SURROUND STAKES TIPS & BETTING ADVICE

Surround Stakes 2020

SURROUND STAKES BETTING SELECTIONS & TIPS

Our experts will have their pre-race predictions and Surround Stakes betting selections available for the Group 1 race.

Some key pointers are:

• The Light Fingers Stakes is the key race
• Classy fillies tend to line up in the race

WHERE TO BET ON THE SURROUND STAKES

Bookmakers Ladbrokes and Sportsbet are some of the best places to bet on the Surround Stakes and all Randwick races. They offer some of the best odds and promotions on the big race. Or take advantage of the top 5 bookmaker deals below.

SURROUND STAKES HISTORY

The Surround Stakes (1400m) takes place at Royal Randwick Racecourse annually in late February or early march during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and is run at set weights conditions for three-year-old fillies.

Named after 1976–1977 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, Surround is the only three-year-old filly in history to win the Cox Plate.

First run in 1979 and won by Impede as a Group 3 race, the Surround Stakes took on Group 2 status in 1986 and will be elevated to a Group 1 for the 2018 renewal.

Other races on the day include: Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).

The honour roll includes top racehorses such as Skating (1993), Gold Edition (2007), More Joyous (2010), Streama (2012), Dear Demi (2013), First Seal (2015) and Shoals (2018).

The Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) is regarded as one of the traditional lead-ups to the Surround Stakes, while competitors in the Surround are likely to push on to Group 3 Keith F Nolan Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange two weeks later.

Surround Stakes Winners (Since 2000)

RANDWICK RACECOURSE TRACK DESCRIPTION

Randwick is the largest racetrack in New South Wales and all races are run in a clockwise direction. It is a sweeping track with a rise from the 300m mark to the winning post in the home straight.

As well as the main track, Randwick Racecourse contains a second track known as Kensington. Due to large rainfall in the area, Kensington has been reconstructed using the Strathayr racing surface which is similar to Moonee Valley.

Strathayr is a turf cover over a base of sand, this means it is a free draining track which can take a substantial amount of rain without affecting the rating.

RANDWICK RACECOURSE HISTORY

Originally known as the ‘Sandy Course,’ Randwick Racecourse was first used in 1833 where a private match race between two horses was held.

In 1840 the track was abandoned as a racecourse and used for training purposes before the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) moved its headquarters to Randwick and held a meeting in 1860.

The Queen Elizabeth II stand was opened to the public on August 4, 1969, and in 1992, Queen Elizabeth II visited Randwick and opened the new $30 million Paddock Grandstand.

The Australian Derby (2400m) remains one of the longest standing races to be held at Randwick after its inaugural running took place in 1861.

Randwick hosts some of Australia’s most iconic Group 1 races throughout the year, during both the spring and autumn carnivals in Sydney.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Doncaster Mile and TJ Smith Stakes are some of the elite races taking place at Randwick during the prestigious The Championships during the autumn.