April 12th Update

Reading the horse news this week was a reminder that it’s never plain sailing owning a horse. Champion two-year-old Gewan, winner of last year's G1 Dewhurst Stakes and a leading contender for next month's 2,000 Guineas, was fatally injured in a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, in Australia, wondermare Winx’s first foal Quinceanera, who sold for A$10m as a yearling has been retired without even running a race.  So, with that in mind we are going to live the dream again after buying a NH horse, called Hillsyde Hope, following a promising point to point in Ireland!

With the help of Irish bloodstock agent, JD Moore, we are delighted to have bought the 4-year-old gelding after he put up an impressive point to point performance at Oldcastle at the end of March. Despite the testing conditions, he travelled well throughout the race and had every chance at the last, where a mistake put paid to finishing first but still ran through the line well finishing 4 lengths back in 3rd. Here is the video of that race, he’s in white and blue and sat around 7th position on the outside for most of the race.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbJpd5GQo4k‍ ‍

He was given a full veterinary inspection (wind, scope, tendons etc) and came up clean, with the vet remarking how relaxed his walk was, especially after a tough 3-mile point to point. Toby remarked that he ‘is a true athlete, a very correct horse, he should be the type that is ready to go next season and has a huge depth of pedigree that I feel he will keep on progressing as he matures’.  Hillsyde Hope is by Jet Away, out of an unraced dam by Getaway, he is a half-brother to North of Richmond, a 6-year-old Workforce gelding in training with Alex Hales, currently rated 114.  Jet Away was a Group 3 winning colt, whose dam was an unraced sister to Hasili, so he is related to the legendary Dansili, as well as multiple Group 1 winners. Jet Away has a good stud record, 41% of his offspring have been winners, including Three Card Brag who finished 9th in yesterday’s Grand National. 

We do have a list of those who are interested in a share, we are giving them first refusal (only 35% left already) but if anyone wishes for more details and wants to go on a waiting list then do let us know. 

You may recall we sent a note to change the all-inclusive monthly fee to a part all inclusive fee. We have received some feedback from owners that we agree with. So, the fixed monthly training fee will cover training fees and routine expenses, including standard veterinary costs, transport, race entries, jockey fees, and other usual operating expenses. However, please note that should the thresholds be exceeded, the monthly fees will continue to cover the costs up to the threshold and only the excess costs will be shared by the syndicate owners (including Surrey Racing), in proportion to their ownership share, which we feel is a fairer (and cheaper) proposition. 

Have a super week ahead

Possible races and events.                     

April
Saturday 25th – Surrey Lord – Sandown
Sunday 26th – Hughie and Mary Morrison Drinks and Eats
May
Saturday 9th – Owners visit to Toby Lawes
Monday 11th Surrey Moon – Windsor
Saturday 16th – Owners visit to Tom Clovers
Wednesday 20th – Surrey Racing Golf Day – Silvermere GC (full up, waiting list in place)
July
Sunday 5th – Surrey King - Hamburg 

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