Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2012 3:37:21 GMT -5
Glancing down at his race schedule for the week, Matthias could not help but smile. It was a quiet week, yes, but there was a name on there which had not appeared for several months. Feline Frenzy, or Mia as she was known at the barn. Matthias had been questioned on her absence a few times, and had refused to comment for those pesky Gallop reporters, and now he had informed them of the very reason the filly had been away. Had she been injured? No. Matthias had decided that what the filly had needed was time to mature. Time to grow up and learn herself so that she might return to a more successful career. His theory had yet to be proved, but the work the staff had done with her was sure to pay off.
The filly would be riding under Jacob Donovan, which was no surprise really. She had been his ride, and she would be again. Jacob was able to click with her more than any other jockey had been able to, and while they had not been hugely successful in the past their was a chance that they could turn things around now that Mia had grown up a bit. She'd been showing signs for weeks that she was ready to return and this race had provided her with the perfect chance to do just that.
The Sprinkler Sprint. Mia's return. Including Mia, their were four entrants and of those two were older, while the third was the same age as her. It would be a tough race, but Mia was well rested and after this afternoon she would have a nice work beneath her. Matthias didn't want to appear overly confident, but he felt that there was a good chance Mia could get a top three result. He'd be happy with that.
As he walked into the yard, the trainer spoke to several handlers and complimented a new groom on the good work they were doing on Moondance, a mare who always looked stunning to start with. But these were not his priorities. Right now, Mia was priority number one and he was looking forward to seeing her run. She certainly had the power, but that did not mean she would win this week. No, that would be expecting far too much. He would love to see her get a good result, however.
Lucas was waiting for him at the filly's stable, that usual desire shining in his eye and Matthias knew what was coming before the words even escaped him. "You know, I could ride her. Maybe she just needs a different jockey, and I'd be happy to do it." Matthias sighed, shaking his head as they started across the yard, the bay filly handling well. "You know my thoughts on this, Lucas. Stop pushing it, ok?" he could see the anger, the hurt in his brother's eyes. He could see the argument already brewing. He didn't want to deal with this right now. "We'll talk tonight, once works are over. Ok?" The handler looked grudging but after a moments silence nodded, turning his attention to the bay. He ran his hand across her muscular neck, admired the power of her legs as she walked.
"She's really grown. She's so much more mature now, and she looks great for the time off." he was not wrong. Mia carried herself with pride, a spark in her eye seemed to call for a challenge and she was strong. Of yes, the time off had done wonders. Now, hr coat gleamed, her health more than clear, and Mia would be ready for anything. Matthias nodded. The condition of the filly was no bad thing, and he knew that in a race against horses which had been actively racing while she'd been rested she would be able to show herself off a little.
They reached the track, and Matthias moved to the filly's side. He ran his hands over her neck and shoulders before tightening her girth. Very shortly, Jacob would arrive and they would get started. He was taking no risks, today. This was, after all, an important week for the young filly. If things went right, there was a chance they might even enter her as a long shot in the Breeder's Cup. It would be a risk, but one he was willing to take. Long shots won these races all the time, so why should this year be any different?
Jacob soon joined them. The red-headed jockey seemed excited and he grinned at Matthias as he saw the filly. It had been a long time, and this week was bound to be a difficult one. Still, he couldn't help knowing the desire to race with her and he mounted smoothly. "Running her over the race distance, right?" he asked the trainer who nodded. Of course they were, she was in no way tired and the practice would do her the world of good.
With the confirming nod from Matthias, Lucas led Jacob and the filly, who was still handling well toward the gates. Jake was surprised, in the past the filly would have been pulling for the gates by now, fighting with the handler due to her desire to race, and for a moment he worried. Had she lost her competitive edge? But Lucas seemed confident and as he loaded the filly into the gate he told Jake that everything would be fine. Jake nodded, pulling his goggles over his eyes and rising in his stirrups. Soon, he found his balance and he was waiting for the gates to open. Not for long.
As soon as the gates opened the filly bolted from them, almost leaving her jockey behind. She broke quick, clean, and seemed confident in herself as she moved out onto the turf. It was a good thing, and Jacob found himself smiling a little as he found her stride. If she was this confident, and this on the ball, come race day their chances of positive results were high. He was determined to raise those chances, and this workout was the way to do it.
The filly slowed her pace a little as they drew away from the gates, moving in toward the rail with her head held high and ears pressed forwards. Each stride she took was sure, well placed and she was carrying them as if their was not a care in the world. The wind pulled through her glossy mane and tail and Jacob could hear it in his ears. He crouched lower to the filly's neck urged her to move a little faster and she responded well to his commands, her pace quickening beneath him.
Six furlongs was not exactly a long distance, and soon four furlongs had passed. Jacob took note of this fact and started to drive the filly hard. There was no great burst of speed, even when he lowered the crop on her rump, but he had not expected such. She was a front runner, and as long as she could maintain a good pace in the home stretch they should be ok. She seemed to be handling the turf well, pushing forwards and very soon they had soared past the post. It had been a good work, and hopefully that would contribute to a good race.
The filly would be riding under Jacob Donovan, which was no surprise really. She had been his ride, and she would be again. Jacob was able to click with her more than any other jockey had been able to, and while they had not been hugely successful in the past their was a chance that they could turn things around now that Mia had grown up a bit. She'd been showing signs for weeks that she was ready to return and this race had provided her with the perfect chance to do just that.
The Sprinkler Sprint. Mia's return. Including Mia, their were four entrants and of those two were older, while the third was the same age as her. It would be a tough race, but Mia was well rested and after this afternoon she would have a nice work beneath her. Matthias didn't want to appear overly confident, but he felt that there was a good chance Mia could get a top three result. He'd be happy with that.
As he walked into the yard, the trainer spoke to several handlers and complimented a new groom on the good work they were doing on Moondance, a mare who always looked stunning to start with. But these were not his priorities. Right now, Mia was priority number one and he was looking forward to seeing her run. She certainly had the power, but that did not mean she would win this week. No, that would be expecting far too much. He would love to see her get a good result, however.
Lucas was waiting for him at the filly's stable, that usual desire shining in his eye and Matthias knew what was coming before the words even escaped him. "You know, I could ride her. Maybe she just needs a different jockey, and I'd be happy to do it." Matthias sighed, shaking his head as they started across the yard, the bay filly handling well. "You know my thoughts on this, Lucas. Stop pushing it, ok?" he could see the anger, the hurt in his brother's eyes. He could see the argument already brewing. He didn't want to deal with this right now. "We'll talk tonight, once works are over. Ok?" The handler looked grudging but after a moments silence nodded, turning his attention to the bay. He ran his hand across her muscular neck, admired the power of her legs as she walked.
"She's really grown. She's so much more mature now, and she looks great for the time off." he was not wrong. Mia carried herself with pride, a spark in her eye seemed to call for a challenge and she was strong. Of yes, the time off had done wonders. Now, hr coat gleamed, her health more than clear, and Mia would be ready for anything. Matthias nodded. The condition of the filly was no bad thing, and he knew that in a race against horses which had been actively racing while she'd been rested she would be able to show herself off a little.
They reached the track, and Matthias moved to the filly's side. He ran his hands over her neck and shoulders before tightening her girth. Very shortly, Jacob would arrive and they would get started. He was taking no risks, today. This was, after all, an important week for the young filly. If things went right, there was a chance they might even enter her as a long shot in the Breeder's Cup. It would be a risk, but one he was willing to take. Long shots won these races all the time, so why should this year be any different?
Jacob soon joined them. The red-headed jockey seemed excited and he grinned at Matthias as he saw the filly. It had been a long time, and this week was bound to be a difficult one. Still, he couldn't help knowing the desire to race with her and he mounted smoothly. "Running her over the race distance, right?" he asked the trainer who nodded. Of course they were, she was in no way tired and the practice would do her the world of good.
With the confirming nod from Matthias, Lucas led Jacob and the filly, who was still handling well toward the gates. Jake was surprised, in the past the filly would have been pulling for the gates by now, fighting with the handler due to her desire to race, and for a moment he worried. Had she lost her competitive edge? But Lucas seemed confident and as he loaded the filly into the gate he told Jake that everything would be fine. Jake nodded, pulling his goggles over his eyes and rising in his stirrups. Soon, he found his balance and he was waiting for the gates to open. Not for long.
As soon as the gates opened the filly bolted from them, almost leaving her jockey behind. She broke quick, clean, and seemed confident in herself as she moved out onto the turf. It was a good thing, and Jacob found himself smiling a little as he found her stride. If she was this confident, and this on the ball, come race day their chances of positive results were high. He was determined to raise those chances, and this workout was the way to do it.
The filly slowed her pace a little as they drew away from the gates, moving in toward the rail with her head held high and ears pressed forwards. Each stride she took was sure, well placed and she was carrying them as if their was not a care in the world. The wind pulled through her glossy mane and tail and Jacob could hear it in his ears. He crouched lower to the filly's neck urged her to move a little faster and she responded well to his commands, her pace quickening beneath him.
Six furlongs was not exactly a long distance, and soon four furlongs had passed. Jacob took note of this fact and started to drive the filly hard. There was no great burst of speed, even when he lowered the crop on her rump, but he had not expected such. She was a front runner, and as long as she could maintain a good pace in the home stretch they should be ok. She seemed to be handling the turf well, pushing forwards and very soon they had soared past the post. It had been a good work, and hopefully that would contribute to a good race.