I have this filly from last year’s Annual Select Auction:
[color=red]Embellished by GCh. Harvard Bound (B), out of Ch. Eternity (S).
Both her parents matured late, and they raced most at the age of four. She was 14.0h when I bought her and now she’s 14.3h. Born May 24. Her estimated height is 15.0h - 16.0h. Do you think that she will be ready to race this year at all? She had four workouts recently, only jogging and walking, and she was okay but I don’t know if she should train at all before she grows to 15.0h at least?
If she’s only an inch off her potential estimated height, I’d race her. You never know, she could be immature until age 4 or something, and you don’t want to wait that long to run them.
Personally, I generally wait until a horse is at least a “true” 2yo (e.g. its 2yo birthday has come and gone) before racing them a lot, but if you have a superstar on your hands, they’ll still be pretty awesome even if they’re immature. (And if not, no harm done by trying her out once or twice and then putting her back out in the field to grow some more.)
I say she’s good to go. Heck, I own a 3yo who is still 14.3hh (estimated minimum height 15.3hh) and his birthday was May 18. He was an absolute dud at 2 (earned $0 in 5 starts) but has been really coming into his own in his summer 3yo year. I also have a yearling who is already over her minimum estimate height, so you just never know!
Thanks. I have one mare which grew some more after I retired her to brood… probably she was immature all the time when racing. Will try some maidens with this one.