Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2012 8:00:02 GMT -5
Italian Ice & Alexia Harshing
[/u][/center]Italian Ice had proven herself to be a very strong racehorse. The two year old had raced in nothing but major races and had never placed outside of the top three and with four wins to her name she had broken into grade four in style at the Follow The Hoofprints series. She was among the top in her age group, but she still had a lot to prove over the months until the year ended and she would have to work to maintain her position among the best. Of course, Icee had something that most two year olds did not - a top three placing in the Spring Cup where she had faced off against a large field consisting of only older, more mature and experienced horses. It had given her a boost, and Silver Stride Stables were curious about what level she could reach if her current form continued.
The Summer Cup Grade Four Turf was the perfect opportunity for the filly to prove herself again. The world thought they were foolish for entering her, that she would be outclassed at this level, but they were going ahead anyway. They were not going to be scared off so easily, and they knew that the filly was an incredibly strong competitor, with the heart and talent to give her all. She would not be phased by the competition, and nor would they. It was a small field, three horses including them, and so even if the competition did prove to be too tough for her she was guaranteed a top three placing and a good experience boost because of it.
As with all the season series races, they would be going over a distance of ten furlongs on the turf. It was a distance that Icee had proven herself to be strong on in the past and so the stable were not worried about her performance. They were more worried about the competition that they would be facing and ensuring that the filly would be ready to face them. Alexia was used to the drill by now and was waiting for Matthias to arrive, leant against the wall by his office and watching the processes of the stable - the grooms, the handlers, it was even supplies day. All the things which ensured that things kept moving for the stable.
She was not waiting for long, Matthias was always one to run to schedule and he was in fact just in time. He opened the office door, allowed Alexia to walk in before following her, closing the door behind him. Alexia sat in the seat closest to the door, while Matthias took the seat at the other side of his large desk. He took some papers out, rifled through them and then smiled - he had found the sheet he was looking for. Placing it on the desk, he looked to Alexia with a smile. "So, Icee. You did well with her the other week, she is running well Alexia. Better, even, than we had hoped. She seems to take after her sire, and that's definitely something we want to encourage. As you know I have entered her in the Summer Cup and I think she has a chance." Alexia rose an eyebrow for a moment, nodded. "Well, she's certainly talented but I don't have her down for victory if I am honest." Matthias nodded, looked down at the sheet.
"The competition isn't easy, no. But Icee won't back down. I just want to talk about the competitors, okay?" Alexia nodded again, her blue eyes drifting down to the sheet of paper on the desk... The list of entrants as it stood. "Devil's Crusade of Prison Hill Stables will be in gate one. He's four years old, and pretty competitive with an increasing level of consistency. We've faced him before, he won the Spring Cup Grade Five Turf when we came in third. You may remember that he likes to run in the middle of the group, making up a lot of ground in the stretch. He isn't a strong closer, though, so as long as you are careful to have the stamina you may be able to out-run him. After all, he'll be rounding the group off in the small, three horse field." Alexia nodded. She remembered Devil's Crusade, had been pleased for PHS when they had claimed victory in the Spring Cup. For some reason, the colt had ran badly the previous year but he seemed determined to make that up this season. He had raced last week, for second place, and so would be determined to try and claim victory in the upcoming race.
"You and Icee are starting in gate two. It's not a bad place to start, although gate three would have been preferable I feel you should not really struggle. As for gate three, it's going to be holding Star Thoroughbreds' Georgie's Girl. She's three years old and running well this year with three wins, four seconds and two thirds. She has placed outside of the top three twice this year. Again, she is more mature, with more experience but like Devil's Crusade she did race last week. Georgie's Girl will be running as a preceder, which leaves you and Icee to take the front running position." Again the jockey nodded, clearly deep in thought. Matthias knew what she was thinking about though - how to run this race, how to bring the very best out in Icee.
For a moment, they sat in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, more a thoughtful one. Each was worrying about their own aspect of this race - for Matthias, how he might prepare the filly to face such competition and, for Alexia, how exactly to run this race so that is might work for them. They faced one another, had eye contact as they both considered these things, and then Alexia broke the silence. "Right, let's do this - what are we doing in this workout?" All business, but that was nothing new with Alexia. She was focussed, driven. If they were running in a race, should would be going in well prepared to put up a fight. Matthias grinned - this was why they got on so well. This was why they worked amazingly as a team. "Three furlongs on the turf, holding her back. We need to get her used to running at your pace, not her own, and hopefully this will ensure she does as you ask on the track. You can get her really running in the final furlong, but other than that she does this on your terms."
Alexia nodded. "Sure, meet you at the track in ten minutes?" she suggested. "Deal." The trainer watched as the jockey left, rose from his chair and walked to his door, catching one of the grooms. "Hey, you seen Lucas?" he asked and the groom told him that he'd last been seen at Icee's stall - perfect, his brother was getting the filly ready just as he had hoped. He loved how the handler kept on top of the schedule. It meant that things ran smoothly, that he would not have to worry over chasing the handlers and grooms because his brother kept on top of that side of things. With a grin, Matthias headed toward the stable block in question with a confident feeling.
Lucas had made sure the filly was prepared for the workout - she was groomed, tacked up and ready to go by the time that Matthias arrived. Lucas had checked her for heat early that morning to find none and so she was cleared for the workout. He was stood a little away from the barn door, watching her, when Matthias arrived. "How is she?" he asked and Lucas looked around. "Fine. As bloody well self-important as ever, but fine." Matthias laughed, rolling his eyes a little. Everybody knew just how self confident and distant Icee could be. In the whole stable she had bonded with a single person, and that was Alexia. Everyone else she seemed to think was below her.
It was time to get started, so Lucas went into the filly's stable and took hold of her rein. For a moment, she pulled away from him and tossed her head but after a moment she settled to walk beside him. Coming from the stable, she looked like a queen - proud, beautiful, powerful. She moved with determination, her head held a little above what could be called a natural position and her audits were pressed forwards. She did not fight the handler now, but moved beside him with a calm air and showed no signs of the youthful trouble that most two year olds liked to cause.
It did not take them long to get down to the track. Other than a slight hiccup when they had passed Instant Success (who was have his knees checked following his fall at the start of the Preakness Stakes) and the pair had been a little competitive toward one another there was no real drama. Lucas was glad, he did not really enjoy having to fight to make the filly do as he asked, and actually found himself relieved when she moved past the other horses.
Alexia was already at the track waiting for them when they arrived. She had that strong, business-like look on her face as she walked over, greeting the tall black filly with a gentle touch to the nose before walking to her side and climbing into the saddle. Alexia remained silent as she checked the girth and stirrups, as she ensured that everything was ready for the workout. Of course, it was and so she nodded to Lucas, who led the filly out onto the track. No gates, again. It seemed Matthias had moved away from workouts with the starting gates in preference for quick, although effective workouts.
Pulling the filly to a halt at the three furlong mark, he ran his hand over her shoulder for a second, causing the filly to lift her head. He moved his hand away, and once again the filly relaxed. It was odd, making no sense to the handler and he sighed. Icee had never been particularly normal - she hadn't been bred to be normal. She was bred to be great, and she was showing all the signs to say that it had been successful. But nothing was proved yet, he knew Alexia worked her butt off to prove just that. "Right, ready?" he asked her and she nodded, rising in her stirrups. The most anyone ever got out of Alexia once she was mounted for a workout or race, he knew she meant nothing bad by it. She was just focussing on what was ahead of her.
The handler counted down, released his grip on the filly and watched horse and rider shoot off from the mark. The black filly was eager, pushing forwards at a high pace from the start. Alexia had to move quickly if she wanted the upper hand, pulling the filly back to reduce her speed and ensure that she did not continue at the high pace that she had set for herself. It was a bit of a battle - Icee really did not want to slow down, she was happy at her own pace - but after several strides her pace did begin to lower.
Alexia could feel the filly pulling against her, longing to break free, but Alexia kept her reined in and as such prevented her from making much headway. Due to the low pace, the first furlong closed slowly and Icee was clearly frustrated. But still she ran onwards, her short strides powering her forwards. Alexia closed her eyes for a moment, allowed herself to feel the strong movement beneath her. Muscles rolled, relaxing and contracting in time to the rhythm of the filly's strides. The sound was relaxing, but constant and as she opened her eyes and realised that they were nearing the two furlong post.
Now she could let loose. She released the restraint on the filly, and Icee seemed to fly forwards as she found her stride. Confident, powerful strides which seemed to pick up pace at a high rate. Alexia drove her onwards, not bothering to use the whip as the filly's own passion pushed them onwards. The distance to the post was reducing, and quickly, and the filly seemed to sense it. Already travelling at an incredible pace she found a little more to give. Adrenaline and desire pumped through Alexia's veins, a need to pass that post and show the world just what the filly was made of. She continued to fight, as did the filly, until they flew past the post and Alexia was confident. They might not win the upcoming race, but they certainly would leave an impression.
Status;; Complete
Word Count;; 2151
Listening To;; Skins Season 2
Notes;; N/A