18th January Update
It was great for the Surrey Lord owners to be at another big race meeting following on from his win at Kempton on Boxing Day. Ascot was the venue this time for the Clarence House card and we turned up with optimism, tempered by worries about the ground which wasn’t helped by a morning downpour on the already saturated turf from 35 mm of rain over the past few days. With the time of the first race considerably slower than standard and a going change announced to ‘soft’ that optimism was certainly being tested! So it proved, although Lord ran a great race considering he never enjoyed it and lost ground on the even softer conditions on the far side of the track near Swinley Forest. He ran with merit and finished a very credible 4th and despite blowing quite hard after the race was full of beans this morning. He’s already run 6 times this season so will have a few weeks off before getting ready for his 7th race. It’s possible he may have reached his level over the 2m 3f distance that he ran yesterday, but there could be more improvement stepped up in distance so we’ll wait for the right ground and possibly a long trip later late February, early March.
Last week I mentioned the ROA’s initiative re Associate Membership. On Wednesday Louise Norman, the CEO. appeared on the Stan and Oli show and gave a polished update on what the ROA are doing for owners, it starts at minute 67. If you forward on to minute 127 you can hear me stutter and stumble my way through 20 minutes of Surrey Racing’s experience – unfortunately not as elegant but less corporate buzzwords being used! https://www.racingtv.com/watch/on-demand/97584
Surrey Etoile had a successful operation and now he’s recovering at the farm in Normandy. The main risk over the next 2 weeks is infection so he’ll be monitored daily but so far so good and the cast is due for removal on Thursday, with a bandage applied for two more weeks. He will have 6 weeks box rest although he can be taken out for grooming and grazing. After 6 weeks he will be hand walked twice a day and will have another clinical examination in 2 months’ time.
In other injury news, Surrey Bolt has strained his suspensory branch ligament, a non-weight bearing injury, but it does mean 4 weeks on the easy list. Obviously, it’s better not to have an injury but Tom wasn’t overly concerned (and those who know Tom will attest he would never make a poker player!). Prognosis is good and it won’t affect the timing of his debut in the summer. However, with Surrey Moon on the easy list. we are considering rearranging the stable visit next Saturday if that’s what the owners would rather do.
No new news re Surrey King.
Finally, Surrey Quest returns to the bigger fences tomorrow in the Surrey National at Lingfield, a 3.5-mile, 21 fence, handicap off at 1.50. His schooling has been good and so hopefully we can see him at his best for the first time this season. Good luck to the owners and fingers crossed that Quest comes home safe and sound, we could do with an enjoyable visit to Lingfield.
We will see some of you tomorrow, maybe others on Saturday.
Possible races and events.
January
Monday 19th – Surrey Quest – Lingfield – 1.50
Saturday 24th – Owners visit to see Surrey Moon and Surrey Bolt – 9.15am
May
Wednesday 20th – Surrey Racing Golf Day
July
Sunday 5th – Surrey King - Hamburg