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Ace filly Tempted is the one to beat in Saturday’s Surround Stakes 2026 in Sydney with Ciaron Maher‘s bonny daughter of Street Boss chasing back-to-back wins this prep.
We’ve got a diminutive field of just eight three-year-old fillies lining up in the co-feature on Randwick’s race card for the weekend but there remains plenty of talent in the ranks of the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m).
All the big money bets however are coming for the brilliant Tempted who matched motors with the world’s premier sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, with her outstanding second in October’s $20 million The Everest.
That performance stamped her as one of the country’s rising stars in the sprinting ranks and she handled her resuming run aplomb when easily accounting for the boys in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes.
The effortless nature of her first-up run put the writing on the wall for an all-conquering autumn campaign which she’s expected to continue up in distance and grade on Saturday.
While she’s yet to win over further than six furlongs, Tempted was solid enough over 1400m when third in the Golden Rose last spring and she profiles like she’ll see out the distance without worry now.
Back against her own kind second-up, her Eskimo performance had her winning in scintillating time and her imposing Randwick record (4:3-1-0) speaks for itself explaining her current $1.65 price in Surround Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
While it is hard to see anything getting between Tempted and the finishing post, there is one rival also under double figures for the win with the danger being the Michael Freedman-trained Apocalyptic at $4.
The Extreme Choice filly oozes ability and is building a lovely record having run first or second in all six of her career runs to date.
Another with a strong strike-rate at the Randwick track (5:3-2-0), she was a revelation last prep stringing together three wins on the trot when dominating the Princess Series completing the Furious – Tea Rose – Flight Stakes treble.
A proven Group 1 winner at the track and trip, the only loss of her spring bid was when Freedman sent her south for the Thousand Guineas where she came off second best to Ole Dancer but under a quarter length beaten.
She resumed here on February 14 and was brave in defeat when runner-up to Savvy Hallie in the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes in a run full of merit.
Apocalyptic jumped favourite that day but failed to sprint with the winner, however, her best work came the closing stages, and she presents fitter now second-up and sure to relish the 1400m.
For punters looking outside the top two the value Surround Stakes contenders there’s been a tickle of support for the likes of Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman‘s Thousand Guineas champ Ole Dancer ($10) and Savvy Hallie ($10) chasing the upset.
The flying Zac Lloyd takes over the reins of Ole Kirk filly Ole Dancer who is already a proven Group 1 winner ahead of her first assignment outside of Victoria.
She comes via a different lead-up having kicked things off at Flemington in the Listed Desirable Stakes over this distance a fortnight back but was somewhat disappointing when over two lengths second behind Sass Appeal with her best likely to come back in Melbourne deeper into her prep.
Savvy Hallie meanwhile defeated Apocalyptic by three-quarters of a length in the Light Fingers, which has traditionally been the form race to follow into the Surround, and she’s now looking to complete the double Lady Shenandoah (2025) did 12 months ago.
The 2026 Surround Stakes is scheduled as Randwick Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) on the 10-race Sydney card.
Surround Stakes 2026 Odds
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1. Tempted (2)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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| Second run back. First-up after four months favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.3 len at this track G3 Esk Prince February 7 over 1200m defeating Napoleonic with 57.5kg at $1.60. Previously second-up 3rd of 9 at Rosehill in the G1 Golden Rose on September 27 over 1400m, 4.5 len behind Beiwacht with 54.5kg at $3. Outstanding filly who looks too strong for these. | ||
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2. Apocalyptic (4)
J: Tommy Berry 56kg
T: Michael Freedman |
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| Second-up. First-up after four months made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 9 at this track in the G2 Lghtfinger on February 14 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Savvy Hallie with 56kg at $1.50. Previously second-up favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.75 len at this track G2 Tea Rose September 20 over 1400m defeating Artistic Venture with 56kg at $3. No luck last start but bumps into a very good filly here. | ||
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3. Ole Dancer (5)
J: Zac Lloyd 56kg
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
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| Second run back. First-up after four months 2nd in a small field at Flemington in the LR Desirable Stks on February 14 over 1400m, 2.25 len behind Sass Appeal with 59.5kg at $2.70. Previously second-up 5th of 11 at Moonee Valley in the LR Atlantic Jewel on September 6 over 1200m, 4 len behind Alpha Sofie carrying 57kg at $3.90. Comes up from Victoria with impeccable credentials, strays in the mix. | ||
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4. Savvy Hallie (6)
J: Nash Rawiller 56kg
T: Brad Widdup |
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| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. Resuming 4th of 12 at Gold Coast Sunlight on January 10 over 1100m, 2.5 len behind Grafterburners with 55kg at $7.50. Second run from a spell won by 0.8 len at this track G2 Lghtfinger February 14 over 1200m defeating Apocalyptic with 56kg at $3.70. Rates highly. In form and will give them something to catch third-up. | ||
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5. Karinska (1)
J: Sam Clipperton 56kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Second-up. First-up after four months from last on the turn 5th of 9 at this track in the G2 Lghtfinger on February 14 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Savvy Hallie with 56kg at $19. Previously second-up 6th of 13 at this track in the G2 Furious on September 6 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Apocalyptic carrying 56kg at $26. Look for her late and goes into the exotics. | ||
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6. Sunrays (3)
J: Jason Collett 56kg
T: Kelly Schweida |
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| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up 6th of 9 at Eagle Farm 3yo Hcp on January 31 over 1000m, 4 len behind Earn To Burn with 60.5kg at $3.80. Second-up 4th of 9 at this track in the G2 Lghtfinger on February 14 over 1200m, 1.3 len behind Savvy Hallie with 56kg at $16. Minor place prospect. | ||
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7. Panova (8)
J: James McDonald 56kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| She is resuming after a four months break. Finished off last campaign winning by 1.75 len Flemington G3 Carbine Club November 1 over 1600m defeating Regal Award carrying 56kg at $4.40. On debut second of 9 at Wyong 2yo Mdn July 24 over 1300m, soft track; 0.8 len behind Azarax with 56kg at $6.50. Will improve on whatever she does in this. | ||
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8. Queen Of Clubs (7)
J: Craig Williams 56kg
T: Gary Portelli |
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| Second run back. First-up after four months 6th of 9 at this track in the G2 Lghtfinger on February 14 over 1200m, 3 len behind Savvy Hallie with 56kg at $61. Previously second-up came home strongly from last on the turn; 4th of 11 at this track in the G2 Tea Rose on September 20 over 1400m, 2 len behind Apocalyptic with 56.5kg at $31. Outclassed. | ||
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