7th December Update

After a few weeks of celebrating winners. we had 2 unplaced runners last week and now have a quieter week ahead. 

Surrey Lord was racing again just 10 days after his win at Kempton to take advantage of his old 106 mark (he’s now rated 112) and whilst options were limited we felt it would be better to regret trying at Wincanton that regret not trying to secure a first ever Surrey Racing NH hattrick. We knew short of 2 miles at Wincanton probably wasn’t an ideal track or distance, but with the rain softened ground making the race a little more of a stamina test we felt it was right to have a go knowing that nothing would be lost in defeat. It was clear from the very first fence that the quirky Surrey Lord didn’t fancy the pace with Kevin Brogan having to gee him up at various stages throughout just to keep him in touching distance. It was therefore commendable that he did run on from the back of the field to finish a close 4th only 2 lengths off the winner, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Lord wasn’t blowing too much after the race and was fine the following day. He’ll have a few days off now and we’ll look at races after Christmas, and we’ll have a think about where he can find improvement, a galloping track for sure, but maybe the ground didn’t suit, and it could be that he will fare better over further.   

Yesterday, Surrey Quest raced at Chepstow in a 3 miles handicap hurdle following treatment for severe ulcers which we hoped were the reasons for the last two poor performances, and although Kevin felt there was an improvement, Quest was making a noise suggesting that he needs another soft palette wind operation, he struggled and finished down the field, 40 lengths off the winner. He’s been beaten 160 lengths in his last three runs which has been a shame to watch as Quest has been our top horse for several years. He will have a breathing operation this week, when he’s recovered from that he’ll start schooling over the bigger fences, if that goes well, then one option would be to return to chasing in the Surrey National at Lingfield on January 19th.      

In flat horse news, Surrey King has been entered into the 2026 Group 1 German Derby which hasn’t given us all something to dream about. King didn’t have the best first day at school but his work at home had been very good and we hope with a winter off he’ll show his true colours on the racetrack as a more mature 3-year-old. It is a little like buying a lotter ticket, but the owners were happy to take a chance. The entries are published https://www.deutscher-galopp.de/gr/renntage/rennen.php?id=1363190&d=20260705&s=A 

We had a chat with Tim this week, he doesn’t want to start Surrey Etoile on an all-weather track so will wait for the French turf season to get underway in February. Etoile is a big horse who will need cut in the ground (which he will get regularly in France) so another month or two of patience is required with him. It’s a similar story with Surrey Moon who is back on Warren Hill but still some way off his debut. It’s been great to see the progress of Surrey Bolt and learning about the breaking in progress. If you have watched the videos, he’s taken everything in his stride and now being ridden out on the Newmarket Heath.  

Finally, Sea Presenting is probably our next horse to run, the 21st at Lingfield looks an obvious option for her so all going well she’ll have an entry made the following week. 

Possible races and events.                         

December 
Sunday 21st – Sea Presenting – Lingfield
January
Monday 19th – Surrey Quest – Lingfield
July
Sunday 5th – Surrey King - Hamburg