Animal Kingdom Training

Can this guy train? Depends on the definition, possibly. We take hats off automatically to anybody prevailing in an important athletic event and in particular the KY Derby whose winning is the stated goal of this blog.

Yet, since we look to analysis instead of praise, is here anything we can take from Graham Motion training that we could use regarding performance of our own horse?

Preface that I've looked at this trainer before and the few bits and pieces that show in his public work, particularly with regard to his training of Adriano for the Derby a couple of years back. That situation indicated to that Graham Motion was just another conventional trainer--expert husbandry to be sure--but in terms of athletic training decidedly underwhelming. With Adriano, as the Derby approached, he just quit training that talented animal, and then Adriano's fade in the Derby was completely predictable.

Similarly as Preakness approaches G. Motion is one of those that thinks the animal is "fit", needs no more speed work, and I have warned against those types of trainers on numerous occasions.

There's a difference now, however in the info available, thanks to detailed training summaries appearing on Paulick Report. The speed at which the off day workouts are conducted is largely unknown, but at least we know the distances.

I'll outline AK specifically next post, and see whether Graham Motion's work with the AK shows us anything.

Training:
Tues: 5/17 Off
Wed. 5/18 More riderless paddock speed work. Less into it this day + 3 times trot-gallop up and down the hill.