30th November Update

It was great to be back racing again this week and we couldn’t have asked for more from the two horses running who gave their syndicate owners two great days out. 

Surrey Lord was first up last Monday at a gloomy Kempton, racing in the lucky last, a conditional jockey’s 2-mile hurdle race where we had a young Ben Macey making his Surrey Racing debut in the saddle.  Ben was under instructions to keep Lord off the pace and to try to pick off the leaders in the closing sections, and that’s exactly what he did and all was going very well until 2 jumps out when Lord took a hard sideways swipe from another horse, which kicked off a hind shoe and left us all holding our breaths!  Thankfully both horse and jockey quickly regained their composure and took the lead into the last hurdle and kept on well enough to record back-to-back victories and more of the obligatory winner’s champagne, which has now been enjoyed 50 times by Surrey Racing owners!   

That was our 5th winner of the year, and was our 5th ever win at Kempton, but the first time we have won there over jumps. That 50th winner has come in 258 runs and was our 4th winner with Toby (from 21 runs). 

Surrey Lord has been entered to run in two class 4 hurdle races at Leicester and Wincanton on Thursday, Leicester is a 0-115 handicap over 2m 4.5f, while Wincanton is a 0-120 over 1m 7f.  The handicapper has indicated that Lord will rise to 112 (+6 lb) for his win at Kempton, that will become official on Tuesday but as it doesn’t affect the conditions at these races Lord will be running off 106, so it could be worth the quick turnaround to try to get the hattrick. However, Toby won’t make a final decision until declarations as there are some good horses entered, and it really isn’t worth rushing Lord back out again if it’s going to be tough to win.  

3 days later, Sea Presenting returned after a long absence following a pelvic injury and wind surgery to race in a mares’ only maiden at Lingfield. We know she’s a good gutsy horse, but we were worried how she would come back from her time off, with Toby saying it’s the earliest she could have returned to racing and that she wouldn’t be at full match fitness. Those worries were increased when something spooked her on the way to the start and she threw Kevin to the turf! It certainly wouldn’t have helped her performance but once horse and jockey were reunited she settled down and enjoyed the race, tracking the two market leaders throughout and then challenging in the last few furlongs. Unfortunately, her momentum was stunted after hitting the last and she chased home the Skeltons for a very good 2nd place. She bounced out of the race, seemed to really enjoy being back racing and there’s no doubt she will be winning soon. That could be back at Lingfield on Sunday 21st. 

As well as Surrey Lord possibly next week, we have Surrey Quest who is more than likely to run at Chepstow on Saturday in a 3-mile handicap hurdle, although he may also have an entry at Sandown’s Tingle Creek meeting on the same day. Quest hasn’t performed well this season which could be because of ulcers so he’s been on GastoGard to heal those, so we will find out in the next run if that was the case. He’s been such a great horse for us and the owners, we hope he’s still got some great days ahead of him.  

Surrey Moon continues to work on the Newmarket gallops although Tom remarked this week that he’s still raw and unfurnished, however he’s pleased with his progress and the fact Moon is improving weekly, making up for the time he missed with his tendonitis. Stablemate Surrey Bolt, as you would have seen from the videos, has been very straightforward so far in the breaking in process. It was good to see that after host of big-race successes in 2025, Surrey Moon and Surrey Bolt’s buyer,  Billy Jackson-Stops, has recently scooped the bloodstock agent of the year award for the first time which is a good sign for us.    

Surrey King is having a very easy time of things now; he probably won’t have his stalls test until later in the new year and finally Surrey Etoile is close to resuming faster work and a debut in the new year.  

Since the start of August, we have had 4 winners and a second from 12 runs and still some chances to add to that tally so good luck to Surrey Lord and Surrey Quest, Toby and his horses are in great form so it would be nice to round off the year in style and keep the good run going. 

Possible races and events.                         

December 
Thursday 4th – Surrey Lord – Leicester, Wincanton
Saturday 6th - Surrey Quest – Chepstow, Sandown
Sunday 21st – Sea Presenting - Lingfield