Tulloch Lodge celebrated a fifth success in the 2024 Surround Stakes with the talented Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Tropical Squall returning to Group 1 winning form fresh at Randwick.

2024 Surround Stakes winner Tropical Squall (No. 1) showed true grit first-up to salute in an upset. Photo: Steve Hart.

The bonny Prized Icon filly was a forgotten runner in betting fresh in the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) despite her elite level Flight Stakes success over the Randwick mile last time in.

She was last seen found out over further when 10^th in Flemington’s VRC Oaks in the spring, but showed plenty of fight in her autumn kick-off with a gutsy victory in the Surround off a gun ride by now four-time Group 1 winning hoop Adam Hyeronimus.

Hyeronimus went straight to the front aboard Tropical Squall ($8.50) who held off a big challenge from the progressive Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica ($17) to lead all-the-way and post her second top-level turf triumph.

Having seen Think It Over steal top honours in the Verry Elleegant Stakes the race prior by keeping on the inside line around the turn, Hyeronimus was happy to stick to the fence cornering on Tropical Squall in the fillies’ feature on the card.

She wound up nicely before the challenge game from All Too Hard filly Stefi Magnetica, fourth last start in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes, who was in for the fight with Tommy Berry in the saddle.

Those two went stride for stride in a thriller before Tropical Squall dug in and got her neck in front to salute.

In a photo for the minors the Surround Stakes trifecta was rounded out by Chris Waller’s 100/1 shot Tutta La Vita who just nudged out the beaten Annabel Neasham-trained favourite Learning To Fly ($3.60F).

It was a sweet Surround Stakes result for Hyeronimus who had lost the ride on the Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy in the Skyline earlier on the card to Tommy Berry.

For the Waterhouse & Bott partnership it was Group 1 win number 25, while Waterhouse took her individual record up to an incredible 134 Group 1 victories.

“She’s a classy filly as we saw previously,” co-trainer Bott said.

“She had come back so much bigger and stronger this preparation so I was confident that she would be in for a good preparation.

“Just the way the track was playing today, we lost a little bit of confidence against horses with race fitness but it was fantastic to see so it is only up from here.

“I thought she might be vulnerable in the conditions and the 1400-metres first-up.”

Bott said there were plenty of autumn options for Tropical Squall whose next target would likely be the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 16.

“We will probably go through the Coolmore path and assess,” he said.

“She had to do that today to warrant going down the Coolmore path.

“The Vinery (over 2000m on March 30) is an option and she is nominated for the Doncaster (over 1600m on April 6).

“There’s plenty of options.”

The latest all-in 2024 Coolmore Classic betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Tropical Squall at $8 to win again and are available in full by clicking here.

“I think the 1400-metres is her sweet spot and I think stretching her out to Oaks trip last campaign, we were a little bit rushed,” Bott added.

“I guess the benefit of the time in the paddock and allowing her to strengthen up has made the difference.

“I’d like to think her sweet spot is 1400-1600 metres. She has tactical speed and is able to settle throughout.”

2024 Surround Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.