In the Southern Hemisphere, studs across Australia and New Zealand will start serving mares from the first of September.
With a gestation period of approximately 11 months, foals begin to arrive the following year in August.
While foaling dates can be somewhat misleading, an early August foal can have an advantage when preparing for the yearling sales compared to a late November or December foal. This is because the early foal has roughly a three-month growth advantage over its younger contemporaries. However, this does not necessarily mean it will hold any horse back at a later stage. Like humans, horses grow at different rates, some earlier than others.
For example, in the past twenty years, Elvstroem (2003) and Lion Tamer (2010) both won the VRC Derby having been born on November 14th and 24th, respectively. This technically made them both 2-year-olds when they won Flemington’s most challenging race for 3-year-olds.
Similarly, So You Think was born on November 10th, 2006, making him still a 2-year-old when he won the 2009 W.S. Cox Plate. He won the Cox Plate in only his fifth start.
Among foals born in August, two of Australia’s best gallopers include Black Caviar (August 18th, 2006) and Kingston Town (August 31st, 1976). Both reached the pinnacle of Australian racing and are etched in Australian racing folklore. Black Caviar was a three-time Champion Australian Racehorse of the Year (2011, 2012, and 2013), and Kingston Town was a three-time W.S. Cox Plate winner and the 1979/80 Champion Racehorse of the Year. Both are inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
