Ladbrokes Tip: The Surround Stakes is a nice lead-up to the Coolmore Classic each autumn

The Surround Stakes is a Group 1 race for three-year-old fillies run at Royal Randwick Racecourse in early February each Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival on Chipping Norton Stakes Day. The event was previously a Group 2 race, but gained Group 1 status for the first time in 2018.

The Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) is the headline race at the meeting, which also features a number of Group 2 support acts on the card.

Run over 1400m at set weights, the Surround Stakes now offers a lucrative $500,000 in prize money.

The race is named in honour of former champion filly Surround who took out the 1976-1977 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year award. Fillies that run well in the Surround Stakes may back up and step up in class for a shot at the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill a fortnight later.

The latest edition of the Surround Stakes took place on Saturday February 27, 2021 and was won by the progressive Forbidden Love. 

Surround Stakes Race Info

• Date: Saturday February 27, 2021
• Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
• Distance: 1400m
• Conditions: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights
• Status: Group 1
• Prize Money: $500,000
• First Run: 1979

SURROUND STAKES PREVIEW

SURROUND STAKES ODDS

2021 Surround Stakes Results

The full Surround Stakes 2021 results including the Surround Stakes winner and margins will be known below on Saturday February 27, 2021.

• 1st: #6 Forbidden Love
• 2nd: #8 Vangelic
• 3rd: #11 Elizabeel

Forbidden Love was eye-catching running away for a three-length upset in the 2021 Surround Stakes results that saw the $10 winner beat home roughie hopes Vangelic ($31) and Elizabeel ($26). 

Surround Stakes Betting & Odds

Surround Stakes odds are released after the field is out on the Wednesday before the race.

In-form fillies coming off good lead-up runs in Sydney earlier in the autumn dominate the Surround Stakes betting markets.

Favourites have a strong recent record in the Surround Stakes and the markets are led by Light Fingers Stakes graduates that ran in the first three last time out a fortnight before.

Nakeeta Jane ($3.60 in 2019) was the last Surround Stakes favourite to salute for the punters. 

Since More Joyous (2010) completed the Light Fingers Stakes – Surround Stakes double, the only winners of the latter to finish worse than fourth in the lead-up were Thump (2014) who improved on a Light Fingers seventh to win, Shoals (2018) who atoned for a first-up eighth in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1600m) to post her second Group 1 success and Magic Millions Guineas ninth placed Forbidden Love (2021). 

Nakeeta Jane (2019) was also the last filly to do the Light Fingers Stakes – Surround Stakes double winning the latter as the $3.60 favourite in Surround Stakes betting.

2021 Surround Stakes Odds

The season’s top Surround Stakes 2021 betting odds will be available right here so stay tuned for access to our autumn racing markets.

First Seal (2015) was odds-on in Surround Stakes betting for her win that led into a Coolmore Classic second. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.

The Surround Stakes field features a line-up of the season’s best middle-distance fillies that are looking to step up to a mile or further over the autumn.

Many fillies in the field come out of the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) held two weeks earlier, which is the traditional lead-up race to the Surround Stakes.

The latest fillies to complete the Light Fingers Stakes – Surround Stakes double are Nakeeta Jane (2019), More Joyous (2010) and Gold Edition (2007).

Surround Stakes nominations close on a Tuesday in early February, with the final field of acceptances and barrier draw released on the Wednesday of race week.

2021 Surround Stakes Field

The official Surround Stakes 2021 field and barriers for the Chipping Norton Stakes Day Group 2 support race will be available below once announced the Wednesday before the race so stay tuned.

The 2021 Surround Stakes field features a capacity line-up of fillies including the returning Flight Stakes – Spring Champion Stakes double winner Montefilia the favourite Dame Giselle looking to return to winning form second-up. 

2021 Surround Stakes Nominations

Early Surround Stakes 2021 nominations close on Tuesday the 9th of February, 2021 with late entries open until the Monday of race week. 

Forty-three fillies make-up the 2021 Surround Stakes nominations this autumn including the brilliant Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Away Game, the consistent Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart and Dame Giselle for Team Snowden. 

Surround Stakes Tips

Surround Stakes tips are led each autumn by the fillies that ran first four in the Light Fingers Stakes two weeks earlier.

The Light Fingers Stakes has produced more Surround Stakes winners than any other lead-up including all but five of the 13 winners from 2009 – 2021.

2021 Surround Stakes Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Surround Stakes 2021 tips and betting selections on which fillies to back and sack in the Group 2 this autumn will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.

• To Win: #2 Away Game ($8.50 at time of publish) 

Open edition of the Surround Stakes and at the price, going to give Away Game another go. She’s drawn wide, but not such a bad thing in a big field at Randwick. Presents fit third-up and comes off back-to-back thirds in the Magic Millions Guineas and the Light Fingers Stakes. Only a quarter-length beaten last time out and think she’ll appreciate getting back up to 1400m here. 

Surround Stakes Form Guide

The Surround Stakes form guide lists all of the crucial information like barriers, jockeys and trainers punters need to consider before placing a bet on the fillies’ only feature. The Surround Stakes form has held up in better autumn classics over the years including the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000).

In 2015 First Seal won the Surround Stakes before finishing second in both of those elite level features for the female gallopers. In 2014 Lucia Valentina ran third in the Surround Stakes before winning the Vinery Stud Stakes two starts later and running third in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

2021 Surround Stakes Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Surround Stakes 2021 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Surround Stakes Results

The Surround Stakes results have been dominated by the favourites in recent years.The most notable upset in the past decade was Thump who saluted at $25 in 2014 and Shoals ($13 in 2018).

Standout Surround Stakes winners include First Seal (2015), Streama (2012), More Joyous (2010) and Gold Edition (2007).

Surround Stakes Winners