Surround Stakes Tips - Lady Shenandoah the one to beat in Group 1 for the three-year-old fillies

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A field of 15 are set to contest the $750,000 race and it is the last start winner Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) winner, Lady Shenandoah, that is the dominant favourite ahead of last year’s Golden Slipper winner, Lady Of Camelot. 

Those two provided the exacta in the Light Fingers and a total of eight runners had their most recent start in the Randwick Group 2 race. Lilac and Lazzura finished 4th and 5th respectively, while Amelita produced the fastest last 200m to place 6th. 

The Surround Stakes also features the Victoria Oaks (2500m) runner-up, Powers Of Opal, who is likely to need further ground. More Territories is one of four last start winners and will probably need to produce a personal best to knock over the favourite. 

Tempo could be moderate here with Dominetta, Lady Of Camelot and Lilac among a few that could take up the running. I expect Lady Shenandoah to play the stalking role, while Movin Out is another that might be prominent. Amelita, Manaal and More Territories are among those that will settle back. 

Lady Shenandoah is a clear top pick in the Surround Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained galloper had the measure on a number of her rivals in the Light Fingers Stakes, taking her winning streak to three in a row. She should have improvement to come at her second run back and at the same stage of her last preparation, the daughter of Snitzel improved more than three lengths on benchmark figures to claim the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m). James McDonald rides and the pair draw perfectly in barrier 3. 

Keen to have something each-way on another Waller filly and that horse is Amelita. She showed a stack of talent when winning at Flemington during the Melbourne spring carnival and just has to produce over the 1400m. She was back on a very slow tempo in the Light Fingers before producing the fastest last 200m in what was a promising return. She will need some luck in running from the draw and a better tempo but is one that should be working home well late in the piece