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The first running as a Group 1 leads the Race History of the 2018 Surround Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

First Seal was a top filly. The 2018 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday looks a cracker.

2018 SURROUND STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Surround Stakes is a Group 1 race for three-year-old fillies and is one of Sydney’s most prestigious races that age group.

Initiated in 1979 by the Australian Jockey Club, the Surround Stakes is named after the champion filly Surround, Australia’s Racehorse of the Year in 1976-77 and the only three-year-old filly to win the WS Cox Plate.

The Surround Stakes has been run over 1400m since its inception under set weights or set weights and penalty conditions as a feature of the Chipping Norton Stakes program.

From 1979 until 2015 the Surround Stakes has traditionally been run at Warwick Farm, with the exception of transfers to Randwick in 1980, 1981, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2017.

The 2018 Surround Stakes has prize money of $500,000.

The Surround Stakes was run as a Group 3 event from 1979 until 1985 and has been a Group 2 race from 1986 until it was upgraded in 2018 to Group 1.

The Surround Stakes is programmed to follow the G2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and serves as a stepping stone for high class fillies preparing for the G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m).

The Light Fingers Stakes/Surround Stakes double has been completed four times by Skating (1993), Staging (1998), Gold Edition (2007) and More Joyous (2010).

The Surround Stakes/Coolmore Classic double has been won four times by Avon Angel (1985), Skating (1993), Bollinger (2003) and Regal Cheer (2006).

Other notable winners of the Surround Stakes include Impede, Royal Regatta, Ma Chiquita, Khaptivaan, Judyann, Glenview, Let’s Hurry, Shame, Dashing Eagle, Savannah Success, Lotteria, Streama, Dear Demi and First Seal.

The 2017 Surround Stakes was won by La Bella Diosa from Omei Sword and Global Glamour.