May the fourth be with you
It was good to go racing again this week and it was nice not to worry about any jumps ! At a sultry Lingfield last Monday hopes were high that Surrey Fire would put in a strong performance after 200 days off the racecourse, which is probably one reason as to why he didn’t quite trouble the judges, despite optimism that saw him backed into favouritism. The only time he has won he drifted out in the betting so maybe the writing was on the wall. With the leaders setting a strong pace Fire struggled to go with them, but also was one paced in the home straight and came home in a solid 4th position, some 8 lengths off the winner, but over 8 lengths from the 5th placed horse. With the expectation higher there was disappointment but we feel that it was a strong race, the winner was one of the favourites for the Derby back in the day after beating Israr and could reach his previous heights if his issues have been ironed out, and the second, rated 86, looks sure to have some good days ahead of him. Fire will come on for the run and strip fitter next time, his time was 2 seconds slower (off the same weight) from his last run over course and distance back in September, a time which would have won the race Monday! He came out of his race well, we feel he will stay further (his dam won the Cesarewitch) so next up will be further on the turf, maybe at Doncaster on the 17th or Nottingham on the 20th.
As expected, Surrey Quest and Surrey Lord have been kiboshed by the glorious weather. Regarding Quest, although the going wouldn’t have suited, he had a serious piece of work with Kevin onboard at Lambourn earlier in the week and although he did nothing wrong, he wasn’t jumping as Toby would have liked, which could have been down to soreness or a slight lack of confidence. He’ll have a couple of show jumping sessions this week to see whether that helps but with the drying ground and a lack of options he won’t be running in a chase again this season. There is a hurdle race at Uttoxeter on the 17th that may come into play as it would be nice to send him into a break with a clean round of jumping but let’s see how he is over the next week or so. Surrey Lord has a few options over the coming weeks, but if the ground conditions don’t ease in that period, then we will pull up stumps for the season and have him ready for early September. Sea Presenting will also be ready for early September as well as she’s having a break in the paddock before she returns to work early in July.
No update on the 3 two-year-olds, May will be like April for them, a gradual slow build up of work without over stretching.
Surrey Shadow has been working well but he’s been a little stiff of late, which is common for 4-year-olds. With the weather against him running Tom has taken the opportunity to inject the fetlock joints to ease the stiffness, the benefits of the injection normally last about 3-4 months. It does mean that he is unable to race for the next two weeks, so he’ll be ready to go again from the 15th of May. We don’t think that, considering the firm ground, he’ll miss any racing, and when the weather changes there are plenty of options including at Newmarket, Newbury and Thirsk on the 17th, and Haydock on the 24th.
Possible races and events.
May
Tuesday 13th – Surrey Racing Golf Day, Silvermere Golf Club – 10.15 am
Saturday 17th – Surrey Quest – Uttoxeter
- Surrey Shadow – Thirsk, Newbury, Newmarket
- Surrey Fire – Doncaster
Tuesday 20th – Surrey Fire - Nottingham
Saturday 24th – Surrey Shadow - Haydock
June
Saturday 28th – Owners visit to Chantilly