The Surround Stakes is one of two Group 1 races at Royal Randwick on Saturday and there is no doubt that it is the superior betting race.
This field is absolutely packed full of quality and it is no surprise that there are a number of horses in the battle for favourtism.
We have analysed all 15 horses set to contest the Group 1 event and our 2019 Surround Stakes tips can be found below.
El Dorado Dreaming
El Dorado Dreaming may have only recorded the one race win during her career to date, but there is nothing wrong with her record. She returned to the races with a nice performance in the Light Fingers Stakes and the step-up in trip to 1400 metres suits. The inside barrier draw is not ideal and she will need some luck in running, but the $15 currently available is over the odds.
Seabrook
Seabrook will go in the Surround Stakes first-up. She failed to win a race during the Spring Racing Carnival, but she wasn’t beaten far in the Thousand Guineas, Empire Rose Stakes and the Sandown Guineas. The fact that she has been such a big drifter early, $14 out to $20, is something of a surprise and she is another that is a touch of overs.
Oohood
Oohood has recorded just one race win from 13 race starts, but that win did come against a similar field to this in the Flight Stakes. Her first-up run in the Light Fingers Stakes was fairly poor and it is tough to back her off that effort.
Fiesta
Fiesta is one of the leading chances in the Surround Stakes. She returned to the races with an excellent win over Estijaab in the Inglis Spring, but that might not be the best platform for this contest. The I Am Invincible filly will be stepping from 1100 metres up to 1400 metres and all of her previous race wins have come first-up. The wide barrier draw is also an issue for her and it is tough to see where she settles in the run. I’ve got a big opinion of her, but I am not sure that this is the right race and I have to take her on at the current odds.
Fundamentalist
Fundamentalist has a fitness edge over the majority of her rivals after running well without winning in both the Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes and The Vanity. It took a couple of classy fillies to beat her in The Vanity and she should now be at peak fitness. She will make her own luck right on the speed and she is another that represents value at double-figure odds.
Greysful Glamour
Greysful Glamour returned to the races with a credible effort in the Light Fingers Stakes and she is definitely heading in the right direction. She should continue to improve, but she will be better placed in races like the Vinery Stud Stakes and the Australian Oaks.
Nakeeta Jane
Nakeeta Jane stamped herself as a leading Surround Stakes contender with an excellent win in the Light Fingers Stakes. She has now recorded two wins from four race starts and there is no filly in this field with more upside. You simply can’t knock her and she goes into this contest as one of the horses to beat.
Miss Fabulass
Miss Fabulass was something of a flop after she was well-backed ahead of the Light Fingers Stakes. In saying that, I am not willing to write her off just yet. She was never able to get into the race, but her closing sectionals were actually fairly good. The step-up to 1400 metres is ideal and she beat a similar field to this to win the Tea Rose Stakes in the Autumn. She can’t be ruled out.
Melt
Melt made her Australian racing debut with a credible effort in the Light Dingers Stakes. She would still need to improve on that effort significantly to be a genuine winning chance in this contest and the wide barrier draw doesn’t help her chances.
Madam Rouge
Madam Rouge looked like the winner in the Light Fingers Stakes and it took an excellent effort from Nakeeta Jane to run her down. She has always been a filly with fair amount of upside and she is another contender, but she looks to have found her right price at $13.
Verry Elleegant
Verry Elleegant has been scratched from the Surround Stakes and will instead run in the Australian Guineas.
Pohutukawa
Pohutukawa is the horse to beat in the Surround Stakes. She showed her ability when she savaged the line to win at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and her first-up run in the Light Fingers Stakes was terrific. Her closing sectionals could not have been more impressive. She ran the fastest final 600 metres of the day and the only horse to running a quick last 400 metres and 200 metres was Winx. Barrier seven is ideal for her, she has the benefit of James McDonald in the saddle and she still has the upside to improve.
Mizzy
Mizzy was finally able to record a maiden race win at Canterbury last start. This is obviously a huge step-up in class and I’m not sure that she has the improvement in her.
Zalatte
Zalatte is a lightly-raced filly that has recorded three wins from as many race starts. She would still need to improve significantly to be a genuine winning chance in this contest, but there is no doubt that she does have upside.
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge recorded an absolutely dominant win in a Hawkesbury maiden, but this is definitely a completely different challenge. I would be a surprise.
Symi
Symi was beaten in a Benchmark 70 at Canterbury last start and she is the outsider in Surround Stakes betting for a reason.