The $1 million Surround Stakes makes up a Group 1 double-header this Saturday at Royal Randwick.
A handy crop of fillies will be on full display over 1400m, a field that features Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall and last year’s Oaks winner Zardozi, as well as the in-form Kimochi. .
Annabel Neasham’s talented filly Learning To Fly has opened the race favourite, no surprise after stringing together a handful of wins this time last year.
Further down, there’s a case to be made for the Hawkes-trained Makarena and Tiz Invincible, setting up for what is arguably the most wide-open race on the program.
For thoughts and analysis on this year’s Surround Stakes, continue reading our preview!
Suggested Betting Strategy
- 1 Unit Kimochi
- 1 Unit E/W Tiz Invincible
Kimochi is a progressive three-year-old for Gary Portelli that could be next in line to complete the Light Fingers – Surround Stakes double.
Surprisingly, Nakeeta Jane was the last filly to go back-to-back in 2019, but the form out of the Light Fingers has stacked up nicely with the only winner to finish out the top four being Thump exactly 10 years ago.
This daughter of Brave Smash is yet to win out to 1400m, but the way she charged the line two weeks ago to defeat a couple of her rivals really suggested she’ll handle racing over further.
She’s proven in wet conditions and has found the money in both starts second-up, and with another comfortable sit off the speed, she should prove difficult to hold out.
Tiz Invincible found it a little tougher up to Group 1 level during the spring, but this still looks to be a filly worth following with back-to-back wins in the Furious Stakes and Tea Rose last year.
Ciaron Maher’s three-year-old kicked off her prep in the Light Fingers finishing 2.8 lengths off Kimochi, a solid effort given she was caught four-deep before running on late down the outside.
She looked to only hit top gear not far from the post, so I think the rise in distance should suit from a much softer gate.
James McDonald retaining the ride is significant for mine, and I think we might just see a change in tactics with a forward showing expected.
Learning To Fly does look the one to beat based on her runner-up effort in the Light Fingers.
Annabel Neasham’s filly only worked into the race late, finding herself five lengths off into the home turn where she wound up with a huge run to beaten by the barest of margins behind Kimochi.
We already saw what this girl was capable of last year when stringing together a hat-trick of wins, unfortunately losing Chad Schofield in transit in the Golden Slipper.
Off such a lengthy break, she still has big room for improvement, and I do think this could be somewhat of a revenge race for Schofield aboard a filly he knows inside and out.
From barrier 6, I suspect we’ll see the pair settling around midfield before moving closer into the turn.