Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Jan 5, 2012 6:35:10 GMT -5
SUGAR JAYDE AND HENNA TURATH
JAYDE'S WORKOUT FOR THE FLIPPING FROG STAKES
The time was approaching. The beautiful bay Queen Of Hearts daughter would soon be setting foot on the track for her first race in the Flipping Frog Stakes. And boy was she ready for it. With gorgeous conformation, the light bay stood at a shade under sixteen hands and was a looker. Other two year olds had not grown into themselves yet; Jayde had grown at a reasonable rate - she had not had a growth spurt like so many others. Hers had been a gradual growth. And now she moved with confidence, strong in her physical prowess and guided under Henna's light hand. Henna affectionately rubbed the filly's neck before asking for a canter. Jayde instantly responded, carving a path beneath the turf. Henna sat to her smooth gait and smiled some more. Jayde was her best ride, bar none. The filly was sweet and took care of her rider. She was honestly the only sane one in the year eleven two year old bunch.
Not only that, but she loved to sprint. Henna remembered the first time she and the filly had galloped together. It had been hard to control the sudden fireball of speed she found herself riding. Jayde had fought to go faster, to burn up the track. She had clocked an unbelievable quarter that day - and it was from that point onward that Henna knew she had a sprinter on her hands. And being the jockey of highly successful Pegasus Wings, who was also a sprinter, she knew how to handle them. So in the end, she and Jayde were a perfect match. And she rode Jayde well. Through some quick workouts, they had discovered Jayde's running style. She was a front runner, though a smart one. Henna had honed her skills as much as she could without racing her. And now, the Flipping Frog Stakes beckoned. Would it be the site of their defeat or their victory? The race would tell.
Feeling that their warm up was sufficient, Henna cued Jayde for a gallop. They were going light and easy for six furlongs, enough to get Jayde thinking about stretching her legs. Unlike the first time Henna had asked Jayde for a gallop, Jayde made the transition smoothly, sliding into the gait like she had been born into it. Henna crouched over her withers comfortably, feeding the filly some rein. And they were off! The world blurred, but Henna didn't let that distract her. She focused on Jayde's stride, evaluating and checking for irregularities. Finding none, she smirked. The filly galloped like a mature two year old. When Henna slowed her slightly in preparation for the turn, she obeyed instantly. Obedience would be a key advantage in their first race, then - that much was sure.
It was a good thing that the track wasn't crowded today. Henna wanted Jayde to get some solo benefits, such as increased focus. They were running some good fractions, too, and Henna wanted Jayde to surprise the world come her first race. She let the filly run, and Jayde ran. Unlike others, she did not constantly ask for more rein - instead, Jayde waited for Henna's command for more. She was not a high strung horse, more of a sweetheart than anything. Henna wondered if Jayde would become slightly more difficult to handle during her first race, and shook off the sudden worry. They had a bond working for them, and they had some trust and talent, too. Henna would have to believe in their ability to win.
The six furlongs passed quickly. At its conclusion, Henna slowed the compliant filly to a trot, and then to a walk. A light sheen of sweat coated the filly, but she didn't appear to be truly tired. Henna smirked. They were ready to take on their first race!
