Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 11:03:18 GMT -5
Lillith could not help but grinning as she pulled into a space in the Green Horse Fields track car park - she had been doing so since leaving the stables. After all, luck had once again been on their side when Jack's bloodstock agent friend had tipped them off about a quiet, barely publicized sale. There, they had grabbed three gems for the stable - although only one of those three would be appearing on the track for them. The other two had been promptly shipped to their breeding stables several hours drive away.
Souvenir was an amazing racehorse who had been racing for Silver Stride Stables when they closed down. Since then, he had been in training with one of Matthias's friends who had finally decided to sell the stallion on. He was in great shape, ready to return to the track and continue building on top of his already impressive record. Earlier this season, until April, he had been making a real mark on The Wire track but for his comeback race she had instead chosen to race at Green Horse Fields in the El Sol Del Mar Memorial Stakes - although she had not yet informed the rest of the staff that the horse was entered as she wanted to see he was ready before making the confirmation.
As she arrived she saw Jack tip his head in recognition of her arrival before walking into the stable block where, no doubt, the stallion was waiting. She also suspected that Lucas was already with the horse, given that he had a previous relationship built at Silver Stride Stables. Matthias, Lucas had informed her, had had big plans for the stallion and she hoped that this would make the jockey try all the more to make the stallion succeed. She was not surprised, therefore, that when Jack re-emerged with the stallion in-hand there was a small, lithe shape beside them.
Even though Jack looked composed there were signs that the stallion was not easy to handle. His audits were pinned against his skull, his eyes wide as he tossed his head. With a weaker handler there was no doubt that at that very moment Souvenir would be causing havoc as they walked across the yard. But that wasn't what Lillith was looking at. She was instead admiring the tone and obvious good form of the horse, the rest seeming to have worked wonders to ensure he was ready for the months ahead.
She opened the gate onto the track, helping Jack out, and was glad to see a change in the stallion. While still clearly eager to go, the stallion seemed focused now on the track. There was an intensity in the atmosphere around him and he was no longer pulling at the bit as much as trying to urge the handler to move more quickly. She watched as Lucas pulled himself into the massive stallion's saddle, patting his neck. "He's handsome, Jack. I hope this trainer hasn't let him forget what it is to race." Jack just shrugged, although he had a knowing look in his eye as he walked the stallion up the dirt.
"Right, Lucas. Today we're going to put Souvenir here to the test. I want to see him galloping over a five furlong stretch and going all out in the last two furlongs." she told the jockey who smiled quietly, nodding. He certainly wasn't as brazen as the horse, but his more wary nature would hopefully work well with the bay who, she had read in his history, had a habit for injuring himself with reckless behavior if you didn't keep an eye on him. "So if you get him warmed up then we can start." Again the jockey nodded, the handler releasing his grip and walking to the rail.
"Ya've no need t' worry wi' this one ma'am." the handler assured her and she shrugged. "We'll see, although in my experience it is better to be cautious than to go in overconfident." "Aye, guess there is tha'. But tha' is a horse determined t' run."
As the handler and trainer talked at the rail, Lucas pushed the great stallion forwards and he lurched into action - skipping walk completely as he trotted forwards with his head held high and proud. His stride was long, strong and confident and he was quick to respond to requests made of him. But there were clear signs of frustration, the jockey having to hold the stallion back to stop him pushing into a canter or perhaps beyond. "Calm down, Sou. You'll be running soon." he chastised the great bay with a slight laugh. "You already know that though, right? That's why you are so determined to go."
After several minutes Lillith was happy that the stallion was ready and had Lucas pull him up while Jack led him up the track to the five furlong marker. The stallion snorted, clearly unimpressed with the slower pace, his tail snapping impatiently at his rump. "Ah, shut it ya big softie. Ya'll be able t' go faster in a minute." Not that the comment did anything to soothe the horse as he was pulled once more to a halt. "I hope ya can control 'im, lad. 'E's a bit on t' frisky side." Lucas nodded. "Don't underestimate me." was all he had to say as he shifted his weight a little, standing in the stirrups. "Alrigh' then. Guess this is it then."
When Jack released his grip on the rein this time Lucas urged the horse forwards and Souvenir broke at around an average rate although he picked up the pace slowly. In fact, he was only just really picking up his stride as they came halfway through the first furlong, his audits pressed forwards and the motion of his gallop looking relaxed and natural. There was nothing forced, and Lucas was in no rush to have the stallion move faster - as a closer, this more relaxed running style was a good thing in the early stages of a race and so if the horse had been more wound up he would likely have been concerned.
Things felt good from in the saddle. The horse maintained a good, steady rhythm as they moved forwards and the contact was constant. Furthermore, when a horse loved the track as much as Souvenir did it felt good for the jockey. You didn't have to be on the horse's case because they would quite happily run themselves and you were more a guide and assistant than the driving force.
Lucas took those first three furlongs as a chance to relax and get to know the horse a little better from a jockey's perspective. He was eager, certainly, and well focused. He responded well to requests and was generally easy to deal with. No doubt, this was the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of trainers and jockeys in the past and he was just the lucky one who ended up with the finished product.
As the came to the two furlong marker Lucas crouched low to the stallion's neck, cracking the crop and driving. Beneath him, the surge of power was explosive as the horse suddenly threw himself into the run and they were flying down the stretch. Stride after stride showed the strong heart and desire of this horse and they streamed past the post at huge speeds before Lucas started to warm the horse down. It had gone well, adrenaline was pumping through his system as he walked to the rail, grinning at the trainer.
"He seems ready, but we'll see in the upcoming El Sol Del Mar Memorial." and just like that the plans were confirmed.
Souvenir was an amazing racehorse who had been racing for Silver Stride Stables when they closed down. Since then, he had been in training with one of Matthias's friends who had finally decided to sell the stallion on. He was in great shape, ready to return to the track and continue building on top of his already impressive record. Earlier this season, until April, he had been making a real mark on The Wire track but for his comeback race she had instead chosen to race at Green Horse Fields in the El Sol Del Mar Memorial Stakes - although she had not yet informed the rest of the staff that the horse was entered as she wanted to see he was ready before making the confirmation.
As she arrived she saw Jack tip his head in recognition of her arrival before walking into the stable block where, no doubt, the stallion was waiting. She also suspected that Lucas was already with the horse, given that he had a previous relationship built at Silver Stride Stables. Matthias, Lucas had informed her, had had big plans for the stallion and she hoped that this would make the jockey try all the more to make the stallion succeed. She was not surprised, therefore, that when Jack re-emerged with the stallion in-hand there was a small, lithe shape beside them.
Even though Jack looked composed there were signs that the stallion was not easy to handle. His audits were pinned against his skull, his eyes wide as he tossed his head. With a weaker handler there was no doubt that at that very moment Souvenir would be causing havoc as they walked across the yard. But that wasn't what Lillith was looking at. She was instead admiring the tone and obvious good form of the horse, the rest seeming to have worked wonders to ensure he was ready for the months ahead.
She opened the gate onto the track, helping Jack out, and was glad to see a change in the stallion. While still clearly eager to go, the stallion seemed focused now on the track. There was an intensity in the atmosphere around him and he was no longer pulling at the bit as much as trying to urge the handler to move more quickly. She watched as Lucas pulled himself into the massive stallion's saddle, patting his neck. "He's handsome, Jack. I hope this trainer hasn't let him forget what it is to race." Jack just shrugged, although he had a knowing look in his eye as he walked the stallion up the dirt.
"Right, Lucas. Today we're going to put Souvenir here to the test. I want to see him galloping over a five furlong stretch and going all out in the last two furlongs." she told the jockey who smiled quietly, nodding. He certainly wasn't as brazen as the horse, but his more wary nature would hopefully work well with the bay who, she had read in his history, had a habit for injuring himself with reckless behavior if you didn't keep an eye on him. "So if you get him warmed up then we can start." Again the jockey nodded, the handler releasing his grip and walking to the rail.
"Ya've no need t' worry wi' this one ma'am." the handler assured her and she shrugged. "We'll see, although in my experience it is better to be cautious than to go in overconfident." "Aye, guess there is tha'. But tha' is a horse determined t' run."
As the handler and trainer talked at the rail, Lucas pushed the great stallion forwards and he lurched into action - skipping walk completely as he trotted forwards with his head held high and proud. His stride was long, strong and confident and he was quick to respond to requests made of him. But there were clear signs of frustration, the jockey having to hold the stallion back to stop him pushing into a canter or perhaps beyond. "Calm down, Sou. You'll be running soon." he chastised the great bay with a slight laugh. "You already know that though, right? That's why you are so determined to go."
After several minutes Lillith was happy that the stallion was ready and had Lucas pull him up while Jack led him up the track to the five furlong marker. The stallion snorted, clearly unimpressed with the slower pace, his tail snapping impatiently at his rump. "Ah, shut it ya big softie. Ya'll be able t' go faster in a minute." Not that the comment did anything to soothe the horse as he was pulled once more to a halt. "I hope ya can control 'im, lad. 'E's a bit on t' frisky side." Lucas nodded. "Don't underestimate me." was all he had to say as he shifted his weight a little, standing in the stirrups. "Alrigh' then. Guess this is it then."
When Jack released his grip on the rein this time Lucas urged the horse forwards and Souvenir broke at around an average rate although he picked up the pace slowly. In fact, he was only just really picking up his stride as they came halfway through the first furlong, his audits pressed forwards and the motion of his gallop looking relaxed and natural. There was nothing forced, and Lucas was in no rush to have the stallion move faster - as a closer, this more relaxed running style was a good thing in the early stages of a race and so if the horse had been more wound up he would likely have been concerned.
Things felt good from in the saddle. The horse maintained a good, steady rhythm as they moved forwards and the contact was constant. Furthermore, when a horse loved the track as much as Souvenir did it felt good for the jockey. You didn't have to be on the horse's case because they would quite happily run themselves and you were more a guide and assistant than the driving force.
Lucas took those first three furlongs as a chance to relax and get to know the horse a little better from a jockey's perspective. He was eager, certainly, and well focused. He responded well to requests and was generally easy to deal with. No doubt, this was the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of trainers and jockeys in the past and he was just the lucky one who ended up with the finished product.
As the came to the two furlong marker Lucas crouched low to the stallion's neck, cracking the crop and driving. Beneath him, the surge of power was explosive as the horse suddenly threw himself into the run and they were flying down the stretch. Stride after stride showed the strong heart and desire of this horse and they streamed past the post at huge speeds before Lucas started to warm the horse down. It had gone well, adrenaline was pumping through his system as he walked to the rail, grinning at the trainer.
"He seems ready, but we'll see in the upcoming El Sol Del Mar Memorial." and just like that the plans were confirmed.