Welcome to Spring!

Well, another week, another winner!  

Congrats to all of the syndicate owners involved with Surrey Mist who produced another eye catching run to put plenty of expensive 3 year olds in their place including a £500k Godolphin yearling purchase, 2 other from the Blue team, plus horses owned by The Queen and Bjorn Nielson who owns some pretty decent horses including Stradivarius !  It was very reminiscent of a performance at the same place almost 5 years ago to the day when Surrey Hope decimated a quality field for our first ever winner – even down to the long lunch enjoyed beforehand! See for yourself on the links – it will bring back memories for some – and both commentary’s mention the ‘enthusiastic owners’ !!   

https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/the-racing/race-replays/2017/03/08/  (Surrey Hope – 19.45)  

https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/the-racing/race-replays/2022/03/16/kempton/ (Surrey Mist -18.00)

Trevor rode him well from a wide draw and said that Mist certainly improved again, he was very relaxed, enjoyed the race and said there is more to come, maybe over further. Mist was fine for the race and ate up well the following day. Now things are going to get a lot harder for him, the Racing Post rated the performance at 85 which is pretty high, so we will see if the BHA Handicapper agrees on Tuesday when Surrey Mist’s opening mark gets released. Novices are out as he’d have to carry a 12 pound penalty, whilst George did look at Conditions Races in France (we had pinpointed one in Paris early April) but Brexit logistics are still are not really sorted, it’s expensive and horses are being held waiting for hours at border control.

We have a big week ahead as the races keep on coming and the flat season finally gets underway. Gran Luna is entered to run at Haydock Park on Wednesday in a 3 mile class 4 handicap (0-120) hurdle, maybe Nicky is aware of our Haydock hoodoo as he’s also given Gran Luna an entry at Hereford on Friday in a similar conditions race. We haven’t heard from Nicky but both look ideal races on easing ground so fingers crossed she is declared this week and runs a big race.    

Also this week we could see the debut of Surrey Knight. We went to see Surrey Knight yesterday and to have a chat with Charlie about the plans etc. Charlie put Surrey Knight’s interests before us and had him on the grass at 6 am – far too early to get over to Newmarket to watch but we got the debrief afterwards and again it was another pleasing workout. He really is a nice horse and I think we have lucked out in buying him. Having said that, until he makes the racecourse we don’t really know what we have. Surrey Knight will be suited by softer ground where he should excel over, eventually, 14 furlongs or more as he looks a proper out and out stayer. However, looking at the forecast and the fact that Doncaster is a pretty dry track we’re not sure he’ll make the start. The current going today is soft but with the weather to be set fair rain dances may be needed later in the week.

While we were there we did cast an eye over Surrey Noir and once again, I think we have another good prospect. He has been bouncing up Warren Hill twice in a day without a care and is in with Charlie’s most forward two year olds. He has picked up a small cough so yesterday was just a flat canter and he’ll have a couple of days off to hopefully clear that up. Charlie has made a couple of big race entries at Naas and Doncaster this summer where he will receive weight, based on the sire Dream Ahead’s auction prices. He looks fantastic and all going well he will probably make his racecourse debut in July. 

Surrey Charm looks bigger and stronger, Surrey Belle gained more black type on her page after a close relation, Pretty Tiger, won yesterday’s Group 3 Prix Exbury which is a good sign that the dam line is strong. No news on Surrey Quest whilst Surrey Gold has been looking very good on the gallops but will need soft ground before his seasonal reappearance. Finally Surrey Princess has some all weather options open to her next week but with the turf season about to start we may wait for to see what options we have on the real stuff. 

Good luck to the owners this week, we could be in for some exciting racing, let’s hope more of you in the winners enclosure.

2022
March
Wednesday 23rd – Gran Luna – Haydock – 3.55
Friday 25th – Gran Luna – Hereford – 2.45
Saturday 26th – Surrey Knight – Doncaster - 4.10
Wednesday 30th – Surrey Princess – Kempton
Thursday 31st – Surrey Princess - Chelmsford
April
Sunday 24th – Hughie Morrison Open Day
May
Wednesday 25th – Surrey Racing Golf Day @ Silvermere Golf Couse
July
Sunday 3rd – Surrey Knight (153rd German Derby, Hamburg) ) 86 left in – next stage April 11th
https://www.deutscher-galopp.de/gr/renntage/rennen.php?id=1330172&d=20220703&s=N
August
Monday 1st – Surrey Noir – EBF Ballyhane Stakes – Naas Racecourse, Ireland
September
Thursday 8th – Surrey Noir – Doncaster – Weatherbys Stakes