Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2012 17:19:04 GMT -5
With a second place in her first start there was no doubting that the two year old filly, Mizadori, had talent. Nor was there any doubt that Alana had been able to bring out that talent on the track. Their race had shown good technique, focus and most of all a desire to win. But it had not been enough to snag the win, and a month later their second race was quickly approaching. It was a chance for the pair to start on their journey to greatness together and all it would take was one win. So they needed to push harder, they needed more drive... More motivation. The problem was, how exactly did you motivate a horse which is already highly driven by itself? How do you show the cocky and overconfident how to improve their game? These were the sorts of questions the team were left with when it came to the chestnut filly. She was just so confident, so driven, that her enthusiasm was drowning everything else out.
To be the best... That was their goal. To push through the maiden race and into the grade five races and beyond. She could do it, too. The team were more than confident in the filly's abilities. She was smart, emotionally nothing got to her and she would not give the game up - she fought right to the post, every time. Of course she had her quirks, it was a fact of nature that everyone and everything had quirks, but hers were a little different to a typical thoroughbred. Things like needing her sharp mind constantly stimulated and having to be the last horse gated on the racecourse. She wasn't aggressive, she didn't crave food or affection, she wasn't even lazy... She was just Mida, and Mida was something special.
As far as the staff knew, Mida's next race looked to have eight entrants in it - although one was uncertain as the owner had not yet made their decision as to which race the horse would run. Of the seven other horses entered into the race, one had yet to run at all and two were three year olds, meaning that they had physical maturity over the rest of the field who were two year olds. Something which the staff would worry about, but Mida would be completely oblivious to. After all, in Mida's mind she could take anything on without blinking. No matter their experience or age, Mida always felt she had a chance and always gave her all. It was that which gave her the edge, her desire to win no matter what the odds were against her. Her will to fight for the glory of a winner.
Alana was (secretly) excited about the prospect of the two year old. Although she generally avoided horses which ran on the turf she hadn't been able to turn the dual surfaced filly down... There was just something about her that had drawn the jockey, and it was most likely the fact that the two had a lot in common. Neither liked to bond, neither liked to lose, and if they did lose they both came back with a renewed passion. In a way, the perfect team. In another way, a real nightmare of a pairing. Especially as the pair refused to try and bond with one another. It was a strictly track partnership, nothing ever happened between them away from the track.
As she reached the track, Alana took her crop from the new kid in the barn and smirked at him as she swung herself up onto the filly. He was pompous, believed himself to be the best, but hadn't even proved himself on the track yet. In other words, he was all talk and no game. He had a long way to go to earn Alana's trust, and she was having fun showing him that. Hell, as a rookie he even had to run around with her gear if she asked him to and damn did she enjoy asking him to. Just watching him have to perform menial tasks while she got to ride sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine. But he would learn to say no or fail. It was all a game to Alana.
Gating was a simple matter. With no other horses around the bold filly just strode into the box without the slightest issue. But they had seen at the track what she was like with other horses around and had learned quickly. Box her last and you won't have a problem. Try to box her before any other horse and she will kick up a hellstorm. Still, it was simple during a workout. Just walk her straight in and she won't even bat an eyelid. It was a lesson well learned, and a valuable one at that. But gating was only the beginning of a race... Especially Mida's race. If she had competition her game plan would already be formulated. She'd have marked her biggest rivals, plotted out exactly when and how she would make her move. She didn't need a jockey, except to qualify for entry, and she most certainly didn't listen to one once they were on her back.
But Alana knew all this. She had made sure to learn the odd filly's quirks quickly in order to make the most of their first year of racing together. With a late start it was prudent to get their heads into the game, and her head was definitely in the game. They could do this. As a team, her and Mida could do this with ease. Mainly Mida, but she was there for encouragement in the stretch and hell, she might even try to make a suggestion in a race even though it would probably be ignored. Alana shifted her weight, prepared and pushed the filly on as the gates opened. They broke cleanly, their pace around average, and moved toward the rail from their fourth gate starting position.
From there it was simple. They maintained their pace for most of the race, Mida starting to speed up with around five furlongs remaining, and took the corner well, despite a slight fumble in one of the filly's strides they quickly made up for it and were at the top of the stretch. Here was where Alana was able to contribute; driving and whipping the mare in a bid to make her move faster down the stretch. They moved at a huge pace, tearing up the turf under-hoof as they did. There was no doubt that in a race she would be overtaking the majority of preceders and front runners with ease, fighting in every stride to earn the victory she felt she deserved.
It was another good workout, and with any luck it would rub off in the race.
To be the best... That was their goal. To push through the maiden race and into the grade five races and beyond. She could do it, too. The team were more than confident in the filly's abilities. She was smart, emotionally nothing got to her and she would not give the game up - she fought right to the post, every time. Of course she had her quirks, it was a fact of nature that everyone and everything had quirks, but hers were a little different to a typical thoroughbred. Things like needing her sharp mind constantly stimulated and having to be the last horse gated on the racecourse. She wasn't aggressive, she didn't crave food or affection, she wasn't even lazy... She was just Mida, and Mida was something special.
As far as the staff knew, Mida's next race looked to have eight entrants in it - although one was uncertain as the owner had not yet made their decision as to which race the horse would run. Of the seven other horses entered into the race, one had yet to run at all and two were three year olds, meaning that they had physical maturity over the rest of the field who were two year olds. Something which the staff would worry about, but Mida would be completely oblivious to. After all, in Mida's mind she could take anything on without blinking. No matter their experience or age, Mida always felt she had a chance and always gave her all. It was that which gave her the edge, her desire to win no matter what the odds were against her. Her will to fight for the glory of a winner.
Alana was (secretly) excited about the prospect of the two year old. Although she generally avoided horses which ran on the turf she hadn't been able to turn the dual surfaced filly down... There was just something about her that had drawn the jockey, and it was most likely the fact that the two had a lot in common. Neither liked to bond, neither liked to lose, and if they did lose they both came back with a renewed passion. In a way, the perfect team. In another way, a real nightmare of a pairing. Especially as the pair refused to try and bond with one another. It was a strictly track partnership, nothing ever happened between them away from the track.
As she reached the track, Alana took her crop from the new kid in the barn and smirked at him as she swung herself up onto the filly. He was pompous, believed himself to be the best, but hadn't even proved himself on the track yet. In other words, he was all talk and no game. He had a long way to go to earn Alana's trust, and she was having fun showing him that. Hell, as a rookie he even had to run around with her gear if she asked him to and damn did she enjoy asking him to. Just watching him have to perform menial tasks while she got to ride sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine. But he would learn to say no or fail. It was all a game to Alana.
Gating was a simple matter. With no other horses around the bold filly just strode into the box without the slightest issue. But they had seen at the track what she was like with other horses around and had learned quickly. Box her last and you won't have a problem. Try to box her before any other horse and she will kick up a hellstorm. Still, it was simple during a workout. Just walk her straight in and she won't even bat an eyelid. It was a lesson well learned, and a valuable one at that. But gating was only the beginning of a race... Especially Mida's race. If she had competition her game plan would already be formulated. She'd have marked her biggest rivals, plotted out exactly when and how she would make her move. She didn't need a jockey, except to qualify for entry, and she most certainly didn't listen to one once they were on her back.
But Alana knew all this. She had made sure to learn the odd filly's quirks quickly in order to make the most of their first year of racing together. With a late start it was prudent to get their heads into the game, and her head was definitely in the game. They could do this. As a team, her and Mida could do this with ease. Mainly Mida, but she was there for encouragement in the stretch and hell, she might even try to make a suggestion in a race even though it would probably be ignored. Alana shifted her weight, prepared and pushed the filly on as the gates opened. They broke cleanly, their pace around average, and moved toward the rail from their fourth gate starting position.
From there it was simple. They maintained their pace for most of the race, Mida starting to speed up with around five furlongs remaining, and took the corner well, despite a slight fumble in one of the filly's strides they quickly made up for it and were at the top of the stretch. Here was where Alana was able to contribute; driving and whipping the mare in a bid to make her move faster down the stretch. They moved at a huge pace, tearing up the turf under-hoof as they did. There was no doubt that in a race she would be overtaking the majority of preceders and front runners with ease, fighting in every stride to earn the victory she felt she deserved.
It was another good workout, and with any luck it would rub off in the race.