Mother’s Day Update
Good Evening All and Happy Mother’s Day to all those Mum’s who are hopefully being spoilt today.
Thanks to all the horse racing syndicate owners who joined yet another entertaining zoom call, this time with Hughie Morrison last Wednesday. Hughie spoke very openly about a number of issues. A recap for those who couldn’t make it to follow.
Surrey Gold is very well and Hughie is happy with Gold’s progress his he builds up his work leading up to his reappearance. He doesn’t like to give his colts a break, although he does take it very easy with them through the winter, but they still do something whether it be a light canter or some time on the walker. Gold has a long pastern which means when he works it can bend over and the ‘heel’ get rubbed or burned so he has to keep an eye on that. It does mean that Gold works more on the grass as that is a more forgiving surface although every now and then he’ll get a scab that will require a couple of days rest to make sure it heals and doesn’t get infected. It doesn’t hinder his racing ability in any way.
Hughie was very happy with the way things went last year, he didn’t really push Gold so to win as a two year old over a mile was very encouraging. He sees him as a out and out stayer even suggesting he would get 2 miles although his first race back will likely to be a handicap over a mile quarter/half. Realistically he thinks he will be too immature for the Derby but he’s glad we’ve decided to keep the option open for now because it’s hard to know how much he has progressed (if at all) until he makes his reappearance. He would prefer a 1m 4f handicap (71-90) at Leicester on the 24th, all going well another run in May and then potentially a crack at the King George V handicap at Royal Ascot. He also has his eyes on the Melrose Handicap at York at the end of August and did mention a stretched target of the St Leger. As for jockey, he’s likes the best available but does try to get jockeys who have previously ridden – so for example Kingscote or Hornby for Gold, as they can give better feedback comparing their from previous rides. He doesn’t like to get jockeys in to the stables to ride out early in the season because their competitive spirit can burn horses out before they even start. He likes to train horses of a similar type together and likes them to finish their work upsides of each other.
Hughie was questioned on overseas entries, he said France appealed because the tracks are wide open and less luck is needed but he did say the situation at the border needs to be resolved first as livestock are being left for many hours in the boxes before being granted the right to travel on. He thought the French were just being bloody minded and if the UK stopped all the Irish horses coming over to Cheltenham the situation would get resolved pretty quickly! There is also a slight concern of the equine herpes virus which has been identified in Europe especially in the show jumping world so one to keep an eye on.
On Covid – it’ the same story as the other trainers, they have been blessed that their outside work has continued. . On prize money, he feels the BHA haven’t been strong enough with the UK government and it requires strong leadership to get that sorted. He also had forthright views on the Gordon Elliott scandal – simply if you care you don’t sit on dead horses.
On courses he liked the big ones like Ascot, York, Goodwood but also mentioned Salisbury and Bath. He did say there are courses for horses, Brighton suits a certain horse, Newmarket and Ripon can be tough. He’s looking forward to Cheltenham where he has Not So Sleepy in the Champion Hurdle. and who is in superb form, definitely a good e/w chance at 66-1.
So the Cheltenham jinx strikes again – our horse racing syndicate have never had a runner at Cheltenham, let along the Festival, and the excitement over Gran Luna has been to no avail as she will miss next week after a poor run at Market Rasen. Nicky Henderson will concentrate on Cheltenham this week and then make a plan for Gran Luna when the circus has finished and packed up for another year.
Good and bad news for the horse racing syndicate owners of Surrey Quest, the good news is that he continuing to grow at some pace, and physically, he’s a superb looking horse, the bad news is that Nicky has had to slow down his work to give him a chance to grow. It means he won’t debut for some time and whilst Punchestown remains the plan, he won’t travel to Ireland for his first race so there’s a very realistic chance that race could come too early in his career.
No real news on Surrey Knight, Surrey Princess, Surrey Pride or Surrey Mist, they all continue to progress slowly as they lead up to the start of their respective season ahead.