SURROUND STAKES 2021 PREVIEW
3YO FILLIES OPEN
1400m
$500,000
SOFT 7
Rail TRUE entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 4113x | MONTEFILIA | D PAYNE | H BOWMAN (11) | 56.0 | $11 |
| 2 | 5x233 | AWAY GAME | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | G BOSS (14) | 56.0 | $8.50 |
| 3 | 114x4 | DAME GISELLE | P & P SNOWDEN | TOMMY BERRY (9) | 56.0 | $4.80 |
| 4 | x46x1 | EVERY ROSE | MARK NEWNHAM | TOM SHERRY (16) | 56.0 | $18 |
| 5 | 227x7 | HUNGRY HEART | C WALLER | J B MC DONALD (17) | 56.0 | $10 |
| 6 | 31319 | FORBIDDEN LOVE | R & M FREEDMAN | N RAWILLER (3) | 56.0 | $13 |
| 7 | 17152 | NEVER TALK | K LEES | J R COLLETT (7) | 56.0 | $8 |
| 8 | 330x8 | VANGELIC | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT | TIM CLARK (8) | 56.0 | $19 |
| 9 | 12x11 | LA MEXICANA | A & S FREEDMAN | TOM MARQUAND (10) | 56.0 | $6.50 |
| 10 | 68x36 | THERMOSPHERE | JAMES CUMMINGS | MS R KING (5) | 56.0 | $17 |
| 11 | 134x4 | ELIZABEEL | J SARGENT | R DOLAN (13) | 56.0 | $23 |
| 12 | 520x0 | JOVIALITY | C WALLER | B AVDULLA (4) | 56.0 | $34 |
| 13 | 60x49 | PHILIZZY | A CUMMINGS | A ADKINS (2) | 56.0 | $81 |
| 14 | 50x45 | LOVE SENSATION | K CORSTENS | S CLIPERTON (1) | 56.0 | $41 |
| 15 | 6644x | MIRAVALLE | MARK NEWNHAM | J PARR (6) | 56.0 | $26 |
| 16 | 54x14 | EIGHT DIAMONDS | M HAWKES | J FORD (12) | 56.0 | $61 |
| 17 | 514 | PIPPALI | J COYLE | 56.0 | $126 |
OVERVIEW
A cracking field lines up for this year’s Surround Stakes, with multiple runners searching for that elusive first Group 1 victory. Montefilia is the sole Group 1 winner in this field, however sits outside the top line of betting due to stiff opposition. Among those are; Away Game, Dame Giselle, La Mexicana and Hungry Heart. It looks to be a very similar race to the 2020 Tea Rose stakes, where Dame Giselle proved victorious. Will we see a similar result today?
SPEED MAP
With multiple frontrunning types engaged, I’m expecting a hot tempo for this year’s Surround Stakes. Forbidden Love, Vangelic, La Mexicana & Away Game will all be challenging for the early lead, in what could be a frantic beginning to the race. Every Rose & Elizabeel will also push forward from out wide, along with Dame Giselle from gate 9. Hungry Heart and Never Talk should sit toward the tail of the field.
KEY RUNNERS
- AWAY GAME ($8.50)
Has been under the spotlight this week after sustaining an abrasion to her off-side hip when being unloaded from a float. There’s question marks over whether she’ll run, but if she does, she certainly warrants respect. She’s been ultra consistent throughout her short career (yet to finish worse than 2.9L away in her eleven start career) and has been knocking on the door for Group 1 success. She should be in the finish if she runs.
- DAME GISELLE ($4.80)
A solid return last start, finishing just 1.4L away in the ING Sprint at Randwick behind Rocketing By and Prime Star. She was brilliant last preparation, scoring three wins from just four runs - all at Group 2 level. Notably, she’s undefeated second up and will no doubt take great improvement from that first up return.
- HUNGRY HEART ($10)
Has certainly shown talent in the past, finishing second multiple times in Group races last prep, including the Group 1 Flight Stakes. She resumed last start at Randwick, sitting at the rear of the field and running home strongly for a 2L defeat. That was a sound return and she can build on that here with another solid run. Tempo will suit.
BLUEY’S PICK
- DAME GISELLE ($4.80)
Dame Giselle looks the one to beat here for mine. She was brilliant last prep on her way to three Group 2 wins, but was unlucky in her attempt at Group 1 success when badly held up and slow to recover. She was solid first up and will be ready to go for this. She gets the run of the race behind a fast pace and can finish over the top of them.
