Can You Feel The Love

Ivana and Lucy's workout for the Golden Start Stakes

Yet two more siblings of Cryin’ Out Loud were beginning to set foot onto the track. The twins, Sanguis and Angelus were both taking each other on in their first maiden race… the Golden Start Stakes over seven furlongs on the dirt track. Angelus, or Lucy as I call her, was maturing nicely - she no longer looked teenage and lanky, but a proper racehorse with the heart of gold. Her brother was a closer, and she was a preceder, which would mean she would go for the lead. It would be hard to separate both colt and filly – but would the more dominant vibe of the colt take over? Or would the feminine dominance of the filly go to victory? There was no way of telling – but it appeared that these two would race against each other throughout the whole year. Sibling rivalry? Definitely. There was a 50/50 chance that they would break their maiden. Sanguis is one of them colts whom you must walk on egg shells. While he is perfectly capable of being gentle, he is just as capable of being a violent little thing and he is not afraid to get aggressive. His moods are unpredictable and so he should be evaluated before being approached. He is easily read through his body language, where as Lucy is a very willing individual. She has a heart of solid gold and wouldn't harm a fly, unlike her aggressive mother. She is a blunt but very straight forward risk-taker, who will plunge into any task her jockey asks her. Lucy is the kind of horse that will try anything new, she will respond to everything and anything with quick, effective decisions.

Sanguis is quite dominant to other horses, especially other colts, and can be very show-offish around them. In the parade ring, it is not uncommon for his head to be held high with his ears slicked across his skull. Oddly, however, he will behave very well in hand around them - almost as if he feels that good ground manners make him superior. Very little scares this colt. He could be described as fearless, and is most certainly competitive. However, he dislikes affection and will become very stand-offish if smothered. Lucy’s intelligence gets her quite far on the track. She is very responsive and quick-witted - in most cases she can't take no for an answer.On the track, Lucy is focused, stern, and stays that all the way through the race. She likes to break fast and relax behind the leaders. She doesn't have the dominant vibe of a traditional front runner, so if she does end up going for the lead, she would either go too fast, or go too slow, which is why she likes to relax behind the front runners. She isn't the traditional mare, she won't launch for you, or get all 'overprotective' like her mother was, she will relax, and go with the flow, where as Sanguis can become quite headstrong and will try to move up the field too early, which can be troublesome given the fact that he is not too easy to handle. However, it is possible for an experienced jockey to hold him back until they decide that it is time to make a move. In the stretch, Sanguis is a true power-house. Being quite a large and muscular colt he has a long stride and a great deal of speed at his disposal. He will close heavily, usually going wide of the pack and a good jockey will use the competition he passes to fuel his competitive nature.

Ivana’s sweet nature and friendliness has mean she was selected to ride Lucy. There were many siblings the same age as Lucy and Sanguis, for example – Sophie’s Voice, who just missed out on GHF’s Next Top Racehorse… Flyin’ Out Loud who placed a very promising fourth in GHF’s Next Top Racehorse, and finally, Loud And Clear. She hadn’t done too well in Next Top Racehorse, but then again, we didn’t race as a prospect so would the experience of a prospect show take over with Sanguis? Would he close and take the victory over the filly? It was too hard to say right now. Ivana was a lighter rider than Alice. She wasn’t as aggressive, which is why she had been chosen… but she hadn’t been told yet. Ivana walked into the barn that morning, heels scraping effortlessly along the floor. The sound was extremely ear bleeding yet it didn’t seem to bother anyone. She put her bag down and instantly walked over to her three year old ride, Winnie. Hello baby girl, we’ve got a race today, haven’t we? Ivana kissed the filly on the nose, and Winnie nickered. Alice walked down the barn, wearing cream jodhpurs and a white vest top, with her brown knee length boots. Ah, Ivana, can I have a word? She said. Ivana stroked the filly again, Sure, She said, walking away. She halted outside Lucy’s stable. I need you to ride Lucy for me today. She’s racing on Friday in the Golden Start Stakes. She’s very gentle, and she does try very hard – and I want you to be her jockey. She said. The filly was already tacked up, standing effortlessly in the stall, looking round. Ivana nodded and smiled. Thank you Alice, She said, before getting her bag and putting her hat on. She took her gloves and crop out of the bag and lead the filly out of the stall.

The filly walked forward with a bounce in her step, and pricked her ears tall. She nuzzled Ivana’s pocket and nickered lightly. They’re for later, sweetie pie. She said, brushing a strand of her bright red hair out of her face. Walking out the entrance of the barn, they began to make there decent to the entrance of the dirt track. Ivana halted the filly and she looked around, pricking her ears. Good girl, Lucy. Alice walked up beside Ivana. Leg up? She offered. Ivana nodded. Yes please, She said, smiling. Ivana lifted her leg up. Alice counted and threw Ivana on. She landed lightly in the saddle and placed her feet in the irons. After she was sorted, Ivana walked Lucy out on to the track. The filly looked around and Ivana kept her at a walk. She snorted, pricking her ears and walking forward energetically. After a few steps of walk, she broke into a trot, and Lucy tossed her mane around. It began to blow energetically in the wind. At the seven furlong pole, she let Lucy break into a canter. She stood in her stirrups, ready for the start of the five furlong workout. They continued to lope along the backside, until the six furlong pole where Ivana crouched down and began to push the filly forward. An extreme burst of speed and the filly began to fly towards a five furlong workout. They flew past the five furlong pole, the dirt beneath them flying behind them with each energetic stride. The filly continued to power over the dirt, flying through the first furlong in just under ten seconds. This filly was a true sprinter. She pricked her ears and ran like the wind. Entering the turn, she energetically changed her lead and sprinted rapidly into the home turn. Picking up speed, Ivana pushed her on even more. Her stride lengthened and she began to run for home. The crop rose and fell onto the filly’s rump, and Ivana stretched her arm out as far as it would go. They sprinted under the wire and all tension turned into relief. She stroked the filly’s neck and brought her back to a walk. Turning, she walked back to Alice. Alice grinned, and stroked the filly’s nose. Fifty one and one fifth. She said. Ivana threw her arms round the filly. So, we’re ready for the Golden Start Stakes then, Lucy! Lucy nickered and Ivana hopped off, feeling in her pocket for the treats she had found earlier. She took the polo out and Lucy chomped away at it. Good girl.


Words:1,352
Distance: Five furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Listening to: Will.i.am & Eva Simons - This Is Love