Weekly Update

Hi All

I hope you all had a good Christmas ?

This is the last weekly of the year, a strange and difficult one for many of us. We’re confident that Surrey Racing will give you plenty to cheer in 2021 – let’s hope we can do that cheering together from the racetrack, but there’s no doubt we have some very exciting talent coming through.

We have had a common question from the owners in regard to Surrey Gold’s plans for next season. It really does depend on how he matures over the next few months as to the route we take and until we assess that then we can’t really make a plan. Our early discussions have been that having a handicap of 76 means the starting point will be class 4 races. Realistically, it is unlikely that he will be good enough for the Derby but if we saw a stronger, more mature horse, then the King George V handicap at Royal Ascot would be a viable target. To get there he would need a rating rise of 13-15 pounds, which may be a tough ask for a horse that will only be able to fit in a couple of runs before Ascot and is likely to start hitting his peak later in the year. It’s also worth noting the 3rd and 4th from Wolves have both run very disappointingly in the past 2 days.

With regard to Surrey Pride, we spoke to Joe this week and he remains positive for the season ahead and is convinced he will pick up some big race wins and decent prize money. Pride is having a really good break, is looking very well and will come back into training in mid January. He’ll probably make his seasonal reappearance on the All weather at Kempton at the end of March before targeting some of the main handicaps. Joe thinks he’s well handicapped and so there’s plenty of scope to work with. Hopefully, he can improve 10-15 pounds and potentially target Listed races at the back end of the season, possibly abroad. Joe feels that as a four year old he will prefer racing over and so we will looking at races at around 12 furlongs.

Nicky sent a note on the two jumpers this week, he said “Gran Luna is making good progress and has been cantering away with no ill effects. We are about to step up her work programme and have her all ready to run in the New Year.” And “Surrey Quest is, I am glad to say, sound again and looking very well. His work is increasing weekly and should, I think, be ready to return for full training in the New Year. I still intend to win the Punchestown Sales Bumper with him!” 

We may actually book my flights to Ireland for the festival in April this week – it will give us something to look forward to !! 

Finally – we come to the end of our 4th full year – it’s hard to believe it’s only 4 years – we seem to have packed so much in – there’s been plenty of ups and downs (on and off the track) along the way but it’s been great fun!

We wish you all the very best as we kick 2020 into touch – may all your dreams come true in 2021 !  

Entries and Other Plans/Events

April 2021
Tuesday 27th – Surrey Quest - Punchestown
June 2021
Saturday 5th – Surrey Gold – The Derby, Epsom