Matt Stewart

@TuttyTutty8 Rarely do I agree with you John But I’m a bit over “proper horse” Yet another Pommy term for some reason adopted down under

Can’t we come up with something better than proper horse? Next we be talking miles, furlongs

This week’s Winning Post column; Scott Seamer, the greatest cameo in modern racing history.

@chapeauxx Oh. My mind was in its usual place

@Mattunchained All about making $500 last until you get paid

Something seems a bit, um, risqué about this name unless I’m missing something

CROAK ALREADY AND MAKE THE WORLD GREAT AGAIN!!!!

The Iran war is going so bad for Trump right now he might need to release The Epstein Files as a distraction.

Interesting comments from the most successful trainer in the world. Meanwhile in Australia we are preparing for this weekends 1200m 2yo Golden Slipper that is regarded as ‘the’ stallion making race. Is this perhaps a clue as to why we are importing plane loads of European older horses each and every year?

@willfreedman @vickyleo @dgmonty16 Am sure their bones didn’t suffer from either not racing at two or merely having soft grounding at 2. Their 4 slipper winners were not long/termers

@willfreedman @vickyleo @dgmonty16 Ask your dad how many of the FBI greats were revved up early for big 2yo races. Even mahogany was late season from memory. Super, Durbridge, schillaci, subbie, naturalism, Diva etc etc / one thing in common …

⁦@dgmonty16⁩ the study emphasises “early training” benefits longevity - that’s my point. It’s not racing that strengthens, it’s early development/preparation/nurturing. To says it’s racing is a stretch

@willfreedman @vickyleo @dgmonty16 Precisely. The data is being interpreted sort of broad brush without being challenged by contrary data / ie would 2.yos who had solid early conditioning but DID NOT RACE have worse longevity ? Of course Not

@JohnWathenBerry @vickyleo @dgmonty16 Exactly. The alleged data is very misleading and one dimensional

@Mattunchained @vickyleo @dgmonty16 These surveys are misleading. Trainer gets bunch of yearlings. The ones who race at 2 are the naturally sound ones; ones who don’t are the ones who are naturally less sound & don’t cope with the preparation. Confusing cause & effect to say that racing has made the horses sounder.

@vickyleo @dgmonty16 I have no objection to 2yo racing. I don’t care one way or the other. But people supportive of 2yo racing are drawing interpretations from the studies to suit.

The studies are based on racing data. There’s several dozen studies across many countries - all show that horses that race at two have longer, sounder careers than those that don’t. Also interestingly, there’s never been a study published finds otherwise, so it’s pretty compelling.

@dgmonty16 @byronrogers73 Can a horse physiologist explain to me how the act of racing - as opposed to muscle and bone conditioning/nurturing - strengthens bone in 2yos? I accept that galloping can do this - but why necessarily racing? I’m not pushing an anti 2yo racing agenda, just curious re the logic

@Mattunchained @byronrogers73 Believe me there are scientific studies around world. I recall a Melbourne Cup recently where every runner had started at 2. Studies refute those that want to ban 2 yo racing

Could waning G Slipper be the correction Oz racing/breeding needs? Saturday’s edition low interest, continuation of a trend. Crowds/media coverage first dropped with focus on Championships, now spring pop ups like Everest. Was it ever healthy 2 focus so much on fast 2yos?

@dgmonty16 @byronrogers73 Why does “racing” at two strengthen bone as opposed to being “prepped” at two? What specifically is it about racing that strengthens bone?

@Mattunchained @byronrogers73 Data for every horse that has raced. Same finding for harness horses as well. Basically strengthens bones to equip them for a longer racing career.

@TopEndRooster @Mattunchained The best sires in Australia ususlly don't win the Slipper. The last Aust Champion Sire who won the Slipper was Flying Spur 20 years ago. The one before that, Marscay, was over 40 years ago. Slipper winners usually produce clones of themselves, speedy squibs who don't train on

@Mattunchained as you say depends what bubble you are in i guess.

@Mattunchained I think trainers aren’t setting there best 2 year old for the slipper anymore and holding and developing them for 3yr old for longevity

@NoverreMan @byronrogers73 I think “racing” at 2 is different than targeting big prizes at 2. How Many successful older horses were revved up for early 2yo targets compared to those who had less pressure end of season starts as grounding? Remember this is a slipper specific chat

@byronrogers73 @Mattunchained Perhaps a bit of a circle: are they sound/strong because they race at two or do they race at two because they are sound/strong? But as this states, there is no apparent adverse effect. And the best middle distance horses come from training that is far more 2yo focused than here.