Post by alicekcrose on Jun 19, 2012 5:52:28 GMT -5
Easy Isa, I said to the colt gently, as he paced around his stall with energy, prancing on the spot. Will you pack it in? I said again. The colt snorted and pawed at the ground. He knew that Christmas was nearly here, and it was time to show what we had in store for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. We would do a series of workouts leading up to the end of December. We’d just done well in the Pressure’s On Cup, over twelve furlongs on the dirt. It was a very competitive race, and there was a lot of good horses in it. Our biggest challenge was the Juvenile – Forbidden To Fly, Eternal Phantom, Lucky Silver, Euphoria’s Warrior, and plenty others. The one to beat was Eternal Phantom in my opinion – we could absolutely ace this field. It depends where Phantie would race. If she was to race with us, she would have some late closing power, same as Isa and Warrior. We could absolutely ace this field in style with the amount of workouts and strengthening training we were going to do. I was happy with Isa’s performances this year. Some good wins under his belt… I knew we could take a good victory in this race; even then, an article in the gallop said we were currently the best two year old colt… I was so happy, even though Warrior had just taken his sixth win… if he won the Juvenile, he would be Grade 3.
I finished tacking up Isa and secured everything. His exercise rug fitted snugly, and his girth was tight. Jacey walked over to me. Don’t – I said to her, reaching my leg up and bouncing on. Last thing we want is you hurting yourself, I said to her, looking at her ever growing bump. She only had four and a half months left now, and she shouldn’t be doing too much right at this moment. Jacey sighed and followed me onto the track. She stood by the rail, watching eagerly as the gallant chestnut colt stepped gently onto the track. I halted him, and let him look around. He loved this track, it was one of the tracks that he’d raced down the home stretch of… that, and Intrepid’s Racing track, where he made his move too late to place a game third in the Novizio Derby, against older horses, and Fire Dancer, the beautiful Grade 4 racer. She was a stunner… I loved her to pieces, I had much love for Fire…
Isa walked forward, and I gathered my reins, walking him in a few circles to warm him up. Okay Alice, you’re gonna sprint two furlongs from the gate up the hill, so the opposite way down the home stretch as it goes uphill. This will help Isa’s closing speed as it will strengthen his legs and make him stronger, okay? I nodded and pushed Isa forward into an energetic trot. He pricked his ears and flicked his toes out, whinnying and flicking his short mane around as he tossed his head. After a slight canter towards the gate, we came to a halt. Isa had much hate for the gate – he despised it. The gate hand took hold of Isa’s rein and tried to walk him forward. He hesitated, and launched for the handler. Oi! I said spitefully. The colt pinned his ears and dug his ankles into the ground, before I tapped him on the shoulder. After two minutes, he gave in and walked into the gate. I looked at the person who would control the gate, and gave him a nod. I leaned forward and took hold of his mane. The bell rang and Isa broke away, quicker than ever before.
I immediately pushed him forward, stretching my arm out as fast as possible. The colt’s massive stride stretched out and he reached a maximum, pricking his ears and sticking his neck out. I got my whip and showed him and he immediately sped up. I made myself as small as possible, stretching my arms out far and long. I grinded my back teeth and pushed him forward even more. Isa finally reached his full speed, and we sped through the final furlong up hill in 9 and 4/5 seconds, which was insanely quick for a colt of his maturity. I was hoping that over the winter, Isa would mature into a strong and bigger three year old colt. He was still growing, and I hoped he’d get to around sixteen hands. We flew round the bend and I pulled the colt up. I think he was rather confused with being on the opposite lead to what he was used to. I patted him and turned him round, cantering him back to Jacey. You did well out there Alice, you really showed him who’s boss, and I think after a couple more workouts, he will win the Juvenile. This three week break between now and then will help. Good luck Auntie Alice… She said jokily, laughing, stroking her bump from under her body warmer.
I finished tacking up Isa and secured everything. His exercise rug fitted snugly, and his girth was tight. Jacey walked over to me. Don’t – I said to her, reaching my leg up and bouncing on. Last thing we want is you hurting yourself, I said to her, looking at her ever growing bump. She only had four and a half months left now, and she shouldn’t be doing too much right at this moment. Jacey sighed and followed me onto the track. She stood by the rail, watching eagerly as the gallant chestnut colt stepped gently onto the track. I halted him, and let him look around. He loved this track, it was one of the tracks that he’d raced down the home stretch of… that, and Intrepid’s Racing track, where he made his move too late to place a game third in the Novizio Derby, against older horses, and Fire Dancer, the beautiful Grade 4 racer. She was a stunner… I loved her to pieces, I had much love for Fire…
Isa walked forward, and I gathered my reins, walking him in a few circles to warm him up. Okay Alice, you’re gonna sprint two furlongs from the gate up the hill, so the opposite way down the home stretch as it goes uphill. This will help Isa’s closing speed as it will strengthen his legs and make him stronger, okay? I nodded and pushed Isa forward into an energetic trot. He pricked his ears and flicked his toes out, whinnying and flicking his short mane around as he tossed his head. After a slight canter towards the gate, we came to a halt. Isa had much hate for the gate – he despised it. The gate hand took hold of Isa’s rein and tried to walk him forward. He hesitated, and launched for the handler. Oi! I said spitefully. The colt pinned his ears and dug his ankles into the ground, before I tapped him on the shoulder. After two minutes, he gave in and walked into the gate. I looked at the person who would control the gate, and gave him a nod. I leaned forward and took hold of his mane. The bell rang and Isa broke away, quicker than ever before.
I immediately pushed him forward, stretching my arm out as fast as possible. The colt’s massive stride stretched out and he reached a maximum, pricking his ears and sticking his neck out. I got my whip and showed him and he immediately sped up. I made myself as small as possible, stretching my arms out far and long. I grinded my back teeth and pushed him forward even more. Isa finally reached his full speed, and we sped through the final furlong up hill in 9 and 4/5 seconds, which was insanely quick for a colt of his maturity. I was hoping that over the winter, Isa would mature into a strong and bigger three year old colt. He was still growing, and I hoped he’d get to around sixteen hands. We flew round the bend and I pulled the colt up. I think he was rather confused with being on the opposite lead to what he was used to. I patted him and turned him round, cantering him back to Jacey. You did well out there Alice, you really showed him who’s boss, and I think after a couple more workouts, he will win the Juvenile. This three week break between now and then will help. Good luck Auntie Alice… She said jokily, laughing, stroking her bump from under her body warmer.