Surrey Mist so close ..
It was so nearly another week another winner but we have to settle for our 2nd second place in a row. Surrey Mist ran an absolute belter for his owners in the London Gold Cup at Newbury yesterday and only a Gosden trained blue bred by the mighty Shadwell kept us from taking the top prize. The BHA actually raised Surrey Mist by 2 pounds this week despite us not running for 8 weeks and maybe that was a very costly difference. Mist ran very green in his first turf run for a year and after having a bug a few weeks ago probably lacked a little bit of match fitness – he’ll come on heaps for the run though – we’ve obviously struck lucky again – he’s some horse especially when considering that six of the last seven London Cup winners scored off marks in the 80s and 90s but finished their three-year-old campaigns officially rated 109 or higher – our ½ length defeat puts him up there.
Mist was very well this morning, totally 100% and was strutting around the grass feeling very pleased for himself. We will see what the handicapper does with him on Tuesday but his next race will be at Royal Ascot, either the 1m 4f King George V stakes on Thursday 16th June or the 1m 2f Golden Gates on Saturday 18th. He will be one of the favourites for whatever race we decide to run and we’d have no qualms taking on Israr again. Exciting times for the syndicate owners !
We have a very busy week ahead – the day job really does get in the way of racing! Tomorrow we have the Goffs NH store sale in Doncaster where we hope to buy at least one new NH horse who will go into training with Toby Lawes at his Dorking yard. If we buy another then Billy Aprahamian will be the trainer. Billy, like Toby, is a former pupils of Seven Barrows and has now gone solo and will have his first runners under rules next season. Those attending the golf day will get a chance to meet both Toby and Billy. We didn’t manage to buy any 2 year old breeze ups last week at the Arqana sale so we look again this week at Tattersalls Ireland sales in Goresbridge.
On top of that we could have three runners this week!
First up we have Surrey Princess who has been entered into the 7.30 at Chelmsford on Thursday evening, a class 6 handicap over 10 furlongs. We skipped the Bath race last week before they had 11mm of un-forecasted rain which is so very frustrating. Options are limited so we have entered back on the all weather. She’s one of 18 entries but there is a slight concern as one of those is Flower of Thunder (with Kirby on board) who we feel beat Princess with something to spare at Leicester although we are now 2 pounds better off. We will speak to George on Tuesday before declarations as we don’t want to go to come second again !
Then we have two potential runners on Saturday. Very exciting for the Surrey Charm owners that she will be making her debut in the 1.10, a class 4 fillies maiden over 6 furlongs at Goodwood on Saturday. Is there a better racecourse in the sun? The race is very much an education for Charm and for us. We will find out so much more about her after this run, especially with Trevor riding who gives excellent feedback. We never push our horses on debut, it’s very much part of the patient way we bring our horses on so expectations will be very low.
Not too long after that at the other end of the country, Surrey Gold will be making his seasonal reappearance at Haydock Park at 2 pm in the class 2 Hell Nook handicap (live on ITV4 ! ) over 2 miles. The current going is good so that needs to be softer but there is rain around this week. Hughie will run Gold if its genuine good to soft so fingers crossed.
Unfortunately, Gran Luna has suffered an injury, although hopefully nothing too serious. Nicky called to say that over the past few weeks, Luna hasn’t been moving as freely as usual. On Monday, he noticed some heat in the front leg and had it scanned. Although the scan showed no tear or rupture it did show some minor damage to the tendon. It is most likely that the injury was incurred during her most recent run at Ludlow so she’ll have an extra long summer break. Nicky is obviously a little concerned but fully expects her to be back in the yard in September. It is good news that the damage is minimal and that the prognosis is positive but it does mean her debut over fences is likely to be delayed until December.
Surrey Knight will be gelded tomorrow now his has completed his box rest and can start walking again as moving helps to keep the swelling down and then he’ll stay in the yard until fully healed before going out. Surrey Noir is doing long canters and Charlie couldn’t be more happier with him. No news on Surrey Quest or Surrey Belle, although we are now fully sold out of Belle so we really do need to go shopping!
Finally – all you people on LinkedIn – we would love you to connect with Surrey Racing. Thanks!
Good Luck to all the owners this week – hopefully plenty of success at the sales and the track.
May
Thursday 19th – Surrey Princess – Chelmsford - 19.30
Saturday 21st – Surrey Gold – Haydock - 14.00
Surrey Charm – Goodwood - 13.10
Wednesday 25th – Surrey Racing Golf Day @ Silvermere Golf Couse 09.00
Tuesday 31st – Surrey Princess - Brighton
June
Wednesday 1st – Surrey Princess – Nottingham
Thursday 9th – Surrey Princess - Newbury
Thursday 16th – Surrey Mist – King George V – Royal Ascot
Saturday 18th - Surrey Mist – Golden Gates – Royal Ascot
July
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