Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Jun 26, 2012 23:56:37 GMT -5
CANJUN MOON AND HENNA TURATH
CANJUN'S WORKOUT FOR THE BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE TURF
The black two year old was just a little bit crazy. What did I mean by crazy? Well, let's go observe him in his native habitat - his stall. Let's creep over to the door and peek in. As we do so, the colt will look up at us, and his eyes will light up. Food, food, do you bring food?! You could read his mind. His eyes are very expressive. You'll also notice that his ears are flicking everywhere while the rest of him is very shifty, almost as though he can't stand still. You've hit the nail on the head - he definitely was incapable of standing still. This colt always has to be on the move. He's crazily energetic. This is him at night - see him during the day. He's as bad as Pegasus Wings. Moving on, we'll trace his conformation. He's built like a colt, with a bit of a bulky head with large eyes and floppy ears. Almost cute. And Canjun is a cute colt. He's hypnotizing to watch in his little attempts at constant movement. He's also very rambunctious and playful. And his running? Let's key in to his Breeders Cup workout.
The sun was just rising in the sky when Henna finished tacking up the colt and led him out. The early time of day didn't bother Canjun. He was already dancing around as much as the tight hold on the reins let him, attracting a couple speculative glances as he did so. Just what was wrong with this colt? Why was he so crazy? Was he Pegasus Wings, the other crazily energetic colt? But he was much too tall. Spectators watched as Henna mounted up, just barely managing to get a good seat on the colt before he was off skirting sideways again, almost surely attempting to unseat her so he could go bolt and make a scene of themselves. She grabbed the reins and got her feet in the stirrups before releasing the monster. They were trotting now, jerkily, each step small and fast as Canjun attempted to move as much as possible.
This was a colt that loved motion.
Henna barely managed to hang on as they started to canter. It was amazing to consider that this colt possessed the tactics necessary to be a closer. He had some intelligence in that scatter-brained skull of his, though he rarely showed it. Henna knew that he was a closer more because he gradually gained speed as a race went on. This was a closer style, and it was him. He loved to stretch his legs out over distance. Though he was primarily a miler, the race they prepped for, the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, was at nine furlongs, the peak of his distance but one that he could definitely handle. And he was not the only closer in the race. Stablemate Infinite Warcry would also be back there with him. Passionate Flyer and Dawn Of Silence were both preceders, but one of them would be forced to lead, or both of them. So neither of them was getting their position, while the SOPS horses were. What a pleasant advantage!
Henna smiled, and then frowned as Canjun lunged forward again in another desperate bid for freedom. The colt was truly hilarious, and nothing like his older half sister Deadly Desires. Desiree was intimidating and cold, almost cruel. Canjun was youthful, playful and not the least bit intimidating. If anything, you wanted to bully the colt just because of his personality. Henna just loved his innocence though. He wasn't very coltish at all. He was actually best friends with Infinite Warcry the Gentle Giant as well, and neither of them were coltish. The fillies made up for that. They were more coltish than the colts! But anyway...moving on....
They would canter and then sprint. Henna needed this colt to run off some of his energy or he would go crazy. She cantered him for two furlongs. At this point the colt was attracting attention. He looked like a skittish yearling, hammering his hooves deeply into the turf, bugling and snorting, eyes rolling a little bit, side stepping, working up some sweat everywhere. It was difficult to get through this. And then when they started to gallop, he tried to bolt. Henna struggled to hold the colt in. She knew that they were definitely attracting stares. She needed to work this colt easy. Had this been a race she'd have let him all out to feel the wind. But the Juvenile Turf was in a couple of days. Though honestly, he'd probably have regained all of his energy by then anyway...
So she let him out a bit, and was rewarded by a refreshing breeze. She drank it in almost greedily. This was why she loved racing. The feeling you got from galloping a horse, especially to victory, was irreplaceable. Henna grinned and laughed as Canjun finally settled down. Now he moved smoothly, as a pro would, and he was half controllable. She would let four furlongs scroll by before attempting to control him. They blew around the turf, just below the threshold of sprinting, and it was a wonderful feeling. Henna was smiling when she finally made to slow Canjun down, and the colt listened to. They cantered, then trotted, then walked. He tossed his head and made a regal picture, sending one last whinnied challenge around the track. He was sweating profusely but appeared energized and happy.
Henna grinned. That was Canjun's style. Work hard, come away happy.
