Post by Cavallo on Sept 3, 2012 10:33:23 GMT -5
Adele led the beautifully built five year old stallion across the turf tracks. Ian walked excitedly beside her. If there was one thing in this world that he loved to do it would be running. Adele smiled at the stallion's animated action, he was like a huge giant next to her small five foot frame, but he followed her like a lamb follows its shepherd.
It had been two weeks since their disappointing third in The Wire Finish Cup Turf. For some reason, the seasoned racer hadn't taken to the turf that day, which was odd...Ian usually wasn't affected by that stuff and Adele and the bay brute had taken the defeat hard.
She knew that the HOF'er son had more in him and Nick had pretty much said so...but Adele had a way with taking underdog horses and turning their careers around. The first half season she'd ridden the volatile and unknown Predator and they had climbed a whole grade within three months. She felt confident in her abilities, but more importantly she was confident in Ian's.
The race upcoming was one in a series...a series where all the stables unleashed their equines in order to prove their mettle and claim superiority. The whole Intrepid Team was abuzz with prep, exercising, breezing, conditioning, resting...the whole nine yards. Nick and the team weren't going to hold back and Adele knew that this bay powerhouse had what it took to win his contribution to the Intrepid Racing name.
There were four other horses entered in his grade besides Ian. Adele silently began to mull this over as she halted the towering bay and pulled herself up into the saddle. Ian shifted his weight slightly, eyes bright and alert and eager to be off. The small slip of a girl found her seat and gathered the reins. Okay boy...let's warm up and stretch our legs.
She clicked to the bay and he was more than willing to oblige. Ian had settled in well to Intrepid...having been passed around, he was hard to get to know initially...he wasn't one to willingly make a connection, but somehow this blonde wonder had wriggled her way into his affections. He adored Adele.
She smiled as they lightly cantered about the track, Ian gave a sudden buck with exuberance. She laughed and held her seat as they went about their warmup. She was glad that in all this business that they could still have some fun. Spirits were running high as the duo flocked around the track, muscles loosening and form relaxing for both. The three furlong exercise had both rider and horse, ready, focused and eager to really run.
Ian expectantly played with his bit, Adele kept him in check as she began to think strategy. Running in the back would be Wild Kiss and Ian. Adele took note of this...it would be extremely important that they didn't get blocked from their charge in the end by the younger horse. Leading the pack would be none other than the ARS owned Thunderstrike who had bested them in The Wire Finish Cup Turf...needless to say Adele felt a twinge of personal vengeance. They would do their best to repay the other bay stallion...Running mid pack would be the Devil's Crusade and pressuring Thunderstrike would be Frozen Motion, the youngest and least experienced horse in the field...but Adele didn't write off the younger horse. She'd seen many a time, two year olds schooling seasoned saints of racing.
The key this race would be to make a path. Running in the back had it's advantages and with only Wild Kiss to contend with in the rear...she felt that she could navigate the bay into an open lane on the outside to rally and hopefully sweep the win.
The thunder of hooves filled their senses as Adele fed the bay more of the rein. The pace quickened as they flew over the turf. In her mind they were weaving and dodging and fighting to the finish where hopefully a break was headed their way...
She heard the roar of the crowd as Ian kicked into another gear, leading the charge to the finish. Oh how sweet victory would taste...
It had been a while and they were hungry. It was time to brush up on the winner's circle...
