St. George’s Day Update.
We were due to have three runners this weekend which despite stretching us logistically would have been great fun! Unfortunately Surrey Charm didn’t run at Nottingham on Saturday. She has a slightly dirty nose and had a couple of coughs, Hughie feels some of the fillies are a run or a wet morning away from picking up a cold. She’ll have a few quiet days and then see how she is. Hughie did mention a race at Salisbury on Thursday 4th May so that may be a tentative option but obviously if she gets a full blown virus it will come too soon - entries are at the end of the week we will know more then.
Whilst today, Surrey Quest was a non runner at Plumpton, who were worried about the firm ground this week and had been watering, only to get 20 mm of rain overnight. Nicky advised that Quest wouldn’t have enjoyed the run, over 3 miles with nearly topweight in soggy ground.
The one runner we did have didn’t quite go according to plan although we were really excited about seeing Surrey Mist in esteemed Group 3 company on Saturday in the John Porter at Newbury and were quietly confident of a good run. He’s been working well at home and was fitter than the last run at St Cloud. However he lost a shoe, and with it part of his hoof. right at the start of the race and although he gamely ran on, he was hanging badly right in the home straight and Danny Muscutt could only gently steer him home. He was very sore afterwards and left the course in some discomfort, we will find out the extent of the injury when the dressing comes off tomorrow.
If Carlsberg did weekends, this was the opposite!
We have another runner this week to look forward to with Surrey Noir. He has come on for his debut run at Kempton and Charlie (btw great to see him win another graded race yesterday) has made two entries for him next week. He’s one of 13 entries at Chelmsford’s evening meeting on Thursday, with James Doyle booked to ride, and then at Doncaster on Friday, one of 40 entries. We have always wanted to move on to grass and with the weather mixed, Doncaster’s ground should be perfect. However, certainly on paper, Thursday’s race doesn’t look anywhere near as competitive and may be too good an opportunity to pass by. We will discuss with Charlie on Tuesday when declarations are made but our feeling is we will opt for Chelmsford.
Surrey Fortune did go to the races this week as Billy took him to Fontwell with one of his other runners for a day out. He enjoyed the whole experience, walking around the racing stables and seeing the other horses before and after their races. The feeling at the moment is that he won’t quite be ready to do himself justice this season as Billy hasn’t been able to have a uninterrupted period of work with him, but the last 3-4 weeks have been great and he’s making fantastic progress so we’ll see how that goes through the next few weeks.
Surrey Knight has had an easy week in Newmarket, next week will be the same, whilst Surrey Lord and Surrey Fire are continuing his education with varying types of gallops.
Surrey Belle is working very well and building her fitness back up. It seems the small break has been good for her. There is a fillies novice race over 10 furlongs at Salisbury on May 18th which could be the perfect reappearance target, so tentatively pencil that in the diary.
In other news, don’t forget the owners visits on the dates below, if you wish to come along then please let us know, and with the golf day just over 3 weeks away we will be closing the entry list this week so again, shout if you wish to play.
Good luck to the Noir owners this week – time to change the Surrey Racing fortunes!
Possible races and events
2023
April
Thursday 27th – Surrey Noir – Chelmsford (evening)
Friday 28th – Surrey Noir – Doncaster
May
Thursday 4th – Surrey Charm – Salisbury?
Saturday 13th – Knight and Noir Owners visit to Charlie Fellowes
Sunday 15th – Mist and Force owners invited to Kevin’s Spring BBQ
Tuesday 16th – Surrey Racing Golf Day
Thursday 18th – Surrey Belle – Salisbury?
Saturday 20th – Fire, Belle and Charm Owners visit to Hughie Morrison’s