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)