Jan 8th 2023 Update
We could be days away from our first run of the New Year with Surrey Belle set to make her debut at Kempton on Wednesday in a 3-4 year old maiden fillies race over 11 furlongs with George Rooke booked to ride. Personally, we love the first race. The dream is always very much alive until that first race, and then the anticipation builds as you finally get to find out whether you have a half decent horse and keep on dreaming ! This week won’t be any different! It’s worth pointing out that we’ve had great success with Hughie – 4 winners from 15 runs – but the first one has been very much an educational run and we never expect much. We’ve also had some shockers such as Surrey Mist’s attempted first run, after he didn’t want to go into the stalls, he backed out, threw the jockey, broke through a barrier and made his own way across Epsom Downs! Surrey Gold made his debut at a soggy Nottingham finishing a remote 9th, 17 lengths off the winner who was making his 2nd run. Little did we know at the time that both Gold and Mist would turn out to be decent horses, rated in the top echelons of flat racing. The winner of that Nottingham race was Adayar, he actually turned out to be ok as well, winning the Derby the following year but even he was only 4th on debut!
Surrey Quest is well after his run 9 days ago. Nicky said he was back on the gallops and in sparkling form. He’ll give him 2 weeks of work and then start looking for a similar novice chase. He was dropped 2 pounds by the handicapper this week to an Official Rating of 126. We don’t think it will be too long before he troubles the scorer and we have a feeling that it could be at Chepstow on February 3rd.
A few of us went to see Surrey Lord on the stunning Box Hill gallops this week. He looks really well but is a playboy! He threw his rider, Gareth, off twice at the start and then veered sharply around a bend before really stretching out in taking style. This week, on the 10th, is the next stage of the entries for the Goffs Bumper and Toby will keep him in until the next stage which is Feb 28th. There’s no reason at the stage as to why he wont make the Newbury race in March.
Surrey Charm is already settling into Summerdown Stables having left Langshot Stud last week, we cant wait to see her later this month. Hughie is on holiday this week so we’ll get a better update end of next week, while Surrey Knight has now started on the walker at Culworth Grounds.
All of the other horses are well and injury free, which is great, as they build themselves slowly towards their first or next run.
A date for your diary – Tuesday May 16th – the Surrey Racing Golf Day – and there is evening racing at Sandown on that 16th for those who wish to make a day of it.
Good luck to the Belle’s on Wednesday!
Possible races and events
2023
January
Wednesday 11th – Surrey Belle - Kempton
Saturday 28th – Hughie Morrison Stable Visit
February
Friday 3rd – Surrey Quest - Chepstow
March
Saturday 18th – Surrey Mist – Prix Ebury – St Cloud
Saturday 25th – Surrey Lord – Newbury – Goffs Bumper
April
May
Tuesday 16th – Surrey Racing Golf Day