filly who was overturned by her stablemate, Fangirl, first up in the Light Fingers. She was odds on that occasion, but was far from disgraced. She raced wide and was exposed pre the turn by McDonald, and still fought strongly to the line. She brained her rivals last prep at Flemington, in her only go at 1400m. Bog track is the only query, but she has won on a soft6. If she handles the conditions, there is no doubt she is the one to beat.
“The wet will be no problem. And while I might be biased I was surprised to see the big gap in the market.”@samueljfreedman on Zouzarella who takes on star fillies Espiona and Fangirl in the G1 Surround Stakes @royalrandwick on Saturday #RacingPulse
— RSN927am (@RSN927) February 23, 2022
8. Startantes (11) – $26
Jockey – Jason Collett 56kg
Trainer – Robert Heathcote
Consistent Qld trained filly who was good in the Light Fingers last start. Her late sectionals were good there, and the step up in trip is no problem. Has soft track form, but like many others here, the heavy going will be the testing material. Place hope.
9. Zouzarella (17) – $18
Jockey – Chad Schofield 56kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Resumed with a strong 4th to Fangirl in the Light Fingers. Draws a bad gate here (17), which makes her task tough, and will need an 11/10 ride from Chad Schofield to be winning.
10. Heresy (6) – $21
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 56kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Another who resumed in the Light Fingers. Was good to the line there, suggesting the step up to 1400m will be beneficial. Draws to get a good run and can figure in the frame if she handles the wet.
11. Shihonka (14) – $31
Jockey – Rachel King 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Tough filly who has had a freshen up since two good runs in Qld. One of those was on a heavy10, where she finished 2nd in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben. Her form is probably not quite up to some of these, but her ability to handle all conditions brings her into it.
12. Sweet Ruby (5) – $46
Jockey – Jay Ford 56kg
Trainer – Kim Waugh
Last start mile winner, in bm64 grade. Has had a trial since that run and draws well. Big step up here, but not the worst.
13. Tilianam (10) – $91
Jockey – Tim Clark 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Plain first up in the Light Fingers. Only two wins have been 1000m. Bred to run 1400m, but from what we’ve seen on raceday that looks like an unknown. Untried in the wet. Happy to go around her.
14. Larkspur Run (15) – $41
Jockey – Glyn Schofield 56kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Got home well late first up at Caulfield behind the smart Artgentia. 1400m looks no problem going off that run. Has good wet form which is a big tick. Drawn wide here, but if ridden cold can finish off hard again. Chance at odds.
15. Ringarosa (12) – $61 – Scratched
Jockey – Keagan Latham 56kg
Trainer – Gary Portelli
Kembla Grange maiden winner two back. Struggled in a bm64 last time out. Has won on the heavy but needs to find a few lengths to be competitive here.
Hoping @GaryPortelli send Ringarosa around in the Surround stakes.
Big step up to G1 company but she has a lethal turn of foot, loves a wet track. Rail true at Randwick suits her down to the ground.
The race could fall away with this wet track. $31 a place 👀 #surroundstakes
— Dean Watling (@deanwatling) February 22, 2022
16. Hope In Your Heart (7) – $101
Jockey – Andrew Adkins 56kg
Trainer – Kerry Parker
Stablemate of Think It Over. Beaten in two goes bm72 grade this prep. Latest wasn’t a bad effort and is drawn well here, but needs to lift.
17e. Von Trapp (3) – $81 – Scratched
Jockey – Joshua Parr 56kg
Trainer – Mark Newnham
Well bred filly. Wasn’t disgraced first up in the Light Fingers. Ran a big race last prep in the G2 Tea Rose, this track/distance. If she gains a start, she is more than capable of measuring up.
18e. I’m Divine (4) – $91
Jockey – Tom Sherry 56kg
Trainer – Edward Cummings
Broke her maiden first up in good style. 1400m no issue, and has trialled since, beating Trekking. Plenty of upside, but maybe not here.
Final Word
Well it looks a race in two according to the market, and after doing the form, they do look the two fillies to beat. I speak of the Waller pair, Espiona and Fangirl, who fought out the finish of the G2 Light Fingers here a fortnight ago. Fangirl was able to nose out Espiona on that occasion, but with even luck in running here, Espiona looks poised to reverse the result.
GROUP 1 DOUBLE: The Chipping Norton and Surround Stakes signal the Sydney Autumn Carnival is just about here and we have the nation’s best milers and 3yo fillies chasing Group 1 glory at Randwick on Saturday. @tabcomau @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/4wJcQ2w7VA
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 23, 2022
Of course, the wet track throws a spanner in the works, and there are a few horses that finished behind the top two in the market first up, that are capable of improving here. Arrowfield filly, Yearning, can run a big race fresh on the wet track. The Godolphin pair, Heresy and Larkspur Run, were good first up in their respective races and can figure in the finish, and Chris Waller’s third and least favoured runner, Hinged, is more than capable of getting the job done second up here in the wet.
As we saw in the Light Fingers, and again last week in the Hobartville Stakes, there isn’t a lot between the 3YOs at this time of year. I have no doubt Fangirl and Espiona are well above average fillies, but I’m going to go with Espiona on this occasion, as I think she can get the job done second up. Not sure I want to be taking even money on a bog track, but it’s hard to tip against her here. If you don’t want to put your hard earned on her at the short quote, I suggest a small trifecta with the above horses mentioned included.
Best Surround Stakes Tip: 7. Espiona – Win ($2.20)
Next Best: Trifecta – 1st: 3, 7; 2nd 1, 3, 5, 7,10, 14; 3rd 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 ($40 for 100%)
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Surround Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Sportsbet.
