Lady Of Camelot aims to turn tables on Lady Shenandoah in 2025 Surround Stakes at Royal Randwick

Jockey Tim Clark reckons the 1400m test is no concern for Lady Of Camelot as she hunts another well-earned feature win in the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Jockey Tim Clark reckons the 1400m test is no concern for Lady Of Camelot as she hunts another well-earned feature win in the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Lady Of Camelot has been an ultra-performer at the top level throughout her career but has never been tested over seven furlongs.

She hasn’t won since her Golden Slipper victory but has produced a string of excellent performances at the top level over the past 12 months.

The daughter of Written Tycoon was placed in the Moir Stakes first-up in the spring, was fourth in The Everest and third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Only Lady Shenandoah had her measure first-up in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.

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“She is just so tough and brave,” Clark said.

“She has been all around but she has been very resilient.

“I think she is racing fantastic and I don’t see the 1400m as a query at all.

“I think she will appreciate that softer tempo and the blinkers come back off on Saturday.

“Obviously have a lot of respect for Lady Shenandoah, she is clearly the one to beat but my filly is a Slipper winner and she will give this race a mighty shake.”

Lady Of Camelot is a $4.20 chance with Lady Shenandoah a $1.60 favourite.

One for the ladies! Lady Shenandoah absolutely smashes them in the G2 TAB Light Fingers Stakes and wins with her ears pricked!@ZacLloydx | @cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/tfZu9PgjlC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

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While Clark will pilot a Slipper winner, he will also pilot a filly hoping to book her spot in Australia’s most coveted two-year-old event.

Bellazaine ($4.20) can snare Slipper ballot exemption in the $5m Golden Slipper via the Group 2 $300,000 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).

Clark rode the filly on debut when she was seventh in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes last October before Regan Bayliss did the steering in her Listed Lonhro Plate win first-up this preparation.

“She has always been a beautiful filly, so straight forward,” Clark said.

“I wasn’t on her the other day but it certainly wasn’t a shock to see her do what she did.

“I did a lot of work with her and it will be nice to be reunited with her on raceday.”

“I am going there with a good amount of confidence.”

Clark sees no reason why Bellazaine can’t announce herself as a worthy Slipper contender in a year in which Wodeton ($3.50 favourite) is the only horse in single digits in betting.

Another 2YO feature to @GaiWaterhouse1 -Bott, as Bellazaine wins the Listed @DarleyAus Lonhro Plate with @Reganbayliss in the saddle!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/uWZCRppeCm

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2025

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“The pitch is probably a bit murky at the moment but the next couple of weeks it will come a bit clearer,” Clark said.

“There hasn’t been a horse that has come out and done it two in a row.

“We’ve seen horses come out and win really impressively and then maybe not backed that up so if she could come up and repeat her performance on Saturday she might be one of the only ones to be able to do that.”

Clark’s other Group 1 ride comes on one of the most intriguing gallopers on the card with the gun hoop set to pilot former French galloper Zarakem in the Group 1 $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m).

Now trained by Ciaron Maher, Zarakem is Group 1-placed in Europe and was sixth in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year.

“I think he may want to want a bit further but he’s exciting horse to be on,” Clark said.

“Hopefully he’s one I can stick with going forward.”

Zarakem is a $31 chance.

Originally published as Lady Of Camelot aims to turn tables on Lady Shenandoah in 2025 Surround Stakes at Royal Randwick