Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 19:05:57 GMT -5
Dark Justice Stables were, quite frankly, an unknown name on the track. They were one of the new names around town and only time could tell if they would kick off or burn out like so many stables did. But being unknown did not matter to the trio as they pulled up at the track. Everyone, after all, began somewhere and they hoped that their reputation could start to build on the hooves of the juvenile currently in the horse carrier - Spider, or Blindsided as he would be known on the track.
The Japanese import had been with Lillith since June the previous year and while he could have been pushed onto the track earlier the trainer had wanted to give him the time to mature before taking that step. He had not, after all, developed as quickly as some horses and even now she was unsure as to his readiness. He wasn't, after all, your typical thoroughbred colt and as such judging him by such standards would be foolish. She just had to keep working with him and make a judgement call.
Vincent was the first out of the vehicle, energetic as ever and ran over to the rail at the side of the dirt track where they would be working, dark brown eyes glittering in the early morning sun as he took in the sight with a grin. Until now they had always worked at the barn, and while he had visited the track previously to get his bearings there was an electric feeling knowing that today he would finally ride it with Spider.
Logan seemed amused by the younger man's enthusiasm as he closed his door and watched Lillith stash some paperwork, grabbing a bag before climbing out herself. "Who d'you reckon is going to be more excited? The boy or the horse?" the handler question and Lillith shrugged, although a smile lit up her youthful features as she finally closed her own door. "I'd rather deal with excitement than a lack of enthusiasm. They're more likely to give their best if they are actually interested." the red head, of course, had a fair point and the handler nodded his agreement. "Best get the bugger out, huh?" He asked and Lillith nodded. There was no point in wasting time.
Noticing the ramp of the trailer being lowered the small, lithe jockey walked back to the small group and stood beside Lillith. "You know this is only a test, right Vincent? If he shows any sign that he's not ready he'll stay in training until he is." It was a warning, aimed to stop the young apprentice from becoming overly excited but it seemed to wash right over his head. "Aye, but at the track. That means you gotta have hope, right?" Lillith nodded, sighing. Of course she had hope, she just didn't want to crush his.
The colt was looking good as he walked down the ramp beside Logan, behaving as well as they had all expected. His head turned to take in the new environment and he pulled a little as another horse was led past but all in all he was calm and collected. If nothing else, the team could brag that they had done a good job in making sure he handled well and his soft nature was all too clear as he rubbed his head against the handler. "Takin' t'all in stride, aren't ya my boy." Logan laughed before pulling the colt to a stop beside Lillith.
The black tack the bay colt wore was clearly new and well maintained, shining in the light as the trainer walked around checking the colt's legs and tightening the girth before checking it a second time due to his habit of breathing in when they did his tack. So far so good - the colt was showing no signs of distress and while a little fidgetty was otherwise behaving better than she could have hoped. But that meant the time to test him was upon them, and she wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. Hitching Vincent into the saddle she stroked the bay's nose softly and then nodded at Logan. They may as well get this done.
"Vinny, we're going to be doing a pretty relaxed work with him today. A warm-up, followed by a slow gallop for six furlongs and then a blast down the stretch. I want to see how he's moving, and I don't want to rush him." She had already briefed the jockey in the car, but she wanted to confirm the plan and Vinny just grinned, mock saluting her. "Aye, aye, captain. Gotta see how this boy is looking, right?" She nodded, laughing a little. He might not be the most serious, but Vinny did know how to make her smile and seemed a perfect match for the loving, playful Spider.
With the formalities done with, quiet Logan led the colt out onto the dirt, glad to see the horse's ears pressing forwards as he was brought onto the track, tail flicking happily behind him. It was encouraging, and Vincent patted the colt's neck softly. "This's it. Do well here an' you'll be racing in no time, you'll see." Logan knew the boy was determined to begin his career shortly and to see the bay beneath him he believed the time would soon be upon them. But then again, it wasn't his decision.
The warm up was quick, the jockey putting the colt through his paces at walk, trot and canter on both lead reins in order to warm the muscles and prepare him for the workout. Spider was, as ever, eager in each transition and showed no signs on bolting up the track as Logan had experienced other young colts do. Really, the jockey had him well under control and it seemed a shame when he was pulled back to a walk and walked up to the starting marker. But Vinny did not seem to care as Logan took hold of the colt's rein, instead lost in the moment as he realized this was the true beginning. "Good luck kid, and remember - don't push him too hard." His last words as the jockey rose in short stirrups and gathered up the reins. eyes focused on the track ahead.
When Logan released his grip this time the colt knew exactly what was expected of him and while his start was not the bull-dozing charge of a front runner it was quick enough with a strong stride which hinted at the potential power of the juvenile. Vincent urged him on a little, although not much and the colt had soon settled into a middle to slow pace gallop which was easily sustainable. Now would come the challenge, however, as in a race other horses would ensure the colt's focus was maintained but out here, alone, Vinny himself would have to ensure the colt did not lose sight of the goal ahead of them.
Spider was relaxed beneath the saddle, each stride coming with ease as they moved up the stretch and into the corner. He felt sound, secure, and other than a few moments where his attention seemed to drift (quickly righted by his jockey who would show but not use the whip) the perfect image of what a juvenile should be. Neither bulky nor slender, with his bay hide it would be easy to lose him in a field come race day but it was not the end of the world.
Easing from the corner, Spider continued to move well and showed no signs of tiring. Vincent glanced into the stands, spotted Lillith and smirked. This was it. He urged the colt on, pressing forwards and was rewarded with a quickening in pace. A lick of the crop and the colt was fully aware of what was being asked and pushed forwards more strongly. Stride after stride his speed seemed to gain as he pressed for the finish line, suddenly fully intent on the course. There was no sign of the earlier lapses in concentration, no attempts to move onto something else. Horse and ockey came together well, performing as could only be expected of a pair who had slowly built a bond over the previous months and clocking a decent time in the stretch. Vincent started to slow the horse down, ready to warm down and in the stands Lillith was glowing.
"I think the time is nearly here." she declared, more to herself than to anyone else. "All he needs now is competition."
The Japanese import had been with Lillith since June the previous year and while he could have been pushed onto the track earlier the trainer had wanted to give him the time to mature before taking that step. He had not, after all, developed as quickly as some horses and even now she was unsure as to his readiness. He wasn't, after all, your typical thoroughbred colt and as such judging him by such standards would be foolish. She just had to keep working with him and make a judgement call.
Vincent was the first out of the vehicle, energetic as ever and ran over to the rail at the side of the dirt track where they would be working, dark brown eyes glittering in the early morning sun as he took in the sight with a grin. Until now they had always worked at the barn, and while he had visited the track previously to get his bearings there was an electric feeling knowing that today he would finally ride it with Spider.
Logan seemed amused by the younger man's enthusiasm as he closed his door and watched Lillith stash some paperwork, grabbing a bag before climbing out herself. "Who d'you reckon is going to be more excited? The boy or the horse?" the handler question and Lillith shrugged, although a smile lit up her youthful features as she finally closed her own door. "I'd rather deal with excitement than a lack of enthusiasm. They're more likely to give their best if they are actually interested." the red head, of course, had a fair point and the handler nodded his agreement. "Best get the bugger out, huh?" He asked and Lillith nodded. There was no point in wasting time.
Noticing the ramp of the trailer being lowered the small, lithe jockey walked back to the small group and stood beside Lillith. "You know this is only a test, right Vincent? If he shows any sign that he's not ready he'll stay in training until he is." It was a warning, aimed to stop the young apprentice from becoming overly excited but it seemed to wash right over his head. "Aye, but at the track. That means you gotta have hope, right?" Lillith nodded, sighing. Of course she had hope, she just didn't want to crush his.
The colt was looking good as he walked down the ramp beside Logan, behaving as well as they had all expected. His head turned to take in the new environment and he pulled a little as another horse was led past but all in all he was calm and collected. If nothing else, the team could brag that they had done a good job in making sure he handled well and his soft nature was all too clear as he rubbed his head against the handler. "Takin' t'all in stride, aren't ya my boy." Logan laughed before pulling the colt to a stop beside Lillith.
The black tack the bay colt wore was clearly new and well maintained, shining in the light as the trainer walked around checking the colt's legs and tightening the girth before checking it a second time due to his habit of breathing in when they did his tack. So far so good - the colt was showing no signs of distress and while a little fidgetty was otherwise behaving better than she could have hoped. But that meant the time to test him was upon them, and she wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. Hitching Vincent into the saddle she stroked the bay's nose softly and then nodded at Logan. They may as well get this done.
"Vinny, we're going to be doing a pretty relaxed work with him today. A warm-up, followed by a slow gallop for six furlongs and then a blast down the stretch. I want to see how he's moving, and I don't want to rush him." She had already briefed the jockey in the car, but she wanted to confirm the plan and Vinny just grinned, mock saluting her. "Aye, aye, captain. Gotta see how this boy is looking, right?" She nodded, laughing a little. He might not be the most serious, but Vinny did know how to make her smile and seemed a perfect match for the loving, playful Spider.
With the formalities done with, quiet Logan led the colt out onto the dirt, glad to see the horse's ears pressing forwards as he was brought onto the track, tail flicking happily behind him. It was encouraging, and Vincent patted the colt's neck softly. "This's it. Do well here an' you'll be racing in no time, you'll see." Logan knew the boy was determined to begin his career shortly and to see the bay beneath him he believed the time would soon be upon them. But then again, it wasn't his decision.
The warm up was quick, the jockey putting the colt through his paces at walk, trot and canter on both lead reins in order to warm the muscles and prepare him for the workout. Spider was, as ever, eager in each transition and showed no signs on bolting up the track as Logan had experienced other young colts do. Really, the jockey had him well under control and it seemed a shame when he was pulled back to a walk and walked up to the starting marker. But Vinny did not seem to care as Logan took hold of the colt's rein, instead lost in the moment as he realized this was the true beginning. "Good luck kid, and remember - don't push him too hard." His last words as the jockey rose in short stirrups and gathered up the reins. eyes focused on the track ahead.
When Logan released his grip this time the colt knew exactly what was expected of him and while his start was not the bull-dozing charge of a front runner it was quick enough with a strong stride which hinted at the potential power of the juvenile. Vincent urged him on a little, although not much and the colt had soon settled into a middle to slow pace gallop which was easily sustainable. Now would come the challenge, however, as in a race other horses would ensure the colt's focus was maintained but out here, alone, Vinny himself would have to ensure the colt did not lose sight of the goal ahead of them.
Spider was relaxed beneath the saddle, each stride coming with ease as they moved up the stretch and into the corner. He felt sound, secure, and other than a few moments where his attention seemed to drift (quickly righted by his jockey who would show but not use the whip) the perfect image of what a juvenile should be. Neither bulky nor slender, with his bay hide it would be easy to lose him in a field come race day but it was not the end of the world.
Easing from the corner, Spider continued to move well and showed no signs of tiring. Vincent glanced into the stands, spotted Lillith and smirked. This was it. He urged the colt on, pressing forwards and was rewarded with a quickening in pace. A lick of the crop and the colt was fully aware of what was being asked and pushed forwards more strongly. Stride after stride his speed seemed to gain as he pressed for the finish line, suddenly fully intent on the course. There was no sign of the earlier lapses in concentration, no attempts to move onto something else. Horse and ockey came together well, performing as could only be expected of a pair who had slowly built a bond over the previous months and clocking a decent time in the stretch. Vincent started to slow the horse down, ready to warm down and in the stands Lillith was glowing.
"I think the time is nearly here." she declared, more to herself than to anyone else. "All he needs now is competition."