RIP Dawn Rose
Welcome to Lizzie and Gordon, new owners in Surrey Fortune, hopefully you’ll have a great time with him, and we look forward to meeting you at the races.
As we mentioned earlier in the week, Tuesday at Bath was tinged with sadness after we were told that Dawn had sadly passed away that morning. Dawn was a dog breeder who bred and trained Mary Morrison’s (Hughie’s wife) dogs and they became very close friends. At a stable visit to Hughie’s, Dawn met Gerry who persuaded her to join our syndicates, and she is an owner in Surrey Mist, Surrey Force, Surrey Fire and Surrey Fortune. She also has shares in over 40 other horses, mainly with Owners Group, but some jointly with Mary, and others with Crest Racing. When she joined, nearly 5 years ago, she let us know she had terminal cancer with not long left, but she was determined to live a full and active life especially supporting as many of her horses as she could. She had her ups and downs, as we all do, but she never once complained and was extremely brave to the very end. Dawn was the only owner to join me at Hamilton to see Surrey Mist 5 weeks ago and she didn’t think anything of driving up from her Northamptonshire home. Surrey Mist was her favourite horse of whom she remarked had helped her live the dream and kept her spirits up when chemo was really getting her down. She was colourful on raceday, always wearing yellow and blue, she was fun and witty but always let you know when something was wrong! She will be missed. Surrey Rose for the next filly? We have been asked about a collection which probably will be arranged by her family, when we receive that and any other details, we will of course pass them on.
Dawn taking and her bright trousers taking centre stage at Kempton
Surrey Charm looked very well in the prerace build-up of her latest outing at Bath. The rain had softened the ground to heavy testing conditions although strangely Charm’s race went off on ground officially described as soft and the latter races on heavy. Surrey Charm was trying 1m 5f for the first time, but we were confident that she would stay well and although she doesn’t like it too heavy, she manages ok. There was a decent pace at the start of the race and Charm had to be bumped along by apprentice Jack Doughty to remain in the pack, albeit near the back, for the first half a mile. The pace slowed and Charm settled nicely and picked her way through the field as the early pace setter paid a price, unfortunately apart from one horse, Letmebetheboss, who absolutely relished the conditions and was just too good on the day, especially considering Charm was giving the winner 21 pounds. We had to settle for a gutsy 2nd place. On turf, since joining Hughie, Charm has been consistent earning a RPR of between 62-65 each time and not finishing outside the top 4 so at her level she remains competitive. We hope to get one more run from her (possibly at Newbury on the 25th) before she heads for her date with Tattersalls on Thursday 31st October (lot 1256).
This week we may have 3 runners, and with 99% certainty one is tomorrow in what is a first for Surrey Racing, a visit to Pontefract. Surrey Force came out of his Chester race well where despite an awful draw he battled gamely on suggesting he stays further so he’ll take a huge step up in trip running half a mile further than he ever has before, in a class 5 (0-77) handicap over 2m 2f with Mark Winn retaining the ride. Pontefract, like Chester, can be draw dependant but with a slightly smaller field (9 runners) and over further there should be enough time to get a position although thankfully the draw gods have been kinder to us with a stall 2 draw. He has every chance to break his maiden so best wishes to connections, 3.37 off time. A win would enhance Force’s value which is much needed as he has a graveyard spot at the sales, virtually last on the second day (October 29th - lot 780)
We should be returning to Yorkshire on Saturday where Surrey Fire is planning to run (entries tomorrow) in the last race on the card at York, a class 4 (0-85) handicap over 10 furlongs, scheduled for 5.05. Surrey Fire is well, his training since his last run (when he wanted to take the lead early) has all been running behind horses to try to teach him to settle. The York race will be competitive, so we travel with more hope than expectation, but it’s a super place for owners to enjoy racing.
Surrey Belle couldn’t do more to advertise her credentials with her win at Haydock the previous week and we are debating whether to run her again as a poor performance can do more commercial harm than good. However, there is a race at York next Saturday that we may consider, it’s the race before Fire’s, a 2 mile class 3 (0-90) handicap that may not penalise her if she didn’t win, but would certainly add a few extra pounds to her value if she did. The handicapper only hiked her 3 pounds (to 76) this week so we feel there could be a few pounds to play with and York as a course should suit. We are conscious of David Egan’s comments that she benefits from an easy lead, she may not get that against better horses. A decision will be made before tomorrow’s entries. Belle has a good slot at the sales, in the middle of the first day (October 28th - lot 232).
Surrey Noir is a possible to race in Chantilly later in the month, owners Patrick and Julie are visiting tomorrow so they have been tasked with finding out the latest news as well as making sure the trophy from his last win makes its way back to these shores in one piece! We would hope to have Surrey Etoile into Tim’s by the time Noir next runs, so a good chance for anyone who wishes to come and watch Noir, visit the gallops in Chantilly and see Surrey Etoile in the flesh, more news when we have it. No new news on Surrey Shadow but he will be part of the parade at Tom’s on the 20th so the owners coming to that will be able to see how much he has matured physically.
As we approach the end of the flat season, we are gearing up to see the NH horses in action and it promises to be an exciting time for them, with two debutants in action. Surrey Fortune will be first and there are now only 2 shares left in him so if you want to get straight into the NH season here’s the perfect opportunity. Surrey Lord won’t be too far away, while Surrey Quest reappears later in November.
Possible races and events.
October
Monday 7th – Surrey Force – Pontefract – 3.37pm
Saturday 12th – Surrey Belle/Fire – York - 4.30/5.35
Sunday 20th – Tom Clover Drinks and Horse Parade
Wednesday 23rd – Surrey Fortune – Worcester
Thursday 24th – Surrey Force – Nottingham
Friday 25th – Surrey Charm – Newbury
Monday 28th – Surrey Belle – Lot 232 at Tattersalls HIT Sale
Tuesday 29th – Surrey Force – Lot 780 at Tattersalls HIT Sale
Thursday 31st – Surrey Charm – Lot 1256 at Tattersalls HIT Sale
November
Friday 1st – Surrey Lord - Uttoxeter
Sunday 17th – Surrey Quest - Cheltenham
December
Saturday 28th – Surrey Quest - Newbury