success at the instant

Alice Kacey works Instant Success after a months break.

The small muscular chestnut colt stepped on to the surface. It wasn't long before his next race... a few days now. The Turn Up The Heat Stakes was for two year old colts over nine furlongs on the dirt. I had thought after Euphoria's Warrior had a bad run in the Lucky Day Futurity, it was now time to show what we had to offer. Unfortunately, the race was too short for us, and it was won by the filly, Paradise Island, who we had beaten in the Seaspray Cup. Isa was ready to rumble. His ears were pricked, and he walked calmly on to the track, before sidestepping and beginning to back up.

I squeezed him forward and asked him for a trot. Jacey and Cry came up along side. They're posh western saddle stood out in colour. He tossed his head around and broke into a fizzy energetic trot, pricking his ears tall and snorting before throwing in a little prance. I laughed and asked him for canter. Jacey held on to the rein and went beside us. Isa pricked his ears and brought his head to his chest, before breaking into a quick canter. I smiled and pushed him through it. The colt went with the flow, cantering beautifully along the surface.

The dirt was his speciality; my hope was one day we would race on the turf, but it probably would be impossible, considering the surface wasn't of his favourite. Pushing him forward, I felt as he sunk into the dirt, and flicked it up behind him. At the five furlong pole, Jacey let go. Have fun, meet you at the finish. I began to let him go. He pricked his ears and I pushed him forward, letting him run. At the four furlong pole, our workout began. He pricked his ears and ran, lunging forward with great power.

His huge bounding strides covered the surface of the dirt. I pushed him on a bit more, and he delivered. Pricking his ears, he powered along the track as we came round the bend and into the stretch. I really began to urge. He extended his stride to full length and powered down the home stretch. I smiled and pushed him as much as I could. His speed increased and in the last furlong, he ran on like he would in his closer position. I pulled him up and he whinnied, letting out another little prance, before throwing in a little buck.

I slowed him to a trot, and turned him, before trotting over to Jacey, whom; sure enough was stood at the entrance to the track on Cry, our retired stud, who was now used as our pony horse. We came over to them. How was that? I said. She smiled. Fourty three and two fifths. I smiled, patting the colts firm muscled neck. I walked him into the barn, beside Jacey and Cry.