Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2015 9:02:08 GMT -5
The three year old was finally ready to run. Throughout his juvenile season he had been on the sidelines, but the last few weeks had shown a vast improvement in his workout times to match the impressive build that he carried. After all, Tyler was not a small horse. At 17.2hh he had taken longer than most to fully mature and Alexia had been unwilling to push him too early. Instead he had been held back, worked lightly until she was sure he was ready to push a little harder. Now, the massive grey had to prove she had done the right thing. Experience had been sacrificed for readiness, and he had age on the horses he would be facing, but it had all been a gamble. There was the possibility he would suffer because of her caution.
Lucy had been chosen to jockey the colt because of her more flexible nature. Sam tended to get one thing in his head and stick with it, which time in training had shown did not work with Tyler. He was a versatile horse, he didn't have a specific racing style and being too rigid would just work against him. Alexia's worry was that Lucy would not, perhaps, give him the guidance he needed early in the race but she had to trust in her staff. She had not hired the jockey for nothing.
The colt looked stunning as he was led out onto the track, head held high without appearing too hot. Lucy looked comfortable in the saddle as the gentle giant moved forwards willingly under the guidance of the handlers and soon the pair were nestled in the starting gate. Tyler was unphased by the gate, one ear flicking back lazily as he waited and yet, the moment the gate opened, he was moving outwards.
As was often the case with larger horses, it took a couple of strides for the colt to really find himself on the track - the first few strides were not weak, but there was a noticeable difference once he settled onto the track. The stride was stronger, more confident as he pressed forwards and Lucy encouraged him forwards. This was to be a five furlong work, but they didn't want to start out too slowly either.
Two furlongs passed relatively quietly, the springy turf responding to each stride. Tyler responded well to the jockey's requests and showed a strong level of trust in the young woman. All in all, it was a case of so far so good. Alexia moved forwards in her seat, biting her lip as she watched the jockey start to drive the horse. A single crack of the whip and he was off - a second and his heart was truly in it.
Strides lengthened to a fearsome charge, the colt's head down and ears back as he moved up the turf. Muscles pumped powerfully as he headed forwards, a merciless force clear as the grey continued to accelerate. He hit a peak, and he stayed there. Stride after stride he churned the grass and as he barreled past the post there was one thing Alexia was sure of - you did not want to get in Tyler's way.
Lucy had been chosen to jockey the colt because of her more flexible nature. Sam tended to get one thing in his head and stick with it, which time in training had shown did not work with Tyler. He was a versatile horse, he didn't have a specific racing style and being too rigid would just work against him. Alexia's worry was that Lucy would not, perhaps, give him the guidance he needed early in the race but she had to trust in her staff. She had not hired the jockey for nothing.
The colt looked stunning as he was led out onto the track, head held high without appearing too hot. Lucy looked comfortable in the saddle as the gentle giant moved forwards willingly under the guidance of the handlers and soon the pair were nestled in the starting gate. Tyler was unphased by the gate, one ear flicking back lazily as he waited and yet, the moment the gate opened, he was moving outwards.
As was often the case with larger horses, it took a couple of strides for the colt to really find himself on the track - the first few strides were not weak, but there was a noticeable difference once he settled onto the track. The stride was stronger, more confident as he pressed forwards and Lucy encouraged him forwards. This was to be a five furlong work, but they didn't want to start out too slowly either.
Two furlongs passed relatively quietly, the springy turf responding to each stride. Tyler responded well to the jockey's requests and showed a strong level of trust in the young woman. All in all, it was a case of so far so good. Alexia moved forwards in her seat, biting her lip as she watched the jockey start to drive the horse. A single crack of the whip and he was off - a second and his heart was truly in it.
Strides lengthened to a fearsome charge, the colt's head down and ears back as he moved up the turf. Muscles pumped powerfully as he headed forwards, a merciless force clear as the grey continued to accelerate. He hit a peak, and he stayed there. Stride after stride he churned the grass and as he barreled past the post there was one thing Alexia was sure of - you did not want to get in Tyler's way.