Ladbrokes Tip: The Surround Stakes is a nice lead-up to the Coolmore Classic each autumn
The latest edition of the Surround Stakes took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Randwick and was won in a thrilling bob-of-the-head victory by the talented Ciaron Maher-trained odds-on favourite Tempted ($1.60F).
2026 Surround Stakes Results
The full Surround Stakes 2026 results including the Surround Stakes winner and margins will be known below on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
- #1 Tempted
- #4 Savvy Hallie
- #3 Ole Dancer
The Ciaron Maher-trained The Everest second placed filly, Tempted ($1.60F), proved just too good for her fellow fillies when going back-to-back this prep with a narrow but all-important Group 1 win in the 2026 Surround Stakes results. She went stride for stride with Savvy Hallie inside the final furlong getting up by the bob of the head right on the line to get the job done for the punters and earn talks of a potential TJ Smith Stakes bid back at Randwick on April 4.
2026 Surround Stakes Odds
The season’s top Surround Stakes 2026 betting odds will be available right here followed by the official Surround Stakes results after the event so, stay tuned for access to our autumn racing markets and results.
| 1. Tempted (2) J: Chad Schofield 56kg 132×1T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 4. Savvy Hallie (6) J: Nash Rawiller 56kg 13×41T: Brad Widdup | ||
| 3. Ole Dancer (5) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 521×2T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 2. Apocalyptic (4) J: Tommy Berry 56kg 112×2T: Michael Freedman | ||
| 5. Karinska (1) J: Sam Clipperton 56kg 530×5T: Chris Waller | ||
| 7. Panova (8) J: James McDonald 56kg 4211xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 6. Sunrays (3) J: Jason Collett 56kg x2x64T: Kelly Schweida | ||
| 8. Queen Of Clubs (7) J: Craig Williams 56kg 486×6T: Gary Portelli |
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 seven of the 17 winners from 2009 – 2026.
2026 Surround Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Surround Stakes 2026 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.
| 1. Tempted (2) J: Chad Schofield 56kg 132×1T: Ciaron Maher |
| 2. Apocalyptic (4) J: Tommy Berry 56kg 112×2T: Michael Freedman |
| 7. Panova (8) J: James McDonald 56kg 4211xT: Chris Waller |
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.
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.
Surround Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
- 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), Lady Shenandoah ($1.30 in 2025) and Tempted ($1.60 in 2026) are the latest Surround Stakes favourites 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.
Nakeeta Jane (2019) and Lady Shenandoah (2025) are the latest fillies to do the Light Fingers Stakes – Surround Stakes double.
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 Lady Shenandoah (2025), Nakeeta Jane (2019), More Joyous (2010) and Gold Edition (2007).
In 2026, Tempted won the Surround Stakes second-up as the odds-on favourite after beating home the boys the run prior in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).
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.
2026 Surround Stakes Field
The official Surround Stakes 2026 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 Surround Stakes 2026 final field features a small but class field of eight fillies including the Ciaron Maher-trained track specialist Tempted coming off a win fresh in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Tempted
J: Chad Schofield
T: Ciaron Maher |
x132x1 | F | 2 | 56kg | |
|
2. Apocalyptic
J: Tommy Berry
T: Michael Freedman |
1112x2 | F | 4 | 56kg | |
|
3. Ole Dancer
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
1521x2 | F | 5 | 56kg | |
|
4. Savvy Hallie
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Brad Widdup |
113x41 | F | 6 | 56kg | |
|
5. Karinska
J: Sam Clipperton
T: Chris Waller |
6530x5 | F | 1 | 56kg | |
|
6. Sunrays
J: Jason Collett
T: Kelly Schweida |
1x2x64 | F | 3 | 56kg | |
|
7. Panova
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
24211x | F | 8 | 56kg | |
|
8. Queen Of Clubs
J: Craig Williams
T: Gary Portelli |
3486x6 | F | 7 | 56kg |
2026 Surround Stakes Nominations
Early Surround Stakes 2026 nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of February 2026 with late entries open until the Monday of race week.
The Surround Stakes 2026 nominations attracted 31 hopeful fillies including Ciaron Maher’s The Everest second placed filly Tempted who won the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes first-up, Michael Freedman’s boom Flight Stakes champ Apocalyptic, and the ultra-consistent Alpha Sofie from the Moody/Coleman camp.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4111×1 | ALPHA SOFIE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |
| 2 | 2 | ALWAYS A RAINBOW | F | 3 | Stirling Osland | |
| 3 | 1×8 | ANGEL EYES | F | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 4 | 2x1112x | APOCALYPTIC | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 105 |
| 5 | 4355x2126x | ARTISTIC VENTURE | F | 3 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 86 |
| 6 | 1 | CAPITAL CHORD | F | 3 | David Vandyke | |
| 7 | 7373x162x4 | CUSTOM | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 8 | EMERALD EVIE | F | 3 | Edward Cummings | ||
| 9 | 2 | HIGHLAND DANCER | F | 3 | Stirling Osland | |
| 10 | 178x56530x | KARINSKA | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 86 |
| 11 | 246x12x | MARETH | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 72 |
| 12 | 121x13x | MARHOONA | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 100 |
| 13 | 11×3 | NEPO BABY | F | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 66 |
| 14 | 150x787x | NEXT JEN | F | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 70 |
| 15 | 1x1521x | OLE DANCER | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |
| 16 | 26x | OTTOLENGHI (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 17 | 137 | OUI FLOURISH | F | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 60 |
| 18 | 537 | OVERSHADOW | F | 3 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | |
| 19 | 2x4211x | PANOVA | F | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 20 | 3 | PEACE AT LAST | F | 3 | Edward Cummings | |
| 21 | 157×672 | PILLOW FIGHT | F | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 69 |
| 22 | 513x6324x | PROFOUNDLY | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 66 |
| 23 | 7x51x3486x | QUEEN OF CLUBS | F | 3 | Gary Portelli | 82 |
| 24 | 231x3341x3 | SALTY PEARL | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 86 |
| 25 | 122×5 | SAMARELLE (NZ) | F | 3 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 70 |
| 26 | 77x4214x2x | SAPLING | F | 3 | Nacim Dilmi | 63 |
| 27 | 2522x113x4 | SAVVY HALLIE | F | 3 | Brad Widdup | 95 |
| 28 | 2112x311x | SHEZA ALIBI | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |
| 29 | 11x211x2x6 | SUNRAYS | F | 3 | Kelly Schweida | 84 |
| 30 | 7131x132x1 | TEMPTED | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 109 |
| 31 | 010x70x | WOOTTON LASS | F | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 66 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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 placegetters 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 placegetter In Secret flew down the Flemington straight next start to salute in the Newmarket Handicap.
The 2024 Surround Stakes form was franked with the runner-up, Stefi Magnetica, going on to win Brisbane’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap race that winter.
Lady Shenandoah (2025) was the last filly to complete the Surround Stakes – Coolmore Classic double.
2026 Surround Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Surround Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 SURROUND STAKES FORM GUIDE
Past 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 Tempted (2026), Lady Shenandoah (2025), 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 placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tempted | Savvy Hallie | Ole Dancer | 1:22.07 |
| 2025 | Lady Shenandoah | Lady Of Camelot | Lazzura | 1:20.56 |
| 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 |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Surround Stakes?
The 2026 Surround Stakes was won by three-year-old Street Boss filly Tempted at $1.60 favouritism for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Chad Schofield aboard on 56kg from barrier 2 to win by 0.18 lengths on a Soft (6) track in a time of 1:22.07.
Who won the 2025 Surround Stakes?
The 2025 Surround Stakes was won by Lady Shenandoah at $1.30 for trainer Chris Waller with jockey James McDonald aboard from barrier 3 on 56kg to salute by 0.29 lengths in a time of 1:20.56.
When is the Surround Stakes 2026?
Saturday, February 28, 2026What is the prize money for the Surround Stakes 2026?
$750,000
Where is the Surround Stakes 2026?
Randwick Racecourse, Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031.
How do I bet on the 2026 Surround Stakes?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Surround Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Surround Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.