Surround Stakes

The Surround Stakes is now a Group 1 race for three-year-old fillies held at Royal Randwick on Chipping Norton Stakes Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

2023 Surround Stakes Results

  • 1st: #8 Sunshine In Paris
  • 2nd: #11 Ruthless Dame
  • 3rd: #1 In Secret




The Surround Stakes is one of the newer Group 1 races in Australia, the event elevated from its former Group 2 status for the first time in 2018. The Surround Stakes is held towards the start of the prestigious Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival on Chipping Norton Stakes Day at Royal Randwick in late February or early March. The meeting is also headlined by the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and features a host of other support races including the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes and Group 2 Skyline Stakes over the 1200m.

Run over 1400m, the Surround Stakes is a set weights race offering $600,000 in total prize money as of 2023 for three-year-old fillies. Fillies that previously contested the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick earlier in the autumn may be looking for a step up in distance here on their way to some of the other lucrative carnival features, including taking on the boys in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) the following week. The 2019 Surround Stakes winner Nakeeta Jane went on to run third behind The Autumn Sun in the Randwick Guineas that year.

Other possible runs for Surround Stakes fillies later in the season include the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) against the older mares and the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill at the end of March.

The 2022 Surround Stakes form was franked with the winner Hinged going on to run third in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and second in that autumn’s Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes before a fourth in the Australian Oaks results. She also returned in the spring and ran third in both the George Main Stakes and Epsom Handicap in Sydney.

The 2022 runner-up Startantes meanwhile won Brisbane’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara that winter further franking the form.

The Surround Stakes 2023 took place on Saturday February 25, 2023 and was won by Annabel Neasham’s Light Fingers Stakes runner-up Sunshine In Paris ($11). 

2023 Surround Stakes
Date: Saturday February 25, 2023
Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 1400m
Conditions: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights
Weight: 56kg
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $600,000
Inaugurated: 1979

2023 Surround Stakes Results

  • 1st: #8 Sunshine In Paris ($11)
  • 2nd: #11 Ruthless Dame
  • 3rd: #1 In Secret

The Annabel Neasham-trained Invader filly Sunshine In Paris ($11) enjoyed a narrow upset in the Surround Stakes 2023 results getting up in the middle right on the line in a thrilling four-way photo finish.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 8 SUNSHINE IN PARIS Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 3 56kg $11
2 11 RUTHLESS DAME (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tyler Schiller (a) 0.04L 8 56kg $12
3 1 IN SECRET James Cummings Hugh Bowman 0.1L 4 56kg $2.30F
4 3 ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller James McDonald 0.14L 11 56kg $4.60
5 7 REVOLUTIONARY MISS Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 1.32L 7 56kg $21
6 9 CINDERELLA DAYS Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 1.59L 1 56kg $20
7 10 WOLVERINE (NZ) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 1.63L 10 56kg $81
8 5 SHEEZA BELTER Peter & Paul Snowden William Pike 2.88L 9 56kg $18
9 2 FIREBURN Gary Portelli Brenton Avdulla 3.01L 13 56kg $21
10 13 RAZETA Kris Lees Chad Schofield 3.14L 5 56kg $51
11 6 NORTH STAR LASS Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 3.92L 12 56kg $26
12 4 MADAME POMMERY Chris Waller Brett Prebble 4.11L 6 56kg $16
13 12 A LOT MORE LOVE Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Regan Bayliss 5.55L 2 56kg $41

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Surround Stakes Betting Odds

The latest Surround Stakes 2023 odds and betting prices on the season’s top three-year-old fillies will be available below as soon as markets are out at Ladbrokes.com.au.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with Sunshine In Paris winning at Surround Stakes odds of $11.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 SURROUND STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

Surround Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Surround Stakes 2023 Tips on the autumn Group 1 for fillies this season.

  • To Win: #3 Zougotcha ($6.50 at time of publish) 

Taking on the favourite and have Chris Waller’s returning Flight Stakes winner Zougotcha on top for value. She’s drawn wide but there is time to overcome the gate as she looks to kick off where she left off. The class daughter of Zoustar was excellent in the spring winning her last three on the trot at the Randwick track when completing the Silver Stakes – Tea Rose Stakes – Flight Stakes treble. It takes a nice filly to do that and she is just that. Undefeated fresh with a flawless two-from-two first-up record ahead of this as she looks to hand Waller back-to-back wins following his success with Hinged in 2022. She is a gun at the track and is proven at the distance. Huge hope.

2023 Surround Stakes Field

A line-up of the season’s best three-year-old fillies make up the Surround Stakes field each spring, even more so since the race gained Group 1 status for the first time in 2018.

The fillies in the Surround Stakes field may come via lead-up runs in events like the Light Fingers Stakes a fortnight earlier at the track. Nakeeta Jane (2019) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Surround Stakes double.

The 2023 Surround Stakes field is released on Wednesday February 22, 2023 and will be published in full below along with the Surround Stakes barrier draw.

The Surround Stakes 2023 final field features a smart line-up of fillies including Godolphin’s last start Light Fingers Stakes winner In Secret drawn well in gate four and the Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha who won the Group 1 Flight Stakes here over a mile in the spring.

Click here to read more on the key fillies in the 2023 Surround Stakes field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 11x2121x1 IN SECRET James Cummings Hugh Bowman 4 56kg 111
2 1112x554x6 FIREBURN Gary Portelli Brenton Avdulla 13 56kg 106
3 125x111x ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller James McDonald 11 56kg 106
4 x12x5261x4 MADAME POMMERY Chris Waller Brett Prebble 6 56kg 104
5 x0311x81x7 SHEEZA BELTER Peter & Paul Snowden William Pike 9 56kg 103
6 15x31435x8 NORTH STAR LASS Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 12 56kg 98
7 120x0572x5 REVOLUTIONARY MISS Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 7 56kg 98
8 1312 SUNSHINE IN PARIS Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 3 56kg 92
9 1x131x3 CINDERELLA DAYS Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 1 56kg 90
10 12x2x638x0 WOLVERINE (NZ) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 10 56kg 90
11 11×3 RUTHLESS DAME (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tyler Schiller (a) 8 56kg 82
12 33x22113x0 A LOT MORE LOVE Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Regan Bayliss 2 56kg 78
13 13x461x9 RAZETA Kris Lees Chad Schofield 5 56kg 78

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Surround Stakes Nominations

Nominations on the Surround Stakes in 2023 are taken in early February and will be updated in full below once announced.

Forty-three three-year-old fillies make-up the official 2023 Surround Stakes nominations with all-in betting led by Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret and Chris Waller’s Flight Stakes winner Zougotcha.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 433x22113x A LOT MORE LOVE F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 78
2 5111614x BOOGIE DANCER F 3 Peter G Moody
3 2479×1 BYRON BELLE F 3 John Sargent 64
4 73×1 CALL DI F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 65
5 53×741 CARING LASS F 3 Matthew Smith
6 1x131x CINDERELLA DAYS F 3 Joseph Pride 69
7 328x21133x DASHING LEGEND F 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 72
8 34×1 DEAR JEWEL F 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 60
9 2 ETERNAL FLAME (NZ) F 3 Michael Kent
10 1×45 FAST STAR F 3 Leon & Troy Corstens
11 11112x554x FIREBURN F 3 Gary Portelli 106
12 11x2121x IN SECRET F 3 James Cummings 111
13 6250×1 ITHADTOBEZOU F 3 John Thompson 64
14 1×312 JUNQUEIRA F 3 John O’Shea 71
15 27x132x LA DANSEUSE ROUGE F 3 Cliff Brown
16 0x1 LOMANDRA F 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
17 6x12x5261x MADAME POMMERY F 3 Chris Waller 104
18 31x46810x4 NINGALOO STAR F 3 John Sargent 59
19 2 NINNITA F 3 Greg Eurell
20 15x31435x NORTH STAR LASS F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 98
21 11 NUNTHORPE F 3 Peter G Moody
22 2×11 PAPILLON CLUB F 3 Greg Eurell
23 27×1 PARISAL F 3 James Cummings 66
24 55115322x PAVITRA F 3 Richard & Will Freedman 92
25 1337x PROSCENIUM ARCH (NZ) F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
26 13x461x RAZETA F 3 Kris Lees 78
27 2120x0572x REVOLUTIONARY MISS F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 98
28 11×3 RUTHLESS DAME (NZ) F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
29 0x1746 SAKS ON FIFTH F 3 Lee & Cherie Curtis 57
30 1x0311x81x SHEEZA BELTER F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 103
31 6×3121 SHUFFLE DANCER F 3 Peter G Moody
32 5130x SO DAZZLING (NZ) F 3 John Sargent 67
33 131x SUNSHINE IN PARIS F 3 Annabel Neasham 72
34 139x TAJNEED F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 78
35 1x8x3 TAPEESA F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
36 670x232x1 THE SEVEN SEAS F 3 John Sargent 58
37 429x6118x WALTZ ON BY F 3 Peter G Moody
38 23x16181x WEE NESSY F 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 78
39 12x52535x WILLINGA BEAST F 3 Kris Lees
40 33x123x311 WOLLOMBI F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 69
41 112x2x638x WOLVERINE (NZ) F 3 Kris Lees 91
42 92x3114x ZENNZELLA F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
43 125x111x ZOUGOTCHA F 3 Chris Waller 106

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Surround Stakes History

First run in 1979 the Surround Stakes inaugural winner was Impede. The race began as a Group 3 event run over 1400m and although the distance has remained the same, the status of the event was elevated to Group 2 level in 1986. The Surround Stakes became a Group 1 race for the first time in 2018. For one year in 1990 the Surround Stakes was downgraded to a Group 3 race again but regained Group 2 status the following year in 1991.

Surround Stakes Winners

See below for the full Surround Stakes results dating back to 2000.

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Surround Stakes
1st Sunshine In Paris 1 minute 22.84 seconds
2nd Ruthless Dame
3rd In Secret
2022
Surround Stakes
1st Hinged 1 minute 26.09 seconds
2nd Startantes
3rd Espiona
2021
Surround Stakes
1st Forbidden Love 1 minute 22.30 seconds
2nd Vangelic
3rd Elizabeel
2020
Surround Stakes
1st Probabeel 1 minute 21.36 seconds
2nd Funstar
3rd Xilong
2019
Surround Stakes
1st Nakeeta Jane 1 minute 21.82 seconds
2nd Fundamentalist
3rd El Dorado Dreaming
2018
Surround Stakes
1st Shoals 1 minute 23.46 seconds
2nd Torvill
3rd Rimraam
2017
Surround Stakes
1st La Bella Diosa 1 minute 25.62 seconds
2nd Omei Sword
3rd Global Glamour
2016
Surround Stakes
1st Ghisoni 1 minute 21.3 seconds
2nd Single Gaze
3rd Stay With Me
2015
Surround Stakes
1st First Seal 1 minute 22.9 seconds
2nd Supara
3rd Slightly Sweet
2014
Surround Stakes
1st Thump 1 minute 23.57 seconds
2nd Real Surreal
3rd Lucia Valentina
2013
Surround Stakes
1st Dear Demi 1 minute 22.3 seconds
2nd Driefontein
3rd Longport
2012
Surround Stakes
1st Streama 1 minute 24.7 seconds
2nd Sea Siren
3rd Hallowell Belle
2011
Surround Stakes
1st Parables 1 minute 22.3 seconds
2nd Red Tracer
3rd Rose Of Peace
2010
Surround Stakes
1st More Joyous 1 minute 23.64 seconds
2nd Hurtle Myrtle
3rd So Anyway
2009
Surround Stakes
1st Portillo 1 minute 21.83 seconds
2nd Romneya
3rd Rocha
2008
Surround Stakes
1st Chinchilla Rose 1 minute 24.23 seconds
2nd Occurrence
3rd Mimi Lebrock
2007
Surround Stakes
1st Gold Edition 1 minute 22.38 seconds
2nd Tuesday Joy
3rd Just Dancing
2006
Surround Stakes
1st Regal Cheer 1 minute 22.87 seconds
2nd Mnemosyne
3rd Star Mystic
2005
Surround Stakes
1st Lotteria 1 minute 22.85 seconds
2nd Shania Dane
3rd Johan’s Toy
2004
Surround Stakes
1st Only Words 1 minute 25.95 seconds
2nd Ike’s Dream
3rd Shamekha
2003
Surround Stakes
1st Bollinger 1 minute 23.17 seconds
2nd Bumptious
3rd Sunday Joy
2002
Surround Stakes
1st Hosannah 1 minute 22.85 seconds
2nd Heritiere
3rd Quays
2001
Surround Stakes
1st On Type 1 minute 22.77 seconds
2nd Maitland Gold
3rd Miss Kournikova
2000
Surround Stakes
1st Ad Alta 1 minute 24.04 seconds
2nd Spinning Hill
3rd Camena

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