What makes a precocious two-year-old?

What makes a precocious two-year-old?

That’s a question Arrowfield Stud is well-qualified to answer, as the source of outstanding juveniles like Reaan, Miss Finland & Forensics, who won their first starts in October, January and February of their two-year-old season.

Pictured: Here’s yesterday’s brilliant Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Assail as a yearling. Clarry Conners, the trainer of four Golden Slipper winners, found her in the 2012 Arrowfield Magic Millions draft. (PHOTO: Katrina Partridge)

The Stud’s 2012 Magic Millions Sale graduates have wasted no time reminding buyers that Arrowfield (and its sister farm Bellerive) are the go-to vendors of readymade two-year-olds who can quickly start returning prizemoney to owners’ bank accounts.

Eight of them have already made the track, and five have posted significant pre-Christmas performances:

ASSAIL (Charge Forward-Emanday by Redoute’s Choice) – won the $200,000 Wyong 2YO Magic Millions S. (R) LR race yesterday after an impressive debut win at Warwick Farm

Zaragoza (Charge Forward-Portrayal by Flying Spur) – ran second in New Zealand’s first 2YO race of the season, and has since won another race and finished third in the CRC Counties Challenge S. LR

Rockford (Flying Spur-Ready Magic by More Than Ready) – one start for an extremely unlucky 2nd in the VRC Maribyrnong Trial S. LR at Flemington in the Spring

Moroccan Rose (Charge Forward-Tang by Redoute’s Choice) – has raced twice for a second on debut, then a 3rd in the BRC Calaway Gal S. LR

Sweet Idea (Snitzel-Flidais by Timber Country) – 2 starts for a win at Randwick on debut then a good 2nd at Rosehill in her second start

Apart from the obvious connections with the Arrowfield stallion roster, what makes these horses able to get up and run successfully so early in their careers? Arrowfield’s Sam Fairgray and Jon Freyer talk about each horse and the factors that make good 2YOs in the latest post on the Arrowfield Blog .

And check out the 2013 Arrowfield & Bellerive Magic Millions drafts here .