Deauville here we come!
It’s been a busy week with visits to the sales, owners at Hughie’s today, and plenty of backwards and forwards with what to do with Surrey Mist!
Starting with the sales where we have come away empty handed so far although we may have an option that we are keen to look at. The prices for the week were up 28% on average from last year at 126k gns and the median was up 12% at 56k gns. Pretty remarkable in an economic downturn. We continue to be active and our attention now turns to the Arqana Yearling Sale in Deauville which starts Monday.
Speaking of Deauville – Surrey Mist will be declared to run there on Wednesday, in the 4th race at 12.50 (French time) – a Grade 1 Listed contest over 2500m. There have been 10 entries with Surrey Mist the 4th best ranked – declarations are Monday. The race will be live on Sky Sports Racing.
https://www.france-galop.com/en/racing/detail/2022/P/YnhVVHFGTFlMai9OQ0Q1bDlHNHdtdz09
We do have some non Mist owners traveling out to Deauville – it’s only E3 entry so if you want to experience the sales and racing in France then this is a great opportunity.
Today we visited Hughie’s to see Surrey Belle in training and enjoy the Morrison hospitality, plenty of coffee and sausage rolls! Belle looks great, with Hughie saying this is the best she has looked. He hopes to step up her work over the next few weeks and if she takes that well then a debut is on the cards around Christmas time at Kempton. Being such a big horse though we do have to be patient as pushed too much too soon and we run an injury risk that could curtail a career before its even started. The longest races for 2 year olds are only 1 mile which is a wholly inadequate trip for a horse who will be and out and out stayer but the education from a racecourse run is worth the experience even if she couldn’t keep up with the quicker milers. Hughie also thinks that her perfect race to aim at would be the Park Hill in September 2024 !!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Hill_Stakes
Next week we are off to see Surrey Fortune and Surrey Knight – there’s plenty of room for more syndicate owners if you wish to come but please let us know as Billy is preparing coffee and bacon rolls!
Those coming please be at Billy’s at 09.00
The Gallops, Adstone, Northamptonshire, NN12 8DT
We will then head to Culworth Grounds Farm for 10.30
Culworth, Banbury, Northamptonshire, OX17 2HW
Also, please remember that the trainers are very happy to have visitors outside of these visits, just let us know and we can arrange it. Sometimes we have to be patient waiting for a horse to run so please take the family and go and give them a polo! It’s great to see their development as much as seeing them on the racecourse. We do all ask for pictures please!
Surrey Fortune and Surrey Lord both had visitors this week and impressed their guests – more of an update next weekend on Surrey Fortune but Surrey Lord is slowly stepping up his work and getting the hang of being a racehorse. His work will continue to expand over the coming weeks when he would have learnt enough to go on Toby’s grass gallops at the bottom of Box Hill. How he takes that will determine how hard he is pushed with Toby (how good is his form at the moment!) preferring Lord to have a racecourse debut in February prior to the Newbury sales race in March but again, as with the other horses, he won’t be pushed if he’s not ready.
Surrey Noir is now being hand walked which will continue for another 2 weeks, before then having 4 weeks of more intensive walking before 4 weeks of trotting. All going well he’ll then start to be worked towards his debut which will be early in the New Year. Surrey Charm has grown so that her back straightened out which was great, but, now she started to grow again with a raised back end! That’s absolutely fantastic to hear – she will look a different horse when you see her again. She will probably stay at Langshot Farm until the year end before moving to Hughie’s. I think she will surprise a few people in 2023.
Good Luck to those travelling to Deauville – it will be a great day out and let’s hope Surrey Mist does us all proud!
Possible races and events
October
Monday 17th – 21st - Arqana Yearling sale
Wednesday 19th – Surrey Mist – Deauville – Prix Vulcain - 11.50
Saturday 22nd –Surrey Fortune 09.00 / Surrey Knight 10.30 visit in Northamptonshire
Monday 24th Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale
Saturday 29th KPR Drinks for Mist owners - 16.30
November
Saturday 5th – Surrey Mist – Doncaster – November Handicap
Friday 18th – Ascot - Discover Ownership Day
Saturday 19th Ascot - Discover Ownership Day
Monday 28th Tattersalls December Mare Sale
December
2023
March
Saturday 25th – Surrey Lord – Newbury – Goffs Bumper