What is training for in SO4? Is it purely to get a horse tuned up to race, or does it also develop their abilities?

What I am angling at, is does a horse need to get some extended periods of high intensity training to fulfil its potential?

Anybody?

Sorry nobody has replied to this as I always like to read what others have found on this matter.

My opinion on this matter is hopefully outdated but I`m guessing not.

If you do manual training you can change a horses attributes over time but only if the horse can be changed. i.e. you can improve the stamina of a stayer but only if the stamina of the horse can be improved and it will take time. The problem here is you can spend 2 seasons training a horse and gain nothing.

So. Why bother? I understand the realism but it`s too contrite to work. I would love to train my horses and miss a season to improve them in a way that seems fit but it doesn`t work that way.

Would be nice if the game showed the potential of certain horses.

I think that's pretty much the conclusion I reached. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't wasting the potential of my horses.