| Acquiesced (IRE) | 06F - Refuse To Bend x North East Bay (Prospect Bay) BAY |
| Adri's Emblem | 06F - Our Emblem x ADRIATRICA |
| Amethyst Dawn (IRE) | 06F - Act One x A L'Aube (Selkirk) GR |
| Ancient Future | 06F - CAT DREAMS x Ma Guerre (Lord At War) CH |
| Artax Minstrel | 06F - Artax x Coquina Bay (Cozzene) CH |
| Barnstorming | 06M - Thunder Gulch x SOUL OF THE CAT |
| Bear Canyon | 06F - Champali x Miss Vesuvio (Thirty Six Red) |
| Bonfire | 06M - Runaway Groom x Tenacite (Seattle Slew) DKB |
| Burgee | 06M - Awesome Again x Gold Streamer (Forty Niner) B |
| Captain Captivated | 06F - El Corredor x CAPTIVATED |
| Certainly You | 06F - CERTAIN STORM x Had To Be You (Horatius) |
| Damselfly (GB) | 06F - Dr Fong x Mazarine Blue (Bellypha) BAY |
| Darcey (GB) | 06F - Noverre x Firozi (Forzando) CH |
| Early Morning Rain (IRE) | 06F - Rock Of Gibraltar x Honorine (Mark Of Esteem) B |
| Emilia Plater | 06F - Ascot Knight x Heavenly Glitter (Thirty Six Red) CH |
| Ermine Slippers | 06F - El Prado x Sweet As Honey (Strike The Gold) GR |
| Hickory Nut | 06M - Horse Chestnut x MASKED BALL |
| Legendary Peace | 06F - Peace Rules x Red Mischief (Thirty Six Red) |
| Man of Faith | 06M - Essence Of Dubai x RIVER OF FAITH |
| Marleau | 06M - CAT DREAMS x Ascalon (Two Punch) |
| Morning Mist | 06F - Holy Bull x Go For Bail (Go For Gin) GR |
| Neptune Fix (FR) | 06M - Goldneyev x Bella Dicta (Vayrann) BLK |
| Omega Wolf (IRE) | 06M - Spartacus x Brave Cat (Catrail) BAY |
| Porcupine | 06M - Housebuster x Loon Lake (Cryptoclearance) B |
| Ptarmigan | 06F - Unbridled Jet x Flaine (Chenin Blanc) GR |
| Qelaan | 06F - Dynaformer x Irtahal (Swain) BAY |
| Race the Breeze | 06F - Theatrical x Wedding Day Blues (El Prado) DBR |
| Rightly So | 06F - Read The Footnotes x FIT RIGHT IN |
| Rotterdam | 06M - Unbridled's Song x Zoftig (Cozzene) GR |
| Secret Wish | 06F - Street Cry x Awesome Lass (Awesome Again) BAY |
| Shadows Lengthen (GB) | 06M - Dansili x Bay Shade (Sharpen Up) B |
| Shetan (GB) | 06M - Desert Prince x Seven Notes (Zafonic) CH |
| Shining Dawn | 06F - Seeking The Gold x Easy 'n Gold (Slew O'Gold) CH |
| Snow Valley (FR) | 06F - Choisir x Snow Lady (Vision) BAY |
| Storm's Ransom | 06M - CERTAIN STORM x Cushina (Holy Bull) |
| Sunspear (IRE) | 06F - Montjeu x Out West (Gone West) B |
| Valkyrie (IRE) | 06F - Danehill Dancer x Ridotto (Salse) BAY |
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Crop Of 2006... update 1
I have added quite a few horses since my last list - mainly European. Unfortunately I have had to remove Saluki, a Dubai Destination colt, as he had been exported to South Africa, which would make him hard to follow. Apart from a few foals from my earlier crops I am unlikely to add any more north american horses. I am shortlisting some Europeans and the final choice is going to be hard. I might go slightly over 50 horses, but I will try and contain myself and not go crazy. The last one I added was Shetan, a Desert Prince colt, as it was the arabic name of The Black Stallion from Walter Farley's books that I loved so much when I was little. I still love them really!
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Two ToF Offspring in Keeneland Breeze-Up
Two youngsters from my ToF crop horses are in the Keeneland Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale on 8/9 April 2008:
Hip 41: chestnut colt (2006), Storm Cat x Paiota Falls
and
Hip 163: dark bay or brown filly (2006), Cat Dreams x Siphonophora
In the Keeneland September Yearling Sale the Paiota Falls colt, who is her first foal, went unsold for $425,000. I am very interested to see what he will bring in this sale. It should be around the half million mark in my opinion.
The Cat Dreams x Siphonophora filly is quite experienced at this whole sales thing by now. This will be third time she is led through the Keeneland sales ring. She was first sold at the January Of All Ages Sales in 2007 for $16,000, then she fetched $10,000 in September of the same year. In feel she is well bred and I would hazard a guess that she will bring between $20,000 and $25,000.
They will gallop under tack on Monday 7 April.
Hip 41: chestnut colt (2006), Storm Cat x Paiota Falls
and
Hip 163: dark bay or brown filly (2006), Cat Dreams x Siphonophora
In the Keeneland September Yearling Sale the Paiota Falls colt, who is her first foal, went unsold for $425,000. I am very interested to see what he will bring in this sale. It should be around the half million mark in my opinion.
The Cat Dreams x Siphonophora filly is quite experienced at this whole sales thing by now. This will be third time she is led through the Keeneland sales ring. She was first sold at the January Of All Ages Sales in 2007 for $16,000, then she fetched $10,000 in September of the same year. In feel she is well bred and I would hazard a guess that she will bring between $20,000 and $25,000.
They will gallop under tack on Monday 7 April.
Monday 18 February 2008
ToF 2008 Foals
Some of my ToF mares have foals already, so I just thought I'd give a list of the foals:
Sire x Dam (Dam Sire)
- Mr Greeley x Adventure (Unbridled's Song)
- Langfuhr x Aimer (Swain)
- Consolidator x Al Maha (Holy Bull)
- Harlan's Holiday x Calusa (Unbridled's Song)
- Elusive Quality x Catbaby (AP Indy)
- Unbridled's Song x Friendly Michelle (Artax)
- Olmodavor x Howl At The Moon (Dynaformer)
- Belong To Me x Moonlight (Unbridled) FILLY
- Unbridled Energy x Tiffed (Seattle Slew)
- Valid Expectations x Wood Duck (Kingmambo
I like the Olmodavor x Howl At The Moon cross. It's very exciting finding out whether my mares have foals yet and who they are by. I am expecting quite a few this year. I will give updated lists every now and then.
Sire x Dam (Dam Sire)
- Mr Greeley x Adventure (Unbridled's Song)
- Langfuhr x Aimer (Swain)
- Consolidator x Al Maha (Holy Bull)
- Harlan's Holiday x Calusa (Unbridled's Song)
- Elusive Quality x Catbaby (AP Indy)
- Unbridled's Song x Friendly Michelle (Artax)
- Olmodavor x Howl At The Moon (Dynaformer)
- Belong To Me x Moonlight (Unbridled) FILLY
- Unbridled Energy x Tiffed (Seattle Slew)
- Valid Expectations x Wood Duck (Kingmambo
I like the Olmodavor x Howl At The Moon cross. It's very exciting finding out whether my mares have foals yet and who they are by. I am expecting quite a few this year. I will give updated lists every now and then.
Sugar Swirl Romps
Sugar Swirl did me proud yesterday. Despite the fact her main rival Lady Marlboro scratched she definitely made people turn heads. She made decisive move around the turn to draw off to a eight-and-three-quarters length win over Change Up, with Silver Knockers back in third. She recorded a time of 1.22.77 under a hand ride.
Her jockey Javier Castellano said: "She was primed and ready. There's no question about her being able to go longer based on the way she ran today. I had a ton of horse going for home."
Her next target is likely the Shirley Jones H (G2) on 22 March.
Mr Golden Ruler unfortunately finished last in the Borderland Derby
(Sugar Swirl - 2003 chestnut mare - Touch Gold x Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro)
Her jockey Javier Castellano said: "She was primed and ready. There's no question about her being able to go longer based on the way she ran today. I had a ton of horse going for home."
Her next target is likely the Shirley Jones H (G2) on 22 March.
Mr Golden Ruler unfortunately finished last in the Borderland Derby
(Sugar Swirl - 2003 chestnut mare - Touch Gold x Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro)
Saturday 16 February 2008
Premium Tap Manages Only Fourth
I have to say I am slightly dissapointed in the fourth place finish of Allam (Premium Tap) in the The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G1), the biggest and most important race in Saudi Arabia's racing callendar. Kharimes (Joe Louis) won the 2400m race in 2:28.07, three quarters of a length in front of Shabel Almidaan, who beat Aloqhuwan (Omikron) by head back in third.
Yes the winning horse is quite accomplished, being an Argentinian G1 winner, but overall Premium Tap (Allam in Saudi Arabia) should have had the upper hand in this field. It is hard to determine exactly what happened or why he lost as the only information I have is the cold hard fact of the result. I sure hope he does not have a physical problem. Who knows, maybe he got boxed in, which is not impossible in a field of 18. I wish I knew. For now I will give him the definite benefit of doubt and expect him to be fit and ready to go for the Dubai World Cup, in which he is likely to face some big boys, including Curlin.
I love this horse and I hope he will bounce back to prove that he is a fantastic horse that is certainly capable of a top 3 in the Dubai World Cup, though I still want him to win it!
PS horses when racing in Saudi Arabia get different names, ie Premium Tap is Allam.
(Premium Tap - 2002 bay horse - Pleasant Tap x Premium Red, by Thirty Six Red)
Yes the winning horse is quite accomplished, being an Argentinian G1 winner, but overall Premium Tap (Allam in Saudi Arabia) should have had the upper hand in this field. It is hard to determine exactly what happened or why he lost as the only information I have is the cold hard fact of the result. I sure hope he does not have a physical problem. Who knows, maybe he got boxed in, which is not impossible in a field of 18. I wish I knew. For now I will give him the definite benefit of doubt and expect him to be fit and ready to go for the Dubai World Cup, in which he is likely to face some big boys, including Curlin.
I love this horse and I hope he will bounce back to prove that he is a fantastic horse that is certainly capable of a top 3 in the Dubai World Cup, though I still want him to win it!
PS horses when racing in Saudi Arabia get different names, ie Premium Tap is Allam.
(Premium Tap - 2002 bay horse - Pleasant Tap x Premium Red, by Thirty Six Red)
The Weekend's ToF Stakes Action
Today (Saturday) Mr Golden Ruler, son of my 2001 mare Nature's Gold, is contesting the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park. He was not included in my 2005 crop, but nonetheless, being by one of my mares, I keep a close eye on him. Nature's Gold, a Valiant Nature mare, raced a few times without hitting the board, but her three-year-old son broke his maiden in his second start and placed in his last of three starts, an allowance race. The Arizona-bred Tribal Rule colt is likely to be the longest shot of the field. Poni Colada looks to go off a short-odds favourite. The Borderland Derby is over the trip of 1 1/16 miles and carries a purse of $100,000. It is an enormous step up for him, but who knows!
Sunday it is Sugar Swirl's turn, from my 2003 crop. She is taking her place in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Her biggest rival in the seven furlong race will be Lady Marlboro, who finished in a a dead heat in the Sabin Handicap (G3) back at the beginning of January. Of course Sugar Swirl is a G3 winner now and she has been quite consistent so far in her career. I give her a big chance of winning another one. She should be able to stretch out to 7f, as she seemed to have something left to give in her last race. She has actually won over 1 mile before, though that was 'only' an allowance race. Maybe the fact that Javier Castellano chose to ride her over Lady Marlboro is enough. Sugar Swirl is on a roll and I hope she keeps on rolling. I would love to see her in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at the end of the year. She could be my American flagbearer for 2008!
(Sugar Swirl - 2003 chestnut mare - Touch Gold x Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro)
(Mr Golden Ruler - 2005 dark bay colt - Tribal Rule x NATURE'S GOLD, by Valiant Nature)
Sunday it is Sugar Swirl's turn, from my 2003 crop. She is taking her place in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Her biggest rival in the seven furlong race will be Lady Marlboro, who finished in a a dead heat in the Sabin Handicap (G3) back at the beginning of January. Of course Sugar Swirl is a G3 winner now and she has been quite consistent so far in her career. I give her a big chance of winning another one. She should be able to stretch out to 7f, as she seemed to have something left to give in her last race. She has actually won over 1 mile before, though that was 'only' an allowance race. Maybe the fact that Javier Castellano chose to ride her over Lady Marlboro is enough. Sugar Swirl is on a roll and I hope she keeps on rolling. I would love to see her in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at the end of the year. She could be my American flagbearer for 2008!
(Sugar Swirl - 2003 chestnut mare - Touch Gold x Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro)
(Mr Golden Ruler - 2005 dark bay colt - Tribal Rule x NATURE'S GOLD, by Valiant Nature)
Thursday 14 February 2008
Price Is Right For Rightly So
The Selected Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training took place on Tuesday 12 February. In it was hip 17, a dark bay filly from the first crop of graded stakes winner Read The Footnotes. She is out of Fit Right In, who belonged to my 2002 crop.
Fit Right In never raced. Her dam Gaye's Blossom is by Thirty Six Red, one of my all-time favourite horses. I also follow her Freud half sister Don't Mind Me (2004), who is an allowance winner and stakes placed.
Rightly So is Fit Right In's first foal and Tuesday was the first time she went through the ring. She had performed well in the under tack show, going 2f in 10.1 on 3 February. Showing speed in the under tack shows can really up the sales price, remember The Green Monkey anyone? :o)
She was consigned by Sequel Bloodstock and sold for a very neat $220,000. Zayat Stables bought her.
Her name was not on her catalogue page, but I hope they will keep her name. I like Rightly So. It sounds stubborn :o)
Anyway, keep an eye out for the girl when she gets to the races. I have added her to my 2006 crop.
(Rightly So - 2006 dark bay filly - Read The Footnotes x Fit Right In, by Out Of Place)
(Fit Right In - 2002 chestnut mare - Out Of Place x Gaye's Blossom, by Thirty Six Red)
Fit Right In never raced. Her dam Gaye's Blossom is by Thirty Six Red, one of my all-time favourite horses. I also follow her Freud half sister Don't Mind Me (2004), who is an allowance winner and stakes placed.
Rightly So is Fit Right In's first foal and Tuesday was the first time she went through the ring. She had performed well in the under tack show, going 2f in 10.1 on 3 February. Showing speed in the under tack shows can really up the sales price, remember The Green Monkey anyone? :o)
She was consigned by Sequel Bloodstock and sold for a very neat $220,000. Zayat Stables bought her.
Her name was not on her catalogue page, but I hope they will keep her name. I like Rightly So. It sounds stubborn :o)
Anyway, keep an eye out for the girl when she gets to the races. I have added her to my 2006 crop.
(Rightly So - 2006 dark bay filly - Read The Footnotes x Fit Right In, by Out Of Place)
(Fit Right In - 2002 chestnut mare - Out Of Place x Gaye's Blossom, by Thirty Six Red)
Saturday 9 February 2008
All About Cat Dreams
2008 is going to be an exciting year, not least because two of my first crop (2001) boys have their first two-year-olds this year, Certain Storm and Cat Dreams, both sons of the big man Storm Cat.
I actually have very high hopes for Cat Dreams. He is beautifully bred, being out of J J'sdream, a multiple stakes winning Glitterman mare. He only made one start, which he won. Unfortunately, he sustained a career ending injury in that race, though I am not sure what that injury is/was. He started his career at Pepper Oaks Farm in California for a $4,000 fee. He was well supported in his first year with 64 mares. I have 44 live foals listed for him, which I will of course be keeping an eye on. I will report on them as the season progresses. He was also supported by B Wayne Hughes, who was his owner during his short racing career, and he sent some decent mares to Cat Dreams, including Siphonophora, a Siphon half sister to Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, and Ma Guerre, a graded-placed half sister to Louisiana Derby winner Mighty. Hopefully he should get some decent runners.
So far I have added two of them to my Crop of 2006 to follow closely: Marleau, a grey colt out of Ascalon (Two Punch) , and Ancient Future, the chestnut filly out of Ma Guerre. I will probably add one more, maybe the Siphonophora filly, which has not been named yet.
Bigger name freshman sires this year include Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones, Belmont winner Birdstone, Travers winner Ten Most Wanted, Subarban H winner Peace Rules and Florida Derby winner Friends Lake. But yet, I think Cat Dreams can compete with any of them. He is by a sire of sires out of a multiple stakes winning mare and showed brilliance in his only outing. When looking at his conformation photo, you can see he is a son of Storm Cat.
Can he beat the odds and become a great sire? I sure hope so - I think he has the genes to do it.
I already said it, but I will say it again, this year is all about Cat Dreams!
(Cat Dreams - 2001 bay horse - Storm Cat x J J'sdream, by Glitterman)
I actually have very high hopes for Cat Dreams. He is beautifully bred, being out of J J'sdream, a multiple stakes winning Glitterman mare. He only made one start, which he won. Unfortunately, he sustained a career ending injury in that race, though I am not sure what that injury is/was. He started his career at Pepper Oaks Farm in California for a $4,000 fee. He was well supported in his first year with 64 mares. I have 44 live foals listed for him, which I will of course be keeping an eye on. I will report on them as the season progresses. He was also supported by B Wayne Hughes, who was his owner during his short racing career, and he sent some decent mares to Cat Dreams, including Siphonophora, a Siphon half sister to Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, and Ma Guerre, a graded-placed half sister to Louisiana Derby winner Mighty. Hopefully he should get some decent runners.
So far I have added two of them to my Crop of 2006 to follow closely: Marleau, a grey colt out of Ascalon (Two Punch) , and Ancient Future, the chestnut filly out of Ma Guerre. I will probably add one more, maybe the Siphonophora filly, which has not been named yet.
Bigger name freshman sires this year include Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones, Belmont winner Birdstone, Travers winner Ten Most Wanted, Subarban H winner Peace Rules and Florida Derby winner Friends Lake. But yet, I think Cat Dreams can compete with any of them. He is by a sire of sires out of a multiple stakes winning mare and showed brilliance in his only outing. When looking at his conformation photo, you can see he is a son of Storm Cat.
Can he beat the odds and become a great sire? I sure hope so - I think he has the genes to do it.
I already said it, but I will say it again, this year is all about Cat Dreams!
(Cat Dreams - 2001 bay horse - Storm Cat x J J'sdream, by Glitterman)
Friday 8 February 2008
Crop of 2006... so far!
There is a lot of picking and choosing to do and of course waiting on some prospects to be named, but this is what I have so far. Pretty much all of these should make the final cut. The horses in bold are from earlier crops.
| Adri's Emblem | 06F - Our Emblem x ADRIATRICA |
| Ancient Future | 06F - CAT DREAMS x Ma Guerre (Lord At War) CH |
| Artax Minstrel | 06F - Artax x Coquina Bay (Cozzene) CH |
| Bear Canyon | 06F - Champali x Miss Vesuvio (Thirty Six Red) |
| Bonfire | 06M - Runaway Groom x Tenacite (Seattle Slew) DKB |
| Burgee | 06M - Awesome Again x Gold Streamer (Forty Niner) B |
| Captain Captivated | 06F - El Corredor x CAPTIVATED |
| Certainly You | 06F - CERTAIN STORM x Had To Be You (Horatius) |
| Darcey (GB) | 06F - Noverre x Firozi (Forzando) CH |
| Emilia Plater | 06F - Ascot Knight x Heavenly Glitter (Thirty Six Red) CH |
| Ermine Slippers | 06F - El Prado x Sweet As Honey (Strike The Gold) GR |
| Hickory Nut | 06M - Horse Chestnut x MASKED BALL |
| Legendary Peace | 06F - Peace Rules x Red Mischief (Thirty Six Red) |
| Man of Faith | 06M - Essence Of Dubai x RIVER OF FAITH |
| Marleau | 06M - CAT DREAMS x Ascalon (Two Punch) |
| Neptune Fix (FR) | 06M - Goldneyev x Bella Dicta (Vayrann) BLK |
| Omega Wolf (IRE) | 06M - Spartacus x Brave Cat (Catrail) BAY |
| Qelaan | 06F - Dynaformer x Irtahal (Swain) BAY |
| Race the Breeze | 06F - Theatrical x Wedding Day Blues (El Prado) DBR |
| Rightly So | 06F - Read The Footnotes x FIT RIGHT IN |
| Rotterdam | 06M - Unbridled's Song x Zoftig (Cozzene) GR |
| Saluki (GB) | 06M - Dubai Destination x Dog Rose (Fort Wood) BAY |
| Secret Wish | 06F - Street Cry x Awesome Lass (Awesome Again) BAY |
| Snow Valley (FR) | 06F - Choisir x Snow Lady (Vision) BAY |
| Storm's Ransom | 06M - CERTAIN STORM x Cushina (Holy Bull) |
| Sunspear (IRE) | 06F - Montjeu x Out West (Gone West) B |
| Valkyrie (IRE) | 06F - Danehill Dancer x Ridotto (Salse) BAY |
Wednesday 6 February 2008
Cloudburst Wins Mardi Gras
Cloudburst has done it! She won her first stakes in good fashion. After a good showing in her last race, a sprint over turf, she was saddled yesterday to go in the Mardi Gras S at the Fair Grounds.
This stakes, over five and a half furlongs on the grass, turned out to be just up her street. She led wire to wire to win by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths. She beat the good filly Sweepstake (IRE). Sweepstake is a Listed winner in the UK and was 3rd in her last outing, a G3 race at Ascot in July.
She is bred and owned by Overbrook Farm, who stand her sire Storm Cat, and trained by Dallas Stewart. She is unbeaten in two starts this year and with the $36k cheque she won yesterday she has career winnings of just over 70k.
Daily Racing Form article
I was going to call this post 'Cloudburst Burst Onto The Scene", but thought it a bit corny!
I am chuffed to bits that one of my 2005 Crop finally decided to step up to the plate and she did it well. I doubt she will be in the Oaks starting gates come May, but she is beautifully bred and I hope she will continue to improve. As she will likely be tried over two turns in her next start, I will just have sit tight and see what happens.
Isn't horse a wonderful sport?
(Cloudburst - 2005 Dark bay filly - Storm Cat x Harbor Springs, by Vice Regent)
This stakes, over five and a half furlongs on the grass, turned out to be just up her street. She led wire to wire to win by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths. She beat the good filly Sweepstake (IRE). Sweepstake is a Listed winner in the UK and was 3rd in her last outing, a G3 race at Ascot in July.
She is bred and owned by Overbrook Farm, who stand her sire Storm Cat, and trained by Dallas Stewart. She is unbeaten in two starts this year and with the $36k cheque she won yesterday she has career winnings of just over 70k.
Daily Racing Form article
I was going to call this post 'Cloudburst Burst Onto The Scene", but thought it a bit corny!
I am chuffed to bits that one of my 2005 Crop finally decided to step up to the plate and she did it well. I doubt she will be in the Oaks starting gates come May, but she is beautifully bred and I hope she will continue to improve. As she will likely be tried over two turns in her next start, I will just have sit tight and see what happens.
Isn't horse a wonderful sport?
(Cloudburst - 2005 Dark bay filly - Storm Cat x Harbor Springs, by Vice Regent)
Sunday 3 February 2008
Captain Captivated First To Work
It is always a thrill to get the first workout of a two-year-old of the season.
This year, Captain Captivated was the first to work. Only a furlong, mind you! She is the first produce of my 2001 crop mare Captivated, a Capote mare, by El Corredor. She worked one furlong in 12.40 over the Hollywood Park all-weather yesterday.
It does raise the question, as it does each year, should such young horses really be working at all yet? Their bones have so much growing to do, can they really take the strain of working out yet?
In Captain Captivated's case, she was foaled on 11 February, so she's not even two yet. I have often found that the youngsters that are the first to work, disappear halfway through their two-year-old season and are never heard from again, which is a great shame and I do wonder whether being asked to be race horse so early in life compromises their growth and strength.
In an ideal world, if I had the choice, I would rather not have races for horses under three years old, but I am afraid this is an idle wish and will never happen.
So, it is up to the trainers and owners to decide whether their two-year-old is ready to start working or not. If their youngster is precocious and has done most of their growing, maybe it won't hurt. But if the animal is still awkward and weak, isn't it better to wait until (s)he has grown into his or her frame. There are trainers out there that let their horses dictate their schedule, but others don't and race youngsters that are not ready yet and they get hurt.
Anyway, I hope in Captain Captivated's case that she is ready. I know, she only ran a furlong and how much harm can it do? Fingers crossed she will not be one of the ones to fall by the wayside.
(Captain Captivated - 2006 dark bay filly - El Corredor x Captivated, by Capote)
This year, Captain Captivated was the first to work. Only a furlong, mind you! She is the first produce of my 2001 crop mare Captivated, a Capote mare, by El Corredor. She worked one furlong in 12.40 over the Hollywood Park all-weather yesterday.
It does raise the question, as it does each year, should such young horses really be working at all yet? Their bones have so much growing to do, can they really take the strain of working out yet?
In Captain Captivated's case, she was foaled on 11 February, so she's not even two yet. I have often found that the youngsters that are the first to work, disappear halfway through their two-year-old season and are never heard from again, which is a great shame and I do wonder whether being asked to be race horse so early in life compromises their growth and strength.
In an ideal world, if I had the choice, I would rather not have races for horses under three years old, but I am afraid this is an idle wish and will never happen.
So, it is up to the trainers and owners to decide whether their two-year-old is ready to start working or not. If their youngster is precocious and has done most of their growing, maybe it won't hurt. But if the animal is still awkward and weak, isn't it better to wait until (s)he has grown into his or her frame. There are trainers out there that let their horses dictate their schedule, but others don't and race youngsters that are not ready yet and they get hurt.
Anyway, I hope in Captain Captivated's case that she is ready. I know, she only ran a furlong and how much harm can it do? Fingers crossed she will not be one of the ones to fall by the wayside.
(Captain Captivated - 2006 dark bay filly - El Corredor x Captivated, by Capote)
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