10th May Update
It was great seeing a few owners in the lovely sunny conditions at Toby’s yesterday including a few new faces to Surrey Racing. Another new face was Hillsyde Hope who only arrived 30 minutes before the owners did after an overnight ferry from Ireland. Considering he’d been travelling for nearly 24 hours he seemed remarkably well. He’s a very athletic looking horse at 16.1 hands with some more growth to come over the summer. Next season, in the Autumn, he’ll start in bumpers, he has good bumper form in his pedigree, so we’d hope to win one of those before novice hurdling. It’s also great that many of those who expressed an interest in buying a NH with Toby did commit, we don’t have any shares available.
It was also good to see Surrey Lord who looked resplendent in the sun. He wasn’t entered at Haydock to race yesterday as Toby felt that he was a little flat, and with ground worries, we have decided to pull up stumps for the season. I must admit I had my doubts about Surrey Lord and have been rightly put back in my place this season which has seen Lord mature into a ‘Saturday’ horse. He ran 6 times, winning 3 including on one of the biggest racedays of the year, on King George Day at Kempton, and rising from a season opening mark of 99 to finish rated 117. It feels there is more to come so it’s going to be exciting to watch him start on that mark in novice handicap chases in the Autumn.
Tomorrow, we were meant to have the long-awaited debut of Surrey Moon but unfortunately, he has a small abscess on his foot. His shoe has been removed and hopefully the abscess will clear up naturally over the next 48 hours, if so he’ll be back working mid-week, and then we’ll be looking for a race the following week. We’ve waited this long so another couple weeks won’t make too much difference! This Saturday Steve and 12 owners are visiting the Clover’s in Newmarket, I’m sure Tom will have races for Surrey Moon in mind, so those going will find out more. It will also be good to see how Surrey Bolt is and what plans Tom has for him later in the year.
Surrey Etoile is now out in his paddock for 2 hours a day and enjoying that freedom. He’ll have the next set of x-rays the following week and if they are ok then we will discuss the next steps however he’s giving no signs that he can’t make it back on the track.
Surrey King is also well but Hughie remarked he seems tired, probably from all the trips out in the horsebox, the stalls tests, the Salisbury race, so Hughie will just bide his time for the next week or so, but there are plenty of options at the end of May and into June.
The week after that we have the golf day with 2 places available should you have a change of mind and wish to play.
Have a super week ahead and those heading to Newmarket, enjoy the visit!
Possible races and events.
May
Saturday 16th – Owners visit to Tom Clovers – 3rd lot at
Wednesday 20th – Surrey Racing Golf Day – Silvermere GC (2 spare places)
July
Sunday 5th – Surrey King - Hamburg