St George’s Weekend

Just the one runner this week as unfortunately a bug ruled out Surrey Mist from Sandown on Friday which could be a blessing as I’m not sure he would have enjoyed the firm ground. He’s fine but still on antibiotics so we have to wait for that to work and leave his system before he can run again so we are probably looking at fixtures in about 3-4 weeks time. A one mile 2 furlong handicap at Sandown’s evening meeting on May 19th is a realistic target. 

Yesterday the syndicate owners enjoyed an enjoyable afternoon at Leicester and witnessed a very pleasing run from Surrey Princess who was beaten by only one better on the day but she is clearly maturing and now understands what is required. Trevor said she didn't travel down the hill well and hit a flat spot 3 furlongs out but picked up well and ran on genuinely. She was very well this morning and weighed in 11 kg lighter which is normal. Hopefully the handicapper will be lenient for the 2nd place and we can go again in about 3-4 weeks time. She was happy on the ground and the distance was fine so we would be looking for another stiff 1m 2 furlongs or slightly further.   

Steve called Nicky this week and Nicky said that with further dry weather forecast for the next couple of weeks he sees no point in keeping Luna and Quest on the go and will be putting them out for their summer break from the end of the month.  

Gran Luna was a bit sore after her win at Ludlow and has not been moving quite as freely as she normally does. As a result, he will keep her cantering for the next week or so and just keep an eye on her. She will be back in training mid July when she will start schooling over fences. This will not be a new experience for her as she has jumped a few fences with Nico previously. It is a shame she wasn’t able to finish a good season with a shot at getting some Black Type but this is still very much in the thinking for next season. 

Surrey Quest is 100% and over the disappointment of Warwick however it is a frustrating that the season has ended without one more run. However, he certainly needs some cut in the ground and so it would be foolish to risk him. Quest will have one or two sessions over fences before he takes his break. He also will be back in mid July and Nicky is convinced he will be a “top chaser”. 

Surrey Knight had a minor blip at the end of last week as he went hopping lame in front. Luckily a small pocket of puss was found in his foot, and he was back cantering midweek when he did a long steady canter around ‘Side’ and did continue to do that exercise throughout the rest of the week as his work is gradually stepped back up. He is moving much better now and seems to be over his race at Doncaster. I think in a couple of weeks time we can start looking at his next potential race. 

Surrey Noir continues to tick along nicely with very little changing in his life at the moment. He is doing nice canters everyday but is not ready to step up any further yet. However, Charlie has entered him into Redcar’s 2 Year Old Trophy race in October, another where he will benefit from being out of an unfashionable sire and getting a weight allowance.  

Some of the owners enjoyed a visit to Hughie’s today for his open day where all of the horses were paraded. Unfortunately there’s no rain on the horizon for Surrey Gold so the wait continues but Hughie said today that ‘ Gold has won as a 2 year old, won as a three year old and will win as a four year old and rated 90 but on the right ground he could be anything. Surrey Belle he said looks a proper racehorse in the making. Physically striking and although not being worked too hard she moves very well. All being well we will get a couple of runs this year but like most Golden Horns will be better next year.  

It does look like we are going to have a quiet 3 weeks now without the rain and actually the next runner could be Surrey Charm who is having another gallop at Kempton on Wednesday morning and if that goes well then we could see her on the racecourse proper mid May. 

Have a good week ahead 

2022
May
Friday 13th – York - Discover Ownership Day
Thursday 19th – Surrey Mist – Sandown ?
Wednesday 25th – Surrey Racing Golf Day @ Silvermere Golf Couse
July
Sunday 3rd – Surrey Knight (153rd German Derby, Hamburg) ) 72 left in – next stage June 27th
https://www.deutscher-galopp.de/gr/renntage/rennen.php?id=1330172&d=20220703&s=N
August
Monday 1st – Surrey Noir – EBF Ballyhane Stakes – Naas Racecourse, Ireland
September
Thursday 1st – Windsor - Discover Ownership Day
Thursday 8th – Surrey Noir – Doncaster – Weatherbys Stakes
October
Saturday 1st – Surrey Noir – Redcar – William Hill 2 Year Old Trophy
Friday 21st – Cheltenham - Discover Ownership Day
Saturday 22nd Cheltenham - Discover Ownership Day
November
Friday 18th – Ascot - Discover Ownership Day
Saturday 19th Ascot - Discover Ownership Day