Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2013 6:20:50 GMT -5
Wannabe Hero was yet another horse which had ran for Silver Stride Stables and, thanks to an anonymous trainer and Jack's bloodstock agent friend, had ended up running for Dark Justice Stables. Lillith wished the handler would reveal who these sources were so that she could at least thank them in helping her set up the new stable and their rather impressive string but he was not giving anything away. In fact, Jack was being very stubborn on the issue either just to annoy her or because they had asked to remain nameless. Either way, she would find out one way or another - not in the least because she intended to offer the bloodstock agent a long-term position with the stable.
Compared to most horses his age, the black sprinter was very lightly raced. In fact, most three year olds had a bigger record than the four year old although no one could deny the quality that his record showed with ten wins in only twenty-two starts and only six races outside of the top three. Given, he was perhaps not the best of the best but he had the potential to be. Like all of the stock Lillith had brought into the stable, she saw his class and hoped to shape it into something spectacular.
First, however, it was important to get him back on the track and winning races. Making a real name for him could wait until the next year, but it was a priority to get him on top of his game and ready to do just that. So she had gone out of her way to find a race which would suit him, and that race was set as the Pluto Cup against the more than impressive Ashes To Ashes of Witch Creek Stables who, in truth, was likely to claim the win with relative ease. But the experience, and the race in general, would be good for Hero and a second place was still just that - a second in a high-level race.
Lucas had also pulled an ace from his hat of tricks. With an increasing string, and a nice group of prospects who would be juveniles in the new season, it was clear that a jockey would need to be sourced. Lillith had been watching the entrants at a local jockey school when Lucas had told her he had something better... In fact, he had something amazing - but he hadn't admitted to that at the time. Not only had Hero come to them, but they were now employing his former jockey, Tanya Stratt, who had won the Triple Tiara on Paradise Island the previous year.
The girl was younger than Lillith had realized, only twenty and already well know for her successes the previous year. She was beautiful, too, with dark hair that fell in ringlets around a soft face. Her brown eyes were full of spark and their was a quiet confidence to the way she handled herself. When approached, she had seemed wary to accept the offer but when Hero was mentioned it seemed to be just the push she needed.
Together, the horse and rider were clearly at ease. Hero was, perhaps, a little on the energetic side as Jack led him onto the track but Tanya was completely unphased and even seemed to be smiling as she stroked the muscular black neck of the handsome horse beneath her. She did not speak to Jack, but it was not rudeness - just a determination to get started. She hadn't raced for months and like many of the jockeys Jack knew she was more than happy to be back in the saddle, as it were.
Hero snorted softly as he was brought to a halt on the dirt track, tossing his head as the jockey rose in her stirrups. "Hero, my boy, I hope your ready. This race is going to be fast." her words were clearly directed at the horse, whose ears twitched to the familiar voice. They were not a lie, either. Both Hero and Ashes to Ashes were front runners, which would make for an exciting and fast-paced race. "Just be yourself and you'll be fine." she assured him.
When the handler released his grip on the rein the colt broke quickly, flying forwards almost as if he had been released from a slingshot. His stride was short, quick, and his movement seemed to be good. He was perhaps a little off of top form, but it would not take long to shape him up and have him running as well as he had been before the break. He certainly hadn't taken too much of a hit by the break, something the trainer had ensured by providing the training required to ensure a horse would be ready for the track.
The workout was quick. Hero was determined and Tanya just let him run. This was not a race, they had no set distance and she knew the colt well enough to know when to pull him back. He needed to burn off the excess energy, to become at ease on the track again, and only then would she stop him. After all, she wanted him at his best if he was to stand a chance against Ashes.
The first furlong was best described as rocky. The colt was pushing hard and was bouncier than usual but he was soon stretched out and slowed down a little, settling at a more acceptable speed and lengthening his stride just a little. While visibly the change was microscopic, to the jockey it was a huge and positive sign. She had the relationship with the horse which meant she knew how he felt at his best and as he ran he was becoming more and more at ease.
In the end, it was after three furlongs that Tanya finally slowed the colt down, pulling him slowly through the paces until he had come to a stop and Jack took control again. She thanked him, her voice soft, and then walked over to Lillith. "Now he's ready, we just have to hope."
Compared to most horses his age, the black sprinter was very lightly raced. In fact, most three year olds had a bigger record than the four year old although no one could deny the quality that his record showed with ten wins in only twenty-two starts and only six races outside of the top three. Given, he was perhaps not the best of the best but he had the potential to be. Like all of the stock Lillith had brought into the stable, she saw his class and hoped to shape it into something spectacular.
First, however, it was important to get him back on the track and winning races. Making a real name for him could wait until the next year, but it was a priority to get him on top of his game and ready to do just that. So she had gone out of her way to find a race which would suit him, and that race was set as the Pluto Cup against the more than impressive Ashes To Ashes of Witch Creek Stables who, in truth, was likely to claim the win with relative ease. But the experience, and the race in general, would be good for Hero and a second place was still just that - a second in a high-level race.
Lucas had also pulled an ace from his hat of tricks. With an increasing string, and a nice group of prospects who would be juveniles in the new season, it was clear that a jockey would need to be sourced. Lillith had been watching the entrants at a local jockey school when Lucas had told her he had something better... In fact, he had something amazing - but he hadn't admitted to that at the time. Not only had Hero come to them, but they were now employing his former jockey, Tanya Stratt, who had won the Triple Tiara on Paradise Island the previous year.
The girl was younger than Lillith had realized, only twenty and already well know for her successes the previous year. She was beautiful, too, with dark hair that fell in ringlets around a soft face. Her brown eyes were full of spark and their was a quiet confidence to the way she handled herself. When approached, she had seemed wary to accept the offer but when Hero was mentioned it seemed to be just the push she needed.
Together, the horse and rider were clearly at ease. Hero was, perhaps, a little on the energetic side as Jack led him onto the track but Tanya was completely unphased and even seemed to be smiling as she stroked the muscular black neck of the handsome horse beneath her. She did not speak to Jack, but it was not rudeness - just a determination to get started. She hadn't raced for months and like many of the jockeys Jack knew she was more than happy to be back in the saddle, as it were.
Hero snorted softly as he was brought to a halt on the dirt track, tossing his head as the jockey rose in her stirrups. "Hero, my boy, I hope your ready. This race is going to be fast." her words were clearly directed at the horse, whose ears twitched to the familiar voice. They were not a lie, either. Both Hero and Ashes to Ashes were front runners, which would make for an exciting and fast-paced race. "Just be yourself and you'll be fine." she assured him.
When the handler released his grip on the rein the colt broke quickly, flying forwards almost as if he had been released from a slingshot. His stride was short, quick, and his movement seemed to be good. He was perhaps a little off of top form, but it would not take long to shape him up and have him running as well as he had been before the break. He certainly hadn't taken too much of a hit by the break, something the trainer had ensured by providing the training required to ensure a horse would be ready for the track.
The workout was quick. Hero was determined and Tanya just let him run. This was not a race, they had no set distance and she knew the colt well enough to know when to pull him back. He needed to burn off the excess energy, to become at ease on the track again, and only then would she stop him. After all, she wanted him at his best if he was to stand a chance against Ashes.
The first furlong was best described as rocky. The colt was pushing hard and was bouncier than usual but he was soon stretched out and slowed down a little, settling at a more acceptable speed and lengthening his stride just a little. While visibly the change was microscopic, to the jockey it was a huge and positive sign. She had the relationship with the horse which meant she knew how he felt at his best and as he ran he was becoming more and more at ease.
In the end, it was after three furlongs that Tanya finally slowed the colt down, pulling him slowly through the paces until he had come to a stop and Jack took control again. She thanked him, her voice soft, and then walked over to Lillith. "Now he's ready, we just have to hope."