Blood And Sand

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Tears Of Blood and Mitch Evans
Preparation for the Magic Millions Colts Turf Sprint

Sanguis, known as Tears Of Blood on the track, was slotted for his first race in two months and was more than ready to face a new challenge. For the last two months he had been in speed training with Matthias and his young assistant, Anya, to try and improve his closing power and therefore his abilities on the track. They felt that things had been going well, and were ready to test him against his peers once more. Of course, they were not going for an easy race in this comeback. In fact, they had decided that the Magic Millions was perfect for it, as it would be a true challenge. The Colts Turf Sprint may only have had three entrants, including Sanguis, but the horses he would go against would be well prepared, and one of them had quite the reputation now he had reached the top of the Two Year Old leaderboard at Green Horse Fields.

Sanguis had pulled Gate One, which worked well enough. Beside him, in Gate Two, was the main source of competition and the challenge which the stable had been seeking - Speed Rush. Speed Rush, who had topped the two year old leader board after winning in the Stable Face Off Grade Five Turf Sprint, was a very well bred colt with parents who had both won the Breeder's Cup Sprint. He had raced six times, winning twice and placing outside of the top three once. In their first race, Sanguis had beaten out the colt but had been beaten to the top spot by his twin sister. Now, they would face each other again - Speed Rush had the advantage of experience, but Sanguis was rested where Speed Rush had raced only the week before.

The other entrant, in gate three, was Arlequinn of Oak Hill Farm. Like Sanguis, the colt had raced three times without placing outside of the top three but was likely very tired having raced for three weeks in a row without a break. Racing a two year old so hard was risky, injury was more likely in a tired horse not to mention the immaturity which would add to the risk. But Arlequinn was not a Silver Stride Stables horse and was fair game in the eyes of the team.

The workout planned was very short - only two furlongs - but would be intense. Mitch had been instructed to drive the colt from beginning to end not only to burn off energy but so that Matthias and Anya could see that the colt's speed training really had paid off. Of course, Mitch did not mind pushing the colt. Sanguis could take it, and he knew it. But what he was really looking forward to was making it to the track once more, being able to fight and show the world just how strong the colt was. He longed for victory, he had his eyes set on beating Speed Rush, and he knew that this workout was the key to their chances at success. If this workout went well, who knew what would happen? He honestly believed him and Sanguis had what it took the claim the victory.

One front runner and two closers. The race was going to be interesting, and the field set up gave Speed Rush another advantage. Mitch did not like that fact, but was also sure that they could overcome the hurdles. He could not guarantee him and Sanguis would win, but he could guarantee that they would give it a good go. He longed to bruise the ego of the other colt and the stable he belonged to, and to soak up the glory it gave if only for a moment. Mitch walked out on the track to see Lucas stood with the high-strung colt. But Sanguis was behaving, and Mitch soon found the cause - Footloose was in the pasture overlooking the track and the presence of other colts and stallions always caused him to behave much better in hand than normal.

Mitch walked over, cracking his knuckles as he did and mounted swiftly without a word, not even greeting the colt. Sanguis did not do interaction or affection, he was a horse who you could only really bond with by riding and bond they had. He patted the colt's neck, however, as they were loaded into the starting gate - a quick and easy process with a colt who was focussed and ready - and the shutters closed behind them. The colt shifted slightly, but remained calm as they waited together.

At this stage, many jockeys would be psyching themselves up but Mitch was already psyched. He had a goal, and he knew he had to ready himself and the colt for it. As the buzzer sounded and the gates open he was alert and ready to begin. The colt broke slowly, and in a race would be allowed to settle at the back of the group although that was not the plan today. As instructed, the jockey started to drive the colt onwards and Sanguis reacted well, his speed increasing nicely.

Mitch had already decided that he would not fight to be the very back horse come race day - he needed to be careful not to let Speed Rush get too much of a lead, the distance needed to be manageable for the colt to close get ahead of the other. If his speed increased as it was now, of course, he was sure that they had a good chance of being able to do that and once they caught up it would be a mix of the speed, and the horse's spirit, that would ultimately decide the winner.

They were moving at an amazing pace, and the colt was starting to level off although he showed no signs of slowing down. His muscular limbs were pounding away in long, sure strides and the turf under hoof shifted beneath the weight and force applied to it. Sanguis' ears were pressed forwards and he was clearly focussed as they closed the distance to the post. They passed it, and the colt seemed unwilling to slow down as Mitch tried to bring him down. It had been a thrilling workout, but race day would show just how much good the training had really done.