8th December Update
Another week without a runner but we should still have three runners before the year is out.
We will have at least one runner next week, possibly 2. The certainty (if there is such a thing in racing) is Surrey Noir, who runs in a divided handicap at 12.10 (UK time) over 1600m at Chantilly on Tuesday. Noir has been drawn stall 10 of the 17-runner race with Group 1 winning jockey Aurelien Lemaitre taking the ride. Noir has been working in a hood and it seems to be working well so he’ll race in that this time and will hopefully settle better, fingers crossed we see a vast improvement on his last disappointing run.
Later in the week, on Thursday we may have Surrey Lord running at Warwick in a bumper as he’s been entered into the 3.35 race, a NH flat race over 2 miles. He’s a horse that does need a lot of work to get fully fit to run so he’ll have a strong gallop tomorrow and Toby will make a call as to whether he is ready or not as he wants him in peak fitness, and with a racecourse experience behind him will be looking for a race to win. Southwell the following Monday could work as a backup, but it is possible that if he’s not quite ready then Fontwell’s slightly further bumper (2m 2f) on Boxing Day could come into play.
Surrey Quest will be the next to race after those two mentioned. He’s in great shape and so as long as the ground stays on the soft side of good it does feel like Toby is veering towards trying to retain the Mandarin Trophy at Newbury on December 28th. Toby has looked at longer options, but he doesn’t want Quest to think he’s a 4-mile plodder so a few sharper races will help him to negotiate taking jumps at speed. There are other options in January but typically the frost comes then, and there is a concern that we could run the risk of waiting for the right race that then doesn’t then take place. Yesterday, it was interesting to see Scottish Grand National winner MacDermott reappear at Navan in a (what seemed an unsuitable) 2m 4f Listed race, and another horse beaten in the Scottish National, Mr Vango, taking the London National in style at Sandown.
Sea Presenting has settled in well, she’s been schooling with Kevin over jumps and learning her trade. She seems a very compliant horse but will need time to strengthen up. She will however run in a bumper in January although the previously mentioned bumper on January 6th at Ludlow is for 4–6-year-olds where there is a later one (again at Ludlow) on the 16th for 4-year-olds only which could be worth wating for, at least then she will be competing against horses in a similar stage of development. Once we know more from Toby, we will of course let you know.
The three yearlings Surrey Etoile, Surrey Moon and Surrey King are now all on the gallops and in full training, but it is obviously still very early days although Surrey Etoile is a fair bit further forward than the other two and Tim has been very impressed with him so far. We do have an owner who is potentially looking to split a share in Etoile so if anyone wants to get involved at a lower financial risk then please do let us know.
Surrey Shadow and Surrey Fire are gently ticking over on the gallops, but their work won’t get serious for him until mid-January.
Good luck to the Noir and Lord owners this week – fingers crossed we can finish the year with a bang
Possible races and events.
December
Tuesday 10th – Surrey Noir – Chantilly – 12.10 (UK)
Thursday 12th – Surrey Lord – Warwick – 3.35 pm
Monday 16th – Surrey Lord – Southwell
Thursday 26th – Surrey Lord - Fontwell
Saturday 28th – Surrey Quest - Newbury
January
Monday 6th – Sea Presenting - Ludlow
Saturday 11th – Surrey Quest – Warwick
Thursday 16th - Sea Presenting - Ludlow
February
March
Saturday 29th – Surrey Shadow – Doncaster