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Overview
This page was last updated on February 28, 2026
The Surround Stakes 2026 took place on Saturday February 28 as part of Randwick's Verry Elleegant Stakes Day card and was won by the bob of the head by the odds-on favourite Tempted ($1.60F) in the Godolphin Royal Blue silks.
- Race Date: 28/02/2026
- Race Status: Group 1
- Race Conditions: Set Weights - 3YO Fillies
- Race Venue: Randwick, NSW
- Prize Money: $750,000
- Distance: 1400m
- Track Conditions: Soft6 - overcast
- Rail Position: True. (Pent: 5.80)
Surround Stakes 2026 Results
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1st
1. Tempted (2)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
2nd
4. Savvy Hallie (6)
J: Nash Rawiller 56kg
T: Brad Widdup |
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|
3rd
3. Ole Dancer (5)
J: Zac Lloyd 56kg
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
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4th
2. Apocalyptic (4)
J: Tommy Berry 56kg
T: Michael Freedman |
2026 Surround Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Surround Stakes results and finishing order on Saturday February 28, 2026 and to see which fillies may have the Coolmore Classic in sight this autumn!
- 1st: No. 1 Tempted ($1.60F)
- 2nd: No. 4 Savvy Hallie
- 3rd: No. 3 Ole Dancer
Winning Margin: 0.18 lengths
Winning Time: 1:22.07
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.
Click here for the full story.
Surround Stakes Tips
2026 Surround Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Surround Stakes 2026 Tips on the autumn Group 1 for fillies this season.
To Win: No. 1 Tempted
TEMPTED (2) is deep into odds-on territory and offers no spoil for punters, but she’s still impossible to oppose in the Surround. Ciaron Maher’s outstanding filly was enormous in the spring, highlighted by her brilliant Everest second to world-class sprinter Ka Ying Rising — and the form around that Hong Kong superstar speaks for itself. She returned in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince and did exactly what the market expected, putting the boys away with ease in slick time. A genuine Randwick specialist (4:3-1-0), she strips fitter and finds a very suitable set weights assignment back against her own sex. She’s yet to win over further than six-furlongs, but showed the 1400m territory should be okay when third in the spring’s Golden Rose, and in a field of this size it shouldn’t trouble her. Perfect draw, Chad Schofield sticks, and on exposed form it’s hard to map a scenario where they turn the tables. She simply looks too good.
|
1st
1. Tempted (2)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
Surround Stakes News
- 2026 Surround Stakes Field & Betting Update: Punters Tempted
- Surround Stakes Odds Firm on 2026 Light Fingers Winner Savvy Hallie
- 2025 Surround Stakes Results: Lady Shenandoah Wins Again
- 2025 Surround Stakes Field & Betting: Lady Shenandoah Odds On Favourite
- 2024 Surround Stakes Results: Tropical Squall Leads Upset Trifecta First-Up for Tulloch Lodge
The Surround Stakes is an important Group 1 race 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 Verry Elleegant Stakes Day (formerly Chipping Norton Stakes Day) at Royal Randwick in late February or early March.
The meeting is also headlined by the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) – previously known as the Chipping Norton Stakes until 2024 – 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 $750,000 in total prize money as of 2024 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.
Lady Shenandoah (2025) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers Stakes / Surround Stakes double when beating home the Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot in both events.
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 2023 Surround Stakes form was franked with the second place-getter Ruthless Dame going on to win Adelaide’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes that year while the third placed In Secret took out the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington at her next start.
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 Betting
The latest Surround Stakes 2026 betting odds and betting prices on the season’s top three-year-old fillies will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and also published here at Races.com.au.
There was a notable upset in 2023 with Sunshine In Paris winning at Surround Stakes odds of $11.
Lady Shenandoah ($1.30 in 2025) and Tempted ($1.60 in 2026) are the latest Surround Stakes favourites to win.
Surround Stakes Field
2026 Surround Stakes Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 SURROUND STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Surround Stakes Nominations
Nominations on the Surround Stakes in 2026 are taken in early February and will be updated in full below once announced.
The 2026 Surround Stakes nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of February 2026.
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.
2026 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) and Lady Shenandoah (2025) are the latest fillies to complete the Light Fingers – Surround Stakes double.
The 2026 Surround Stakes field is released on Wednesday February 25, 2026, and will be published in full below along with the Surround Stakes barrier draw.
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.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2026 Surround Stakes field and betting markets.
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tempted | Chad Schofield | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 56kg | 3 | F | 132x1 | $4,715,150 |
| 2 | Apocalyptic | Tommy Berry | Michael Freedman | 4 | 56kg | 3 | F | 112x2 | $1,134,200 |
| 3 | Ole Dancer | Zac Lloyd | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 5 | 56kg | 3 | F | 521x2 | $1,185,600 |
| 4 | Savvy Hallie | Nash Rawiller | Brad Widdup | 6 | 56kg | 3 | F | 13x41 | $833,450 |
| 5 | Karinska | Sam Clipperton | Chris Waller | 1 | 56kg | 3 | F | 530x5 | $130,700 |
| 6 | Sunrays | Jason Collett | Kelly Schweida | 3 | 56kg | 3 | F | x2x64 | $394,950 |
| 7 | Panova | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 8 | 56kg | 3 | F | 4211x | $467,445 |
| 8 | Queen Of Clubs | Craig Williams | Gary Portelli | 7 | 56kg | 3 | F | 486x6 | $166,700 |
Surround Stakes Barrier & Speedmap
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 Previous Race Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Surround Stakes |
1st | Tempted | 1 minute 22.07 seconds |
| 2nd | Savvy Hallie | ||
| 3rd | Ole Dancer | ||
| 2025 Surround Stakes |
1st | Lady Shenandoah | 1 minute 20.56 seconds |
| 2nd | Lady Of Camelot | ||
| 3rd | Lazzura | ||
| 2024 Surround Stakes |
1st | Tropical Squall | 1 minute 22.63 seconds |
| 2nd | Stefi Magnetica | ||
| 3rd | Tutta La Vita | ||
| 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 | ||
| 2026 Surround Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday February 28, 2026 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1400m |
| Conditions: | 3YO Fillies – Set Weights |
| Weight: | 56kg |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $750,000 |
| Inaugurated: | 1979 |
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