Post by tyra on Apr 27, 2012 12:46:11 GMT -5
The dark bay filly was a beauty. A two year old who had yet to make her debut, she was packed with talent which was just crying to be let out. There was no doubt in Tyra Leonardis' mind that the filly had what it took to keep up with the big boys, but starting so late in the year meant that she lacked the experience of other horses. Something which could only be gained on the track. They couldn't give her experience, even a trainer who had been working the track as long as she had couldn't do that, but they could prepare her to ensure the experiences that she did gain were positive ones.
From what she had seen of the filly on the track, they could expect her to run well on both surfaces. She had shown no preference for either when they had tested her just after purchase. What she had shown was a love of running, something that they would be taking advantage of when she was released on the track. Going by what her previous owners had stated, Jackie would be running anywhere between seven and ten furlongs. As such, Tyra had entered the filly to run in a maiden race on the turf in July Week 2. Now all they needed to do was prepare her, and Tyra had already decided to allow her daughter to be the filly's regular jockey.
Two handlers which they had borrowed from Silver Stride Stables until they could hire their own were leading the dark bay filly toward the track, her head held high and her movements bouncy. Energetic, she seemed interested in the track and was definitely healthy. Tyra watched her movements, and soon her beautiful daughter showed her face, a helmet tucked under her arm. It was Tyra's chance to give her daughter a briefing on the workout ahead, as well as the race they were entered to run the following week.
"Amber, you're looking as beautiful as ever. Are you ready to work with Jackie?" her daughter nodded, smiling. There had been a time her mother did not agree with her choice of career, but she seemed to have come to terms with it now. Or at least she acted like she had, although Amber wasn't totally convinced. "Well as you know she loves the track, but she hates the gate. Be careful not to get injured while she's being gated. She'll break slowly, but don't you worry about that. It's not a bad thing due to her being a closer. Today you're only running four furlongs on the turf, the race next week is seven furlongs. She can handle it easily enough. Now today I just want to let her run. She's got a lot of energy to burn off. Race day, you'll be in charge of timing her move. She's in gate five of five, and there's some tough competition out there. I'll talk you through it after the run, ok?" she nodded and Amber walked over to the filly, pulling herself up into the saddle. Her green eyes scanned her mother's face for a moment and she put her helmet on, fastening it as the handlers started to lead them toward the gates.
As expected, the filly started to kick up a storm as they approached the gates. Her ears laid back against her skull and she tossed her head angrily as she dug her heels. The first time they approached the gates she veered sharply away and the second time she half reared in an effort to avoid being forced in. Her protests were unsucessful, however, as the shutters were closed behind her. Something she was less than impressed with. The filly fidgetted and tossed her head, snorting in discontempt at being trapped in the very small space and she was too busy feeling sorry for herself to realise as soon as the gates were open, although she reacted soon after.
She broke from the gates and settle into an average pace, staying wide of the rail as she moved forwards. The turf gave way under her hard hooves and her movement made a great sound. The sound of a machine, hard at work. Each piston moved individually, her gallop a regular four-beat. The dark bay filly was moving at an average speed, but their was a glint in her eye. Each movement her jockey made the horse responded to and soon Amber pushed the mare slightly, rallying her. In a race, they would not be moving up beside the pack horses. Something they needed to do, closing the gap between themselves and the front runner before they could reach the straight.
Amber bit her lip, holding herself back as she waited for the furlongs to pass. Stride by stride they drew closer to the mark and once she decided they were the correct distance from the post she cracked the whip against the filly's rump, driving her hard toward the post. Now they were showing speed and prowess. Each stride drew them closer to the post, and their speed was surging. They travelled at amazing speed and Amber was smiling as they passed the post. It took a little while to slow the filly down and warm her down before dismounting, patting the mare's neck softly. "That's a girl, Jackie." she said, handing the filly off to the handlers before heading over to her mother.
"How'd we do?" she asked and her mother wore that satisfied smile she always did when something had gone well. "She seems ready for the track, that's for sure. Come race day you'll be in gate five. The horse in gate one hasn't started yet, but has been working hard. We'll probably need another workout to stand a chance. Gate two is a three year old - has a lot of experience, but isn't very consistent. Gate three is another unstarted horse, and gate four is a two year old whose started a few times but hasn't shown anything of note yet. You have a chance, don't blow it come race day."
From what she had seen of the filly on the track, they could expect her to run well on both surfaces. She had shown no preference for either when they had tested her just after purchase. What she had shown was a love of running, something that they would be taking advantage of when she was released on the track. Going by what her previous owners had stated, Jackie would be running anywhere between seven and ten furlongs. As such, Tyra had entered the filly to run in a maiden race on the turf in July Week 2. Now all they needed to do was prepare her, and Tyra had already decided to allow her daughter to be the filly's regular jockey.
Two handlers which they had borrowed from Silver Stride Stables until they could hire their own were leading the dark bay filly toward the track, her head held high and her movements bouncy. Energetic, she seemed interested in the track and was definitely healthy. Tyra watched her movements, and soon her beautiful daughter showed her face, a helmet tucked under her arm. It was Tyra's chance to give her daughter a briefing on the workout ahead, as well as the race they were entered to run the following week.
"Amber, you're looking as beautiful as ever. Are you ready to work with Jackie?" her daughter nodded, smiling. There had been a time her mother did not agree with her choice of career, but she seemed to have come to terms with it now. Or at least she acted like she had, although Amber wasn't totally convinced. "Well as you know she loves the track, but she hates the gate. Be careful not to get injured while she's being gated. She'll break slowly, but don't you worry about that. It's not a bad thing due to her being a closer. Today you're only running four furlongs on the turf, the race next week is seven furlongs. She can handle it easily enough. Now today I just want to let her run. She's got a lot of energy to burn off. Race day, you'll be in charge of timing her move. She's in gate five of five, and there's some tough competition out there. I'll talk you through it after the run, ok?" she nodded and Amber walked over to the filly, pulling herself up into the saddle. Her green eyes scanned her mother's face for a moment and she put her helmet on, fastening it as the handlers started to lead them toward the gates.
As expected, the filly started to kick up a storm as they approached the gates. Her ears laid back against her skull and she tossed her head angrily as she dug her heels. The first time they approached the gates she veered sharply away and the second time she half reared in an effort to avoid being forced in. Her protests were unsucessful, however, as the shutters were closed behind her. Something she was less than impressed with. The filly fidgetted and tossed her head, snorting in discontempt at being trapped in the very small space and she was too busy feeling sorry for herself to realise as soon as the gates were open, although she reacted soon after.
She broke from the gates and settle into an average pace, staying wide of the rail as she moved forwards. The turf gave way under her hard hooves and her movement made a great sound. The sound of a machine, hard at work. Each piston moved individually, her gallop a regular four-beat. The dark bay filly was moving at an average speed, but their was a glint in her eye. Each movement her jockey made the horse responded to and soon Amber pushed the mare slightly, rallying her. In a race, they would not be moving up beside the pack horses. Something they needed to do, closing the gap between themselves and the front runner before they could reach the straight.
Amber bit her lip, holding herself back as she waited for the furlongs to pass. Stride by stride they drew closer to the mark and once she decided they were the correct distance from the post she cracked the whip against the filly's rump, driving her hard toward the post. Now they were showing speed and prowess. Each stride drew them closer to the post, and their speed was surging. They travelled at amazing speed and Amber was smiling as they passed the post. It took a little while to slow the filly down and warm her down before dismounting, patting the mare's neck softly. "That's a girl, Jackie." she said, handing the filly off to the handlers before heading over to her mother.
"How'd we do?" she asked and her mother wore that satisfied smile she always did when something had gone well. "She seems ready for the track, that's for sure. Come race day you'll be in gate five. The horse in gate one hasn't started yet, but has been working hard. We'll probably need another workout to stand a chance. Gate two is a three year old - has a lot of experience, but isn't very consistent. Gate three is another unstarted horse, and gate four is a two year old whose started a few times but hasn't shown anything of note yet. You have a chance, don't blow it come race day."