By Dane Squance
Run at Group 1 level for the first time, Saturday's G1 Surround S. (1400m) sees a quality field of 11 fillies highlighted by three Group 1 winners and the Golden Slipper runner-up carrying the first four saddle clothes.
Classy when first-up two weeks back in the G2 Light Finger S. (1200m), Godolphin's Alizee (Aus) (Sepoy {Aus}) has won her past three starts at Randwick including the G1 Flight S. in September, and there is no reason to feel she won't continue her great form at the track. Although she is yet to win second up from two starts in the past, the filly is more mature now, and with three wins and a third from his last four rides on her, jockey Glen Schofield knows her very well.
Finishing first or second in her first five starts as a 2-year-old highlighted by victory in the G2 Reisling S. over She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) before that filly reversed the placings in the G1 Golden Slipper, the Edward O'Rourke-trained Frolic (Aus) (Husson {Arg}) resumed on Feb. 17 off the back off a 10-month break due to injury with a very encouraging fourth behind Alizee in the Light Fingers. If she has taken no harm from that run, and with natural improvement, the Jason Collett-ridden runner will be making up ground late.
With two wins from two starts at the trip, the Group 1-winning New Zealand visitor Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) finished fifth behind Alizee last start, and with that form being the best leading into Saturday's contest, Hugh Bowman's mount looks a top chance.
While yet to contest a black-type race, let alone a Group 1, the Chris Waller-trained Unforgotten (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) heads into the Surround at her first start of the campaign. Unbeaten last campaign going three from three, we are yet to see the best from this filly and to be contesting this race, connections must have a high opinion of her.
Blotting her copy book first-up where she finished outside of the quinella position for the first time in her career, the Anthony Freedman-trained Group 1 Myer Classic winner Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) does have a win at the track, defeating Formality (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus} in the G3 Percy Sykes in April, and if you ignore her last start fail, she would be an outstanding chance here.
Resuming in the Light Fingers, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Shumookh (Aus) (Dream Ahead}) almost took the win, finishing a narrow second to Alizee. Stepping up to the 1400m here is an unknown, but her dam was successful over 1500m at Group 1 level and the trip should pose no issue.
Nothing but consistent, the Shadwell Stud-raced Rimraam (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) makes her first start outside of Victoria, and based on her first-up win on Feb. 17 in the G3 Vanity S., the middle distance staying filly should be working home well.
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