Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2013 2:32:31 GMT -5
Glory Bell, also known as Leo was a new arrival to the stables. He arrived at In Stride a couple of months ago from Silver Stride Stables and had spent time maturing in preparation for his debut, in which he would be starting in the March Maiden Dirt against Heart Of Rio from Oak Hill Farm. The plan was to race last month but a minor bruise to the foot caused a set back, meaning Leo couldn't start until this month. Leo has definitely inherited his father's love of running, and never seems to be happy unless he is running. It is his one true love and he seems to have little interest in anything else.
Grooming bores him, as does this whole bonding lark, and he has no intention of letting anyone get close to him, but he's recently got himself attached to Evie. Due to his love of running he has to be watched closely in the paddock and not let out for too long as he will just run and run until you bring him in. It's almost as if an open space equals run in his mind. He never seems to run out of energy, either. He can go all out in a race and still be practically bouncing as you take him back to the barn. It is almost as if he is showing off his youth and boundless energy.
At the track he becomes much more sociable than at the yard - probably because he knows that he is going to be running and that there will be competition. He will flaunt his good looks with a flawless gait and a love of the camera. However when he sees the other horses he becomes more focussed and less sociable again. After all, he hates to lose in any way and sees showing off and playfulness as a sign of weakness. But it is this competitive edge that really gives him something special, and no one can find fault in this. Leo doesn't misbehave very often, mainly because he sees it as a waste of time. It would be wasting energy he could be using doing more interesting and important things - like running - and he knows that the humans are just trying to help him be the best. As if he needs help, but he won't turn his nose up at it.
Leo is not sure of the gates and can act nervously around them. On a good day, he will conquer his fears but on a bad day gating him can be difficult as he will just plant his feet and refuse to budge. Once gated he will strike out a few times before realising the gate will not hurt him and settling down. When the gates open he breaks at a decent pace, though not as fast as some, and will place himself in second or third place, usually running slightly slower than the front runner. He likes to take the rail for the corners and will push forwards in these. Leo likes to push in the last corner and runs better than usual if he is leading as they come out of the last corner. He has a lot of speed for the straight which is matched to a high level of spirit and competitiveness. His will to win is huge and he will give the race his all.
Mardi Gras would be working with Leo today. Elise was racing in quite a competitive race, with four entrants, herself included. Jacey had looked at the races and thought this was the best oppurtunity for her against some good horses. When Jacey first took Elise on, she expected her to be the kind of filly that'd be laid back, but in fact, sometimes she can become aggressive, biting and kicking other horses, but in most cases, this is not the outcome. She is structured to be a perfect example of a racehorse, with the muscle and the height to dominate the tracks.
Though she appears laid back in her stall, when racing she can become quite ferocious as she tries to close. She is a very focused racehorse who will stay calm during the race until the final stages. She can get a bit 'know-it-all' at times, becoming big headed in some aspects, which is why Ivana rides her rather than Beth because she is more suited to the stronger horses, having more experience. As a filly who isn't very social, she doesn't really like to be near other horses, except for racing of course, which is why she wears blinkers. She also sees herself as more dominant than anyone else. One thing Elise will always do is listen to her jockey. She will never take hold of the bit and run.
As a very focused racehorse, Elise appears stubborn in the parade ring. She isn't doing it on purpose, she just likes to do it her way. She is fairly intelligent and eyes up the competition to see what she's up against pre-race. If the race appears to be fast pace, she'll wait at the back for longer, knowing the competition will be tired. She will break slowly and linger at the back of the pack and give them a good couple of lengths. Round the home turn and she'll be a bullet fired from a gun. She'll shoot wide at the three furlong marker and make her move, coming wide and dashing to the front.
Elise would be starting in Gate One, which was always a bonus as they could get the closing position on the inside rail. Dreaming Of Glory, a half brother to Leo was next. The colt was a good one, with a win, place, and a show under his belt. The chestnut colt out of Once Upon A Dream was a front runner, and would lead the race from his starting place in Gate Two which was always handy. Then there was Flashpoint. This horse was definitely one to watch. He had two wins, a place, and a show under his belt, and he was the favourite for this race. He had won the Juvenile Dirt Face-off last month and was ready to come back and do it again. Nothing would be stopping him. He had also placed in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt Sprint, a great achievement. He was a stalker, which meant he would be in just behind Dreaming Of Glory. It appeared that for this race, the stage was all set.
Starting in Gate Four was Battle Wings. The horse had a win and two places, and was ready to rumble. She raced over the dirt surface. This daughter of Akuma Battlecry was ready to dominate and this time she wouldn't be backing down. She hadn't been seen working out on the track since the start of January. The filly was a good one, and also a front runner, meaning Glory and Battle Wings would fight it out, with Flashpoint in behind. We were going to give these leaders a good couple of lengths then close in the final three furlongs, using the centre of the home stretch to make up the ground.
Leo was hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father, Bank On Glory. The Bank On Silver and Armidale colt is half to huge names such as Impressario, Bank On Greatness, and many more top horses. Evie had groomed the colt and tacked him up before leading him out onto the track. His ears flickered and he looked around, not really fazed by anything. Elise followed him and walked out onto the dirt. The jockeys smiled at eachother, looking around and discussing a few things. They were going to work three furlongs after breezing round the track. Leo would lead, Elise would give him about three lengths.
They set off on their journey round the dirt track. Evie let Leo lead. He breezed effortlessly over the dirt surface, their ears flickering as they did so. Leo had a comfortable lead as he did so, his long stride covering the ground. His ears pricked right up as he galloped along the surface. Elise's longer stride meant she covered more ground but Jacey kept it slow. Evie on the other hand kept Leo steady but his stride was shorter and quicker than Elise's.
The horses travelled along the surface and as the three furlong pole edged closer, they began to quicken up the pace. Elise began to close ever so slightly, her long stride covering the dirt with ease. Smiling, Jacey pushed her forward whereas Evie hadn't touched Leo yet. She was still, not moving. Elise came up to within a length of the colt as they came to the two furlong pole. Evie pushed the colt forward and he shot forward with a burst of speed. He was pulling away from Elise, but she fought back. They were linked together and as the line approached quickly, nothing could separate them. The horses cooled down and the jockeys high fived eachother.
They were both ready for the race, and this time, nothing would stop them.