Two Year Old Pool – The Shallow End?

Year	Yearlings	To Wk2 Nov	To Dec 31	To Feb 28	To Jul 30
2021	6600	153 (2.3%)
2020	6725	163 (2.4)	339 (5.0%)	685 (10.2%)	1781 (26.5%)
2019	6881	114 (1.7)	319 (4.6)	635 (9.2)	1794 (26.1)
2018	6769	118 (1.7)	323 (4.8)	629 (9.3)	1793 (26.5)
2017	6532	158 (2.4)	365 (5.6)	654 (10.0)	1693 (25.9)
2016	6636	172 (2.6)	396 (6.0)	684 (10.3)	1681 (25.3)
2015	6704	178 (2.7)	400 (6.0)	710 (10.6)	1734 (25.9)
2014	6801	132 (1.9)	360 (5.3)	653 (9.6)	1657 (24.4)
2013	6699	159 (2.4)	359 (5.4)	631 (9.4)	1592 (23.8)
2012	6927	158 (2.3)	383 (5.5)	704 (10.2)	1749 (25.2)

The figures in the table above show that by the time the Magic Millions 2YO Classic is run and the field for the Golden Slipper is assembled we have seen only 10% of the yearlings offered for sale on the racetrack.

And by the end of the season we’ve seen about a quarter of them with the vast majority still awaiting maturity to show their potential.

By the end of their three year-old season the tide has turned and the vast majority of horses have shown their hand with up to 85% of them having raced.
 

Year	Yearlings	To Jul 30 (2YO)	To Next July 30 (3YO)
2021	6600
2020	6725	1781 (26.5%)
2019	6881	1794 (26.1)	5893 (85.6%)
2018	6769	1793 (26.5)	5751 (85.0)
2017	6532	1693 (25.9)	5527 (84.6)
2016	6636	1681 (25.3)	5396 (81.3)
2015	6704	1734 (25.9)	5474 (81.7)
2014	6801	1657 (24.4)	5353 (78.7)
2013	6699	1592 (23.8)	5206 (77.7)
2012	6927	1749 (25.2)	5546 (80.0)

This explains why certain stallions that consistently produce early maturing stock find favour in the marketplace as breeders and yearling buyers try to shorten their odds of jagging that rare creature – the natural two year-old runner.

They are out there… we’ve all seen them and they invariably stand out from the crowd as soon as they are broken in.

They are the horses that adapt well to change, thrive on work and have the size, strength and toughness to withstand early training.

They are physically and mentally mature beyond their actual age and while their peers invariably catch up to them and frequently run straight past them at three, they have the unique opportunity to run for huge prizemoney against a very small pool of adversaries.

Horses contesting races such as The Everest, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup might be able to return year after year for a crack at the same prize, but they also have to face the very best opposition, often sourced from all over the world, making these races much harder to win.

There is a justified place for two year-old racing and two year-old sires in our vibrant and successful Australian breeding and racing industry, but let’s not ever lose sight of the fact that it is a small, but integral part of a far bigger picture.
 
The introduction of a race like the soon to be $8million ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) for four year-olds is a ground breaking race where we can actually expect to see the very best horses from a generation, barring those that have already been packed off to stud following Group I success at either two or three.

Below is a table of the top Southern Hemisphere bred money earners in Australia this season and the month in which they made their debut.

 

Horse	Sire	MoneyWon	Debut	Foaling	Debut Age
Nature Strip	Nicconi	8129100	2017-10-10	2014	Oct 3yo
Verry Elleegant	Zed	5699000	2018-07-07	2015	Jul 2yo
Incentivise	Shamus Award	5454200	2020-08-19	2016	Aug 4yo
I'm Thunderstruck	Shocking	4792750	2021-01-13	2017	Jan 3yo
Masked Crusader	Toronado (IRE)	2732000	2019-11-28	2016	Nov 3yo
Eduardo	Host (Chi)	2270000	2018-06-18	2013	Jun 4yo
Anamoe	Street Boss (USA)	2264850	2020-10-10	2018	Oct 2yo
Superstorm	Sebring	1737100	2019-08-31	2016	Aug 3yo
Think It Over	So You Think	1690250	2018-12-08	2015	Dec 3yo
Count De Rupee	Real Impact (Jpn)	1610750	2020-08-06	2017	Aug 3yo
Home Affairs	I Am Invincible	1444100	2021-01-30	2018	Jan 2yo
Icebath	Sacred Falls	1407250	2019-02-16	2016	Feb 2yo
Hitotsu	Maurice (Jpn)	1268750	2021-02-06	2018	Feb 2yo
Nonconformist	Rebel Raider	1229250	2019-11-28	2016	Nov 3yo
Lost And Running	Per Incanto (USA)	1217250	2020-05-15	2016	May 3yo

Below is a table of the top Southern Hemisphere bred money earners in Australia last season and the month in which they made their debut.