Two decades ago we published an Annual (in the style of Timeform UK). I dug up a story that illustrates my still vivid July memory....
(from Racing Record Annual 1994, Volume 5)
The third volume of Racing Record Annual, which dealt with Surfing Home’s 3yo career in 1992, made the following observation about the American-bred’s fourth place in the 1992 Rothmans July. “What made the performance so remarkable was that US-import Surfing Home was born in April ’89 and had only just turned three in real terms – unlike the South African bred three-year-olds whose birthday falls somewhere near October, some seven month earlier. In terms of weight-for-age, Surfing Home’s performance was some four or five kilo’s better than that of a South African 3yo would have been. Given normal weight-for-age progress, this means that Surfing Home can be rated 110 in the season to come, and probably more if we take into account that he only made his debut in February, less than five months before his run in the Rothmans July.”
It was about a year-and-a-half before Surfing Home was to see the track again, as he spent that time on the Cohen’s Odessa Farm near Ceres to recuperate from a tendon injury – the same farm, incidentally, where Surfing Home’s stable companion Waitara recuperated from similar injury. Gelded as well during his time off, Surfing Home reappeared in April ’94, now just five years old. He was beaten 8 lengths in an open handicap at Scottsville, after showing his customary early pace in the race. He ran to a rating of 94, and a month later to 97 in a competitive Gr2 Greyville 1900, again making the pace, to finish eighth, beaten less than three lengths. Clearly he was sound, and hadn’t lost his ability. It was on the cards that he’d return to form soon.
Imagine our surprise, therefore, when the opening betting for the Rothmans July listed Surfin Home among the 100/1 bar’s. If he could run to his former rating of 110 he’d be at the top of our race ratings. Clearly, here was an opportunity not to be missed – and we didn’t. Not since Take A Walk opened in the Cape Guineas betting at 33/1 a year ago had there been such value around.
Surfing Home set our pulse acing three weeks later. The race was the Gr3 Mainstay Trial over 1800m at Clairwood, where he had to put up a bold showing to make the final twenty for the Rothmans July. Surfing Home did so in no uncertain terms. Making the pace as usual, he simply kept finding more and more under pressure, courage which became the hallmark of all his subsequent runs. If ever there was a motto to suit Surfing Home it would be ‘Never Give Up’. He won the Trial by over a length, going away, from Making Mischief.
There was no shortage of money in the July betting for Surfing Home after that run. Our 100/1 voucher was looking positively obscene when in the end he started at 7/1 for the big race. As usual he made all the running, to win by a short head from Space Walk, with Flaming Rock half a length back in third. Surfing Home showed his customary rally after he’d looked to be caught close to the post. Unfortunately, he got there by foul means rather than fair. A furlong out he started to hang, first to the inside rail, then out gain, giving the impression his jockey simply couldn’t control him. In the process he hampered Pas de Quoi twice. There was no doubt he’d lose the race – even though Pas de Quoi might still not have beaten him had he kept a straight course. A stronger jockey might have made all the difference to the result.
Interesting to think that with today Rule dealing with interference Surfing Home would certainly have kept the race.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Topic Author
