Surround Stakes 2024

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 late February or early March each Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day. The event was previously a Group 2 race, but gained Group 1 status for the first time in 2018.

2022 Surround Stakes Winner Hinged

2022 Surround Stakes winner Hinged. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) – formerly run as the Chipping Norton Stakes – is the headline race at the meeting that 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 $750,000 in prize money as of 2024.

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 March 2, 2024 and was won first-up by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained resuming Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall ($8.50). 

2024 Surround Stakes Results

The full Surround Stakes 2024 results including the Surround Stakes winner and margins will be known below on Saturday March 2, 2024.

2024 Surround Stakes winner Tropical Squall

2024 Surround Stakes winner Tropical Squall is onto the Group 1 Coolmore Classic next-up. Photo: Steve Hart.

  • 1st: #1 Tropical Squall
  • 2nd: #12 Stefi Magnetica
  • 3rd: #7 Tutta La Vita

There was plenty of value to be had in the 2024 Surround Stakes trifecta with the returning Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Group 1 Flight Stakes champ Tropical Squall ($8.50) fighting off Stefi Magnetica to get the job done fresh off ahead of a Coolmore Classic target second-up.

2024 Surround Stakes Odds

The season’s top Surround Stakes 2024 betting odds will be available right here so stay tuned for access to our autumn racing markets.

Early market betting odds on the 2024 Surround Stakes will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.

Surround Stakes Race Info

  • Date: Saturday March 2, 2024
  • Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
  • Distance: 1400m
  • Conditions: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights
  • Status: Group 1
  • Prize Money: $750,000
  • First Run: 1979

Surround Stakes Betting

Surround Stakes betting 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), that season’s Light Fingers seventh placed filly Hinged (2022), and first-up champ Tropical Squall (2024) whose previous run was a 10th in the VRC Oaks the November prior.

2023 Surround Stakes Winner Sunshine In Paris

Sunshine In Paris just got there on the line to score a narrow victory in the 2023 Surround Stakes in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.

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.

In 2023 Sunshine In Paris improved on a lead-up second in the Light Fingers Stakes to win the Group 1 in a thrilling four-way photo finish at $11.

Surround Stakes Field

The Surround Stakes race 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.

2024 Surround Stakes Field

The official Surround Stakes 2024 field and barriers for the Verry Elleegant Stakes Day support race will be available below once announced the Wednesday before the race so stay tuned.

The 2024 Surround Stakes field features a smart line-up of fillies with Learning To Fly leading markets to go one better than her close second fresh in the Light Fingers Stakes.

2024 Surround Stakes Nominations

Early Surround Stakes 2024 nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 13th of February, 2024 with late entries open until the Monday of race week.

The Surround Stakes 2024 nominations attracted 56 hopeful fillies including Ciaron Maher’s multiple Group 2 winner Tiz Invincible, her in form stablemate Estriella, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Group 1 Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall, and Annabel Neasham’s untapped Inglis Millennium champ Learning To Fly.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 1×4 ABOUT A GIRL (NZ) F 3 Chris Waller 60
2 19x505314x AMAZONIAN LASS F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
3 312x64280x APRILIA (NZ) F 3 Kris Lees
4 32x1165x ARCTIC GLAMOUR F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 77
5 2x1331x AUTUMN ANGEL F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
6 15x188x AUTUMN BALLET F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 83
7 313 BALLET D’ESPRIT F 3 Michael Freedman 64
8 7x1122x BALLROOM BELLA F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 71
9 451 BELLE INFERNO F 3 Ciaron Maher
10 242×12 COUNTYOURBLESSINGS F 3 John O’Shea 62
11 4x DARLING DOWNS F 3 Ciaron Maher
12 1×1 DONEGAL F 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes
13 1226×1 ESTRIELLA F 3 Ciaron Maher
14 2x522x120x FACILE F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 80
15 16x60586x FIRESTORM (NZ) F 3 Chris Waller
16 2x19140x6 FRENCH ENDEAVOUR F 3 Matthew Smith 74
17 111338x HARLOW MIST (NZ) F 3 John Sargent
18 x9838x2261 INFATUATION F 3 Bjorn Baker 79
19 39x3x ISTHMUS F 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman
20 13x322232x KIMOCHI F 3 Gary Portelli 96
21 24x4012x KIND WORDS F 3 Kris Lees 70
22 1x42147x KONASANA F 3 Chris Waller
23 21x08x4 KRISTILLI F 3 Annabel Neasham 84
24 23x24x KUNDALINI F 3 Ciaron Maher
25 1 LA CASONA F 3 Ciaron Maher
26 1x06x2 LAST STRAW F 3 John Sargent 66
27 1P8x0940x2 LAZZAGO F 3 Chris Waller
28 111Lx LEARNING TO FLY F 3 Annabel Neasham 90
29 11x267x LEGACIES F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
30 21 LUIJZIKA F 3 Ciaron Maher
31 211×2 MAKARENA F 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 85
32 4×11 MARE OF MT BULLER F 3 Chris Waller 66
33 11×1014 MATERIAL DREAMS F 3 Nick Ryan
34 2134×4 MOESHA F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
35 2x1144x MOLLYNICKERS F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
36 35x43911x MUMBAI MUSE F 3 Michael Freedman 87
37 449 NOCTUA F 3 Matthew Smith
38 13×51 OUR GOLD HOPE F 3 Robert & Luke Price 63
39 635x PAJANTI F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
40 2×21 PINK CHANDON F 3 Michael Moroney
41 247x QUICKSTER F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
42 25×2 REASONABLE F 3 Ciaron Maher
43 2211x ROLL ON HIGH F 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
44 0x2212 SPARKLING F 3 Matt Laurie
45 272×021 STARMAE F 3 Bjorn Baker 61
46 62 STEEL IMPACT F 3 Ciaron Maher
47 56x331x123 STEFI MAGNETICA F 3 Bjorn Baker 67
48 SWEET HEAVEN F 3 Anthony Cummings
49 1×3 THE HAWKESBURY F 3 Clarry Conners 62
50 42x11169x TIZ INVINCIBLE F 3 Ciaron Maher 92
51 1x13120x TROPICAL SQUALL F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
52 221x6734x TUTTA LA VITA F 3 Chris Waller 86
53 714×795 VOS SAVANT F 3 Anthony Cummings 58
54 31×2 WAIKATO GIRL (NZ) F 3 Michael Freedman 66
55 189x05121x WEST OF DALBY F 3 Benjamin Smith 79
56 11x007121x ZARDOZI F 3 James Cummings 102

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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 six of the 16 winners from 2009 – 2024.

2024 Surround Stakes Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Surround Stakes 2024 tips and betting selections on which runners to back and sack in the Group 1 fillies’ race this autumn will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.

  • To Win: #3 Kimochi ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW

So many good fillies in this year’s Surround Stakes with a genuine shot at the Group 1 title, but going with the one coming off a good win fresh with Kimochi on top at a nice price. The Gary Portelli-trained daughter of Brave Smash beat a number of these same rivals home first-up in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes – albeit by a very narrow margin. She goes up to 1400m now and that is the query as she is yet to win over further than 1200m. That said, she is a narrow two-time Group 1 runner-up over a mile so I think the issues with the distance can be forgotten. Needs to rise to the occasion now.

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).

The 2022 Surround Stakes winner Hinged franked the form with placings in that autumn’s Coolmore Classic (3rd) and Vinery Stud Stakes (2nd). She also finished fourth in the Australian Oaks before a strong spring return running third in the George Main and Epsom Handicap results.

The 2022 runner-up Startantes took out the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara that winter in Brisbane further franking the Surround Stakes form.

The 2023 Surround Stakes place-getters franked the form with subsequent Group 1 wins. The runner-up Ruthless Dame took out the Robert Sangster Stakes against the older mares in Adelaide, while third place-getter In Secret flew down the Flemington straight next start to salute in the Newmarket Handicap.

2024 Surround Stakes Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Surround Stakes 2024 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Surround Stakes Results

The Surround Stakes race 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,  Shoals ($13 in 2018), Hinged ($10 in 2022), and Sunshine In Paris ($11 in 2023).

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

Ghisoni holds the current Surround Stakes race record winning in 2016 in a time of 1 minute 21:25 seconds.

Surround Stakes Winners

Past Surround Stakes winners and place-getters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.

Year Winner 2nd 3rd Time
2024 Tropical Squall Stefi Magnetica Tutta La Vita 1:22.63
2023 Sunshine In Paris Ruthless Dame In Secret 1:22.84
2022 Hinged Startantes Espiona 1:26.0
2021 Forbidden Love Vangelic Elizabeel 1:22.3
2020 Probabeel Funstar Xilong 1:21.3
2019 Nakeeta Jane Fundamentalist El Dorado Dreaming 1:21.8
2018 Shoals Torvill Rimraam 1:23.4
2017 La Bella Diosa Omei Sword Global Glamour 1:25.6
2016 Ghisoni Single Gaze Stay With Me 1:21.3
2015 First Seal Supara Slightly Sweet 1:22.9
2014 Thump Real Surreal Lucia Valentina 1:23.5
2013 Dear Demi Driefontein Longport 1:22.2
2012 Streama Sea Siren Hallowell Belle 1:24.7
2011 Parables Red Tracer Rose Of Peace 1:22.3
2010 More Joyous Hurtle Myrtle So Anyway 1:23.6
2009 Portillo Romneya Rocha 1:21.8
2008 Chinchilla Rose Occurrence Mimi Lebrock 1:24.2
2007 Gold Edition Tuesday Joy Just Dancing 1:22.3
2006 Regal Cheer Mnemosyne Star Mystic 1:22.8
2005 Lotteria Shania Dane Johan’s Toy 1:22.8
2004 Only Words Ike’s Dream Shamekha 1:25.9
2003 Bollinger Bumptious Sunday Joy 1:23.1
2002 Hosannah Heritiere Quays 1:22.8
2001 On Type Maitland Gold Miss Kournikova 1:22.7
2000 Ad Alta Spinning Hill Camena 1:24.0