November 2nd Update
After three runs last week, and those 3 horses collectively beating just one finisher, it was nice to have one of our most comfortable wins when Surrey Lord won rather easily to break his maiden at Ffos Las on Tuesday. As we mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we wouldn’t travel as far as Ffos Las if we didn’t think it would be worth the trip, and with Lord still a maiden, we felt this course (very fair) and competition would give him every chance to break his duck. Toby has been instrumental in trying to get Lord to mature as he’s been his main work rider through the summer, showing him who is the boss and despite still not being the finish article the penny has started to drop. Uttoxeter blew away the cobwebs, and we saw on Tuesday what we have always thought he was capable of. Kevin gave Lord a great ride, getting him to settle early on before easing through the gears, and although he got to the front too early, it was never really in doubt, winning easing down by 3 lengths. Hopefully, those who didn’t go, reinvested their petrol money at 8-1, one owner did and bought a share in Surrey Bolt with his winnings!
What now, well the handicapper would have taken notice, we expect a 7-pound hike this Tuesday, but he should be able to back that performance up next time especially if we find the right course/opposition. We’ve noticed how owners would prefer to watch their horse win at home as opposed to go to the races to see their horse finish out of the placings. With Lord being lower rated, we feel we should find races to win at this stage, no matter where they are. Seeing how well he settled, he really could run over any distance between 2-3 miles so that gives us plenty of options, but the longer he runs, we should see further improvement so that’s nice to have in the locker. As long as he stays fit and well, we’d expect him to stay at hurdling for most of the season but wouldn’t rule out a novice chase in the spring.
The stats show the dominance, congratulations to all involved.
By way of comparison, Surrey Quest recorded the fastest of any horse in the longer (but on better ground and Quest was carrying16 pounds less) race at Cheltenham last week at 35.12 mph
That 4th win of the year (3 in the past two months) was our 49th Surrey Racing win (from 257 runs) and the 6th win in Wales, but the first ever at Ffos Las, which becomes the 27th winning course. It was Kevin’s second win in yellow and blue, 2 years on from his first (Surrey Quest at Huntingdon) and our 3rd win with Toby (from 20 runs). We are only waiting for a win from Sea Presenting to have a 100%-win rate of all the NH horses we have ever owned!
Surrey Quest is back to cantering following his gruelling race, the vet is scheduled to give him an ‘MOT’ tomorrow, and he’ll also have a gastroscope on Thursday to see whether there are any underlying issues.
Sea Presenting is slowly getting there and Uttoxeter on the 15th remains a target although that is the earliest she will be able to run so if she doesn’t make that race then Lingfield on the 27th is the next best option.
Surrey Moon and Surrey Etoile are in similar places. Moon is regularly cantering up Warren Hill and the Long Hill grass gallop. He did a faster piece of work (half speed) on the Limekilns, a turf gallop which is on peat moss, he was very green and backward but it’s a start and he’ll carry on training throughout the winter and will likely debut on all-weather in the new year. Etoile is cantering away; he will be galloping just before Christmas and Tim is looking to get him racing on the all-weather in January/February. The juvenile tendonitis for both horses have long been forgotten.
We said goodbye to Surrey Fire and Surrey Shadow this week who were both sold at the Tattersalls HIT sale. We always hope to receive higher bids but for reasons we are aware of, we didn’t receive much interest and were a little disappointed with the outcomes. We move on, at least in the knowledge that both horses won races and gave their owners some good times, we wish them well.
There was an Interesting article in the RP this week, https://www.racingpost.com/news/features/in-focus/british-racing-is-running-out-of-road-and-only-bold-reform-can-stop-it-failing-a7ySG8s0ApGy/
Former jockey Richard Killoran, now a global equity analyst, assesses how the sport can avert a deepening crisis, it’s worth a 10-minute read.
A quiet week ahead, anxiously watching the rating increase for Lord on Tuesday!
Possible races and events.
November
Saturday 15th – Sea Presenting – Uttoxeter
Thursday 27th – Sea Presenting - Lingfield