Michael Matz to run Union Rags in the Kentucky Derby after a five week lay-off
It seems that Union Rags will be well-rested for the Kentucky Derby, the big day that all the trainers, jockeys and punters are excited about.
Building on thirty years of experience, this is the strategy that trainer Michael Matz is adopting for the Kentucky Derby.
In Matz's opinion, most of the horses that compete in this event are put through training exercises and workouts which are unnecessary, and they take a toll on the horse physically.
When it’s finally time for them to compete, they weaken, thus unable to run at their optimum level.
Michael Matz stated that: “In this sport, it seems so many horses who get to the Derby are overtrained,” he further elaborated and stated that “Not that I’m an expert – I haven’t had a lot of horses in the Derby – but it seemed to me like when a lot
of horses got to the Derby, they were shot.”
Matz point of view is that the training should be done in moderation, the horse should be healthy and in form so he or she can truly excel.
Matz makes a concrete argument because Big Brown, Mine That Bird, and Animal Kingdom won the Kentucky Derby and each of them had not competed for at least five weeks before the race.
Michael Matz made a name for himself when, Barbaro, landed a magnificent victory in the Kentucky Derby in 2006.
Mounted by E. Prado, the son of Dynaformer, out of mare La Ville Rouge, bolted through the track and defeated, Bluegrass Cat, on 6th May, 2006.
Speaking of Barbaro’s performance in the Kentucky Derby, he stated that it was a good plan, but with the fatal injury that he sustained in the Preakness Stakes was rather unfortunate.
He intends to run Union Rags after a five week lay-off and about this he stated that: “it’s a good plan with this horse. The plan is to have a fresh horse for the series. Maybe that’s thinking too far ahead, but when the opportunity arises, you have
to be ready.”
Union Rags, son of Dixie Union, out of Tempo, triumphed in the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes, which was held at Gulfstream Park on 26th February, 2012, where he defeated News Pending. Winning the Kentucky Derby will bring
him eternal glory and will do wonders for his career.
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