Surround Stakes Preview and Tips 01/03/25

We are treated to another weekend of high-class racing as we see three Group One races kicking off the official start of Autumn. Randwick Racecourse hosts two Group Ones with the Surround Stakes and the Verry Elleegant Stakes. In Melbourne, we also see the Australian Guineas run at Flemington Racecourse.

It’s the battle of the ladies in every sense for the 2025 Surround Stakes as the only two runners currently with single-digit odds are Lady Shenandoah ($1.55) and Lady Of Camelot ($4.40), with PlayUp. After those two runners, it’s $16 or greater for the rest of the field. Talk about a two-horse race!

Strap yourselves in for this at my Saturday tips have finally landed at OnlyRacing. I’ve gone through all 15 runners in the field and put forward my best bets for the Surround Stakes on Saturday. I’ve got five tips in total, so there is sure to be a little something for everyone. It’s going to be an epic day of racing, so let’s get cracking!

Expecting a fairly moderate tempo here across the 1,400m Surround Stakes. Lilac draws well (barrier four) and possesses some decent barrier speed, along with Movin Out (who draws barrier seven). I’m expecting those two to slot in near the front of the field.

The current heavy favourite, Lady Shenandoah, should also slot in around Lilac and Movin Out, near the front of the field with some cover. The only other runner in single-digits, Lady Of Camelot, also has some barrier speed, so she could very well take the lead in this one and give them something to chase.

There isn’t really any value in Lady Shenandoah, with the filly currently going around with odds of $1.55, thanks to PlayUp. However, she is the one they all have to beat and I’m not sure if I can realistically see any other runner in this field taking her down, especially after the barrier draw (she draws barrier three).

Lady Shenandoah is good enough to go through the entire Autumn Racing Carnival without tasting defeat and it continues here in the Surround Stakes. We last saw the filly winning the Light Fingers Stakes, which is the ideal lead-up to this one. She’s aiming for her fourth win in a row and JMac gets the ride. What else can I say?

We all knew where this was going right? If anyone is going to make Lady Shenandoah work for it, I think it’s Lady Of Camelot. She’s another that has come through the Light Fingers Stakes and she (unsurprisingly) finished second behind Lady Shenandoah by 1.3L. 

If you’re looking for a little more value then Lady Shenandoah is going to offer, an each-way bet with Bet365 on Lady Of Camelot is a good option. She is currently paying $4.60 for the win and $1.70 for the place (which is more than you’re getting for Lady Shenandoah to win). Tim Clark retains the ride and she also draws well. She can make Lady Shenandoah work.

With every other runner listed with odds of around $16 and greater, there’s a lot of value in this race. Although, I do think every runner is playing for third after Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot. Declichy Boulevard is an interesting one in my eyes, also coming through the Light Fingers Stakes, finishing seventh, 3.6L off Lady Shenandoah.

The filly is currently going around with odds of $34, thanks to Dabble. Looking back to September, she came pretty close to getting the better of Lilac (who is currently paying $16), so that puts it in perspective a little bit. Does she have enough to topple the top two, I don’t think so, but a top-three finish is within her reach.

I think Amelita presents some sort of danger in the race. While I can’t see her winning, I think she is being overlooked in the market, with QuestBet currently offering $34 for her to win (and $6.00 for the place - which is what I’ll be getting on). She’s got a lot of raw talent and sometimes that is good enough to cause an upset.

She had an impressive Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne (winning the Group Three Red Roses Stakes), but this is going to be a significant step up. We saw her in the Light Fingers Stakes as well and she finished sixth, 3.3L off the leader. Jockey Reece Jones sticks again and will have to do some work from the wide barrier.

Continuing the “throw at the stumps” trend here with Movin Out, another Chris Waller-trained filly (after being with Bill Thurlow). Movin Out has taken a different path to many others the Surround Stakes and she didn’t compete in the Light Fingers Stakes. The 3YO is currently going around with the equal highest odds with Bet Right, at $81.

She’s a Kiwi filly who makes her Australian debut on Saturday, so there are a lot of unknowns about her, which is one of the reasons she is unloved in the market. Movin Out has had two trials in Australia since her last run in November, so she does have a little experience under her belt. She is a massive longshot, but something for the wider exotics.

All my Surround Stakes horse racing tips and their odds can be found here:

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Lady Shenandoah (win)	$1.55
	Lady Of Camelot (each-way)	$4.60/$1.70
	Declichy Boulevard (place)	$5.50
	Amelita (place)	$6.00
	Movin Out (place)	$9.50