The 2026 edition of the Surround Stakes has been run, with Ciaron Maher’s talented filly Tempted proving too good and breaking through for her maiden Group 1.
Below is what the winning trainer, winning jockey and beaten riders had to say following the Group 1 feature.
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher
On the win: “Quality, you know, she’s got so much of it. I’m just thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, her record speaks for itself, so to be able to tick off a Group One for her is very, very special.”
“I can’t thank my team enough, she spends most of her time down at Bong Bong. She likes the relaxing surrounds, Jo (Gerard-Dubord, assistant trainer) and the team have done a super job with her.”
“Chad (Schofield), he knew what he had underneath him. I was actually thinking, ‘come on, you can get a little bit more desperate’ halfway down the straight. But, 1400m is probably right at the top of her distance range, as we’ve seen, she’s ran second and now won at Group One level. You’d think she’s more dynamic at six (furlongs). Group Ones are everything for these fillies, especially for a team like Godolphin and their Broodmare band. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
On where she sits in Maher’s best: “Well, if you look at her form and Bella’s (Nipotina) form at the same time, you’d say she’s a lot better. But Bella’s longevity, strength, and toughness, she’s definitely right up there.”
“She (Tempted) runs second to the best sprinter in the world as a three-year-old, so you think with furnishing, she’s only going to get better. Andy Makiv and Jason Walsh and the whole Godolphin team, they manage their horses so well. They’re a pleasure to train for, and I’m just thrilled.”
On running in the T.J. Smith Stakes next: “Well, you know, she’s got options now. Originally, I thought that would be the plan, but I’ll sit down with the team and ask them and we’ll work it through and they’ve managed it well so far.”
Winning Jockey: Chad Schofield
On the run in transit: “I probably didn’t expect to be in that position, but there was a lot more pressure early, which I had a feeling might happen. I didn’t want to engage early and sort of switch her on and get her over-traveling so I very much just left her alone and rode her to get the trip.”
“I came through the top of the rise full of horse, really smooth through her gears, and I had to sort of really dig into her legs. She had to dig deeper. She’s a very good horse.”
On the fight needed: “We kept finding, but we had to because that second filly was tremendously brave. Just the way I canted up to her, but then Savvy Hallie, she found a lot more. Very good run by two good fillies, but I think we were the better one on the day.”
Beaten Jockeys:
Tommy Berry (Apocalyptic): “Just got to get the team to go over her when she gets home. She didn’t stretch out great in the run. Got on one rein and wanted to hang around the bend which isn’t obviously her go. Didn’t stretch out in the straight so it’s not the Apocalyptic we know.”
Zac Lloyd (Ole Dancer): “She is a pleasure to ride. She probably didn’t break the gates too well. Didn’t want to sit behind Tempted and be dictated too. So let her stride and I thought she was very gallant up the straight.”
Nash Rawiller (Savvy Hallie): “Outstanding performance. Heartbreaking to get beaten. I loved her tenacity. Made Tempted really work for it. She was great.”
Sam Clipperton (Karinska): “She has run a super honest race. Just lacks that killer punch the last furlong. She stuck to her task well.”
Jason Collett (Sunrays):“A bit disappointed.”
James McDonald (Panova): “She just hit a flat spot at the 400m. Ground to the line well.”
Craig Williams (Queen Of Clubs): “She is on a path towards the Oaks. That was a good second up run for her. She is right on where Trainer Gary Portelli would like her to go I assuming second up.”
