Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2013 2:45:18 GMT -5
The trailer gate bangs down hard on the gravel as Darling Rook Stable's lead trainer Finn loses his grip on the heavy metal frame. Wincing he quickly back up and sideways eyeing the dappled rump of the two year old colt inside. He needn't have bothered with getting a fright, the colts freezes for a second and then turns his head as much as the lead will allow to look disapprovingly at the source of the sound.
'Sorry Rook, my bad.' Finn says, lightly putting his hands up in mock surrender to the colt.
Finn lets Rook back himself out of the trailer and gives the colt a minute to adjust to the new surroundings. This was the first time the two year old had seen a track other than the one at DR Stables and Finn watched as the colt intelligently processed the area - swinging his ears back and fowards and systematically drinking it in from left to right.
'Time for the big leagues Rook.' Finn says rubbing his neck.
Rook was the first and so far only horse that Finn was in charge of training at his new employers stables and he was just as excited as the owners for the career Rook was about to have. It was rare to find a horse as intelligent as Rook who really loved to race and, horse pranks aside, it had been a real pleasure to be around the colt.
Looking around Finn could see a couple of horses already on the dirt track stretching out for a morning of exercise. He wished they had been here a little earlier but Letter had insisted on giving the colt a super long brush this morning wanting him to look his best on his first public outing. Finn had to admit, the colt did look good in the bright light of a sunny morning. He had filled out and bulked up in the last few months. Rook suddenly swung his hind around and about knocked Finn over before pulling at the lead rope.
'Sorry your highness. Lets shake a leg shall we?' Finn said.
Mounting up out on the dirt track Finn kept the colt to the very outside at a walk. Today was all about familiarity on the dirt track as Rook had done the majority of his training on turf thanks to an incomplete dirt track at DR Stables. Rook was excitable as he passed groups of trainers and owners and Finn did his best to introduce himself, and the new colt, to those that were close enough to the fence to listen. Half way around the track he slipped Rook into a trot, alternating to a canter a couple of times but mostly kept it light as they came up to the gate inlet. The practice gates were set up and there was an attendant there thankfully. Normally at workouts Finn wouldn't bother with gates as Rook was consistent however he wanted the colt to experience everything on this new track and more than that he wanted to show those who were watching what this colt could do.
After a stubborn few seconds Rook loaded into the 4th gate and Finn double checked everything before they had a proper run. The attendant, after a few moments eyeing the new colt, checked his phone so Finn didn't worry about hurrying so the guy could get back to whatever he had previously been doing. Positioning himself he waited until the two other horses on the track were on the other side of the track and then nodded to the attendant.
'Ready Rook?' he said excitedly matching the colts own mood.
The bell sounded and the gates flashed open with Rook belting out a hairs width later and began his solo attack on the track. Before the first corner he eased the colt just a little to simulate how it would be in a race. Rook wasn't a pace setter, he did best in the middle pack. Making his way around the track at a steady but fast pace Finn did his best not to get too excited, he too had been chaffing at the bit to get out onto the Green Horse Fields tracks and really have at it.
Coming up to the last few furlongs Finn kept Rook at around three wide off the inside fence and really started to ride the colt. This was what Finn wanted spectators to see, Rooks closing speed. Like a well oiled machine the colt sprang into a new pace and Finn could feel the surge beneath him. Increasing the pace continuously for a few moments Rook rocketed across the line in fine form with a bit of energy to spare. Finn slowly eased the colt back focusing on him, feeling the colt out and everything was coming back positive.
'That's my boy, you'll have your maiden soon enough.' he said happily slapping the colt on the neck.
Finn spent a bit of time trotting and walking around the track a few more laps, speaking to one of the jockeys walking another pretty bay horse. By the time they'd finished the third lap and had another short gallop Finn was happy that Rook was well acclimatized to the track and brought him in to unsaddle the colt and brush him down before taking him home.
'You've got a bath and a massage waiting for you later Rook and I... I have a mountain of paperwork I have to get to.' Finn said begrudgingly. Letter had asked him to have a look at some horses that were about to be auctioned and Finn had been procrastinating, he hated sitting in an office.
'Oh well, it is exciting thinking of getting another horse though.' he admitted to himself and the colt as he loaded Rook into the trailer before jumping into the drivers seat to take them both home.