2nd February Update
Not the most auspicious start to the weekend’s racing with Surrey Noir running in Machecoul early yesterday morning. It was a poor performance from a horse that just seems to keep regressing. He didn’t settle, didn’t stay, didn’t relish the conditions, and tailed off in last place. Thankfully, he’s fine which is always the main consideration. We will now find him a new home whether that will be in racing or another pursuit.
And so off to Edinburgh. Surrey Quest put in a gutsy performance to finish a very creditable 3rd, giving plenty of weight to the first two home. Kevin Brogan said the ground was dry and tacky and that Quest “hated every second of it”. He got hampered badly at the first and was never travelling as well as usual. His jumping was generally sound but he showed a tendency to hang left. He was caught for speed a little as they turned for home but as he usually does, he ran on well to the line. It was one of those races that never really panned out for him but overall both Kevin and Toby were pleased with the run.
He is unlikely to move up in the handicap and may even be dropped a pound or two. Realistically, this rules him out of the Grand National for this year, as following his entry last week, he stood about 77th in the weights for the 34-runner race. He is currently rated 139 and a horse usually needs to be rated about 145/146 to stand a chance of getting in. It does mean however that another crack at the Scottish National in April remains firmly on the cards. He is likely to have one more run before then but Toby will give it further thought once he has got home and seen how the horse has come out of the race.
Surrey Lord is fit and ready to run again. He did school impressively with Kevin this week, so we have no qualms taking him hurdling after his next final bumper. He was due to run at Wetherby on Saturday but a combination of a strong looking maiden, ground that wasn’t in the best condition, and no decent jockey available meant we passed and now we will look at Huntingdon on Thursday and Kempton on Friday, both last races on the card, both 2-mile bumpers.
Sea Presenting has sharpened up following her debut at Warwick and is a likely improver in her next run. She’s in great shape and Toby is keen to get her back out again soon, so she has been entered at Ludlow on Wednesday, a fillies only maiden race over 2 miles and 5 furlongs. We’ll have a look at declarations tomorrow and make a call, if not then Lingfield on Tuesday 11th is the next option.
Surrey Shadow is working well and on course for a run in February. There are two potential races on the 12th, one is a 7f novice at Southwell, and the other a mile maiden at Kempton. Tom is undecided on the distance for the opener, and the fact that in the maiden we must give 19 pounds to 3-year-olds (24 lbs to 3-year-old fillies) which is a lot so that could swing it to Southwell.
No new news on the rest but we will have a comprehensive round up on the flat horses next weekend as we are catching up with Hughie in the week while Surrey Moon is being checked by the vet this week (could be the week after) to see if he can resume training, so we’ll speak with Tom about the results of that assessment.
Chris G sent me this from the RP which I think is good - The wonderful Robert Morley once said: “To be an owner, you must have hope. After that it needs faith and a certain amount of charity. It's very good for your character.” Ownership requires a healthy capacity for forgiveness. On a bad day, it may be necessary to forgive the horse, the jockey, the trainer, and the bloodstock agent who suggested that, at 75,000gns, the colt (now a gelding) was a snip.
Good luck to the owners this week, the races are coming thick and fast!
Possible races and events.
February
Wednesday 5th Sea Presenting - Ludlow
Thursday 6th Surrey Lord – Huntingdon
Friday 7th – Surrey Lord - Kempton
Tuesday 11th – Sea Presenting - Lingfield
Wednesday 12th – Surrey Shadow – Kempton/Southwell
Wednesday 19th – Surrey Shadow – Kempton
March
Saturday March 8th - Surrey Shadow/Surrey Moon @ Tom Clover stable Visit
Saturday 22nd - Surrey King/Surrey Fire @ Hughie Morrison stable Visit
Saturday 29th – Surrey Shadow - Doncaster
April
Saturday 12th – Surrey Quest - Ayr