Since our flying start at the beginning of July it has been a frustrating time for me with nothing like the number of races attacked as I had planned.

 

Some of that was due to some personal domestic issues which necessitated me spending a couple of weeks managing a large Livery Yard day to day due to some sad circumstances affecting a very close group of family friends. Whilst the family are now back managing things day to day, their daughters health issues will be a long haul to any degree of resolution.

 

We've also had to deal with a spell of mostly Good to Firm Going and I am aware that a significant number of 2 year olds who ARE ready to run have been held back as young limbs and firm Going are not an ideal mix. There are always early developers, many of whom will be at their best as a 2 year old, the medium term types who you would normally see introduced from July to September and to be more likely to train on as 3 year olds and then some who are simply not strong or developed enough to risk running as a 2 year old. These will include most of the larger framed bigger horses who need time to mature and to grow into their bodies so to speak. These can include likely Group and Classic winners. It's not unlike football really where precocious teenagers who may have a fitness and strength advantage as young teenagers don't always make the grade as later developers may mature in their mid and later teens and pass them by. My eldest is in Southampton's Academy where a few lads who dwarfed him at 10 and 11 are now looking up to him as a 15 year old.

 

With a weather breakdown in the coming week and some softer conditions and the time of the year when we start to get dew, which automatically adds moisture to the turf we will see a lot more to attack in terms of races and I'll be ramping up my activities very shortly. We also start to see Nursery Races where 2 year old can run off a handicap type mark with weight allowances as opposed to level weight, they are a puzzle of their own and I'll do a Nursery specific article on Sunday and also we will start to see more 7 furlong races and ultimately mile races for those 2 year olds who don't solely have a pure Sprint pedigree. Once again there is human equivalence where schools and athletic Clubs are strictly monitored to ensure younger children don't run excessive distances which can destroy young and growing limbs.

 

I'm looking forward to attacking a couple of 2 year old races at York as some of the local Trainers are 2 year old experts and as it's such a fair track many from Newmarket, Lambourn and also Ireland will no doubt be attending too  (Carolyn)