The Importance of Spelling

Jun 2, 2021

Owners often cringe when they hear the words “time for a spell”. It can often seem as though their investment is just spending time eating grass, not in the stables and not racing.

While it can be frustrating for owners to have to bide their time, the reality is that spelling is a critical and necessary component of developing [and maintaining] a successful racehorse. A fast horse is a happy horse that is both mentally and physically ready for the races.

Thoroughbreds – especially young horses – are no different from humans in that they perform better when they are fresh and ready, when they want to do work and when they have a full understanding of what it is they need to do.

Young horses are learning their craft and after every learning session it takes time to reflect and commit to memory the different nuances such as changing pace, responding to a jockey’s request and how to find a hole in the pack.

Talking physically, a young horse needs a spell more than an older horse. Young horses are still growing and need time for their muscles to build on their frame. If you think of a lanky teenager, their limbs often seem to be nothing more than skin and bones as their muscle has not yet caught up to their frame: sometimes this is the case with young thoroughbreds.

Another important aspect that is driving the theory of short but regular spells for a young horse is that young horses do not hold their muscle as well as older thoroughbreds. Several TRL trainers – Gai Waterhouse included – are known for short spells for young horses to make sure they have time to keep replenishing their bodies. They can be tipped in and out of spells and preps to keep them in the best possible physical form as well as mental form.

 

While there are obvious physical benefits to spelling, you could easily argue just as strongly that spelling a young horse is more important for them mentally. A young horse is still learning at every outing: every morning in the stable could be with a different team of people or doing a different type of training.

When you consider that training these days can include track work, pool work, jump work, treadmill or walker work, or even a beach trip, there is so much for the young brain to take in and understand how to use these learnings in a race situation.

Another important mental aspect is keeping the ‘desire’ in the horses. Having them want to push themselves ‘into the red zone’ can only occur with a happy horse. A happy race horse performs better and function better.

A spell can be any length of time with 6-8 weeks being the average but it is truly dependent on what the individual horse needs. A younger horse early in its career is often only spelled for 3-4 weeks.

Owners of The Racing League in NSW & VIC are now experiencing spelling first hand as The Sherpa enters its first spelling phase with Bellinger halfway through the process.

As TRL owners know from Shannon Betts, Owner and Founder of Emeran Park [where your yearlings are currently training], whenever a horse comes to her for a spell in the paddock she wants them to have fun.

The horses play, relax and to really remember how much fun it is to be a thoroughbred with a finely tuned body. It’s a mental holiday from the track where they can stretch and play, remembering all those amazing things their finely tuned body can achieve.

 

The long-term interests of The Racing League’s horses are prioritised over any short-term attractions and spelling is one way of ensuring we keep the balance tipped in our precious thoroughbreds favour.

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BOUNCE BACK FACTOR 

As Tycoons were made aware of, there’s a theory in racing that when a horse suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, “you must back it next start” and they win. 

And that was certainly the message after Cool Jakey suffered cardiac arrhythmia the previous start at Randwick, with Joe Pride telling Tycoons in the pre-race late mail, “Don’t worry about what happened last start, the horse is fine and he looks great,” how right Joe was with Cool Jakey leading all the way.

COOL JAKEY THE KING OF WARWICK FARM 050325

Cool Jakey battling to the line with Emmadella

Cool Jakey trainer Joe Pride, Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TK

Trainer Joe Pride and son Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TRL Rep TK

HIPPO FROM BARRIER TO BOX

Adam Hyeronimus was having his first sit on Cool Jakey and he rode him a treat. We joked before the race “just go to the front and improve your position” and that’s exactly what he did. 

“He jumped well and found a nice rhythm straight away, he had a nice time so I let him slide early into it at the 600metres so we did go a bit early. 

“He felt fantastic throughout the run and was doing it easily, so I did get a bit of a surprise how quickly he stopped. 

“So maybe I did go too early, but in saying that, maybe seven furlongs is his upper limit. On that effort he’ll be winning again” Jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.

JOE DELIGHTED

“That was good guys” trainer Joe Pride said, with a big smile to a large contingent of NSW Tycoons on Cool Jakey returning to scale. 

“Look it was nice to see him win on a track that wasn’t bottomless wet, it opens up a lot more opportunities for him. 

“In saying that if there was a 1400m for him in a fortnight on a Good track I would probably be reluctant to start him. We need to nurse him through it and the next month – six weeks isn’t going to be easy because it’s carnival time. 

Cool Jakey the king of Warwick Farm with NSW Tycoons

Cool Jakey in the winners circle with NSW Tycoons’ owners

WHATS NEXT – PACK YOUR BAGS

The Tycoons have been very patient with Cool Jakey and their patience has been rewarded. He is building a very nice career record which stands at only 13 starts for 5 wins and a minor placing and is now pushing the $200,000 in prize money. 

‘Jakey’ has initially pulled up well, but we all know that he is a delicate soul and has to be treated with kindness and Joe is reluctant to push him too hard too quickly. Which is fair enough. 

“We might even consider travelling him maybe to Melbourne or Brisbane for a wet track, we just need to look after him.

“He’s been a good horse for us, we will look after him and his best opportunities will come in the Winter,” Joe concluded. 

Congratulations to all NSW Tycoons and winning connections.

Go you good thing!