You’ve watched your horse be educated, you’ve chosen their racing name, you’ve deliberated over silks designs and now the moment has come for them to hit the track for horse racing trials!
Watching your horse trial can feel like the Melbourne Cup but in reality it is just another step in the process of building a racehorse: a racehorse that can handle different tracks, riders and race situations.
Horse racing trials are mini races without the pressure.
When working in a race preparation, all horses are accustomed to training with stable mates but this is not racing. Racing has a large number of unknown runners (all with different styles and paces) plus there is all the noise, lights and colours of a race environment: a different track, stables, travel and you have what could seem like a whole new situation.
Horse racing trials are key activities that can bridge this difference from training to racing for a young horse. A trial exposes your young horse to racing without the expectations and pressure of winning.
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When you take this into account it is understood why most jockeys are instructed not to push a horse too hard during a trial. The trainer wants the horse to have a great outing and be ready to come back for another in the next fortnight. They want the horse to long for this experience again and again.
A trainer will be looking to see the following from a young horse as a minimum:
- How the horse handles getting around the track
- How the horse deals with the barrier – did they get a clean jump from the barrier?
- How the horse settles into the run – are they able to work comfortably within the group?
- The impact other runners have on their horses
- How the horse responds to the jockey signals
- What the jockey reports back after the trial
- How the horse travels and deals with the hustle and bustle
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Then, of course, the trainer would like to see your horse finishing strongly, really striding and being comfortably ridden hands and heels with signs that they can improve on their next outing. They want something in the tank to improve with.
With all the excitement it is often difficult to remember that only 64% of yearlings sold actually race as two-year-olds.
miRunners is excited to see what their first 2YO has to offer in the coming weeks with a trial over 800m on Tuesday 10th April at Gosford Racetrack. You can watch the replay at http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/Calendar_Results.aspx
Saganaki is returning to the track after an early start last year. He was scratched from his maiden when he pulled up shin sore just two days before his debut. This prep has seen a long, slow, gradual work-load increase to help strengthen tendons and ligaments and also potentially increase bone density to ensure he has the best chance of a longer racing career.
miRunners aims to make ownership available to everyone so they can enjoy this experience as an owner and live the excitement, tension and fun that is getting a race horse to the track.
You can become an owner of a well bred filly with Gai Waterhouse and miRunners for just $275 plus $15 per month. Click here to find out more.
