Post by Kenren on Mar 15, 2015 9:59:53 GMT -5
Amarillo Sky & Halexia Suhail
Fifty in Front & Tigris Greenfire
Fifty in Front & Tigris Greenfire
Rollovers were quick while at the track, and just as the first work was over, the next was beginning. Amarillo Sky was absolutely hot when he was brought out, Hal aboard and track pony alongside as they went. The stallion's eyes rolled aggressively as he took in the other horses milling around, teeth gnashing at the bit and ears pinned against his skull if the pony so much as looked at him. Hal ran her hand down his neck, speaking soothingly, but he had an air around him that just wouldn't be soothed until he was out on the track. It did keep him calm enough though that he didn't ravage the poor pony on the way out. "He's got a right temper, doen't he?" the pony rider asked, and Hal flashed him a smile. "He's got just the right amount of temper. You watch him work, you'll see."
When they got to the track, Hal spotted Tigris on the big stallion Fifty in Front, warming up without the aide of a pony - despite his fractiousness when they'd got him, Finn was fairly easy to handle now. He preferred Tigris and was most pleasant for him, but he wasn't really bad for anyone. Finn had done well in the undercards as a three-year-old, and had even taken a stab at the Belmont Stakes, though he fell short at 4th. He was finding his feet at four still, but he was getting better with every start. With wins being hard to come by, even the one he had on the year was an achievement. She caught Tigris' eyes, and he nodded - when Rillo was done being escorted through his warm-up, the two of them would meet up to work. There was quite a bit of traffic around the track, but things moved smoothly, with the warming up kept to the outside.
Amarillo Sky had finally broken his way into the HOTY-winning ranks, but that didn't mean his path had been smooth. He was facing the best that racing had to offer, and if he wanted to be ready for the Marathon at the end of the year he needed to rise to the challenge. It would take a bit to get his bearings, but Hal had every faith in him. The mean six-year-old did not take coming in behind very gracefully, and Hal was determined to see him rise in his last season. They got him warmed up pretty quickly, given that he was already a little worked up, and soon she was waving Tigris over. As Finn came cantering up a few lanes out from the rail, Rillo was released from his pony - he immediately tried to surge off, and his nose was nearly bowed down to his chest, he was reaching so hard. Hal kept him held until the two horses were side-by-side and, after a quick glance over their shoulders for traffic, they let them into a gallop and moved them to the rail. Rillo took the slack offered readily, and Finn matched the older stallion's enthusiasm out of pure comptetitive drive. The two were running five furlongs, so their riders tempered the pace up front, though both males obviously wanted their heads to go.
While both preferred the lead, Finn sat about a head back from Rillo on the inside, and the older horse was completely content as long as Finn wasn't actually passing him. They went easily through the first three furlongs, completely ignoring the distractions around them in favor of the current competition. They didn't let them loose to duel until the last furlong - a glance between the two riders was all the communication they needed, and the stallions were off. Rillo was almost vicious in his acceleration, ears pinned and eyes rolling as he charged on, keeping himself ahead of the younger horse as they went. Finn fought gamely, not loosing ground but not gaining either as the bay stayed almost vindictively that head's length up. Matching speed-for-speed, they finished out the distance for the work and were eased fractionally to gallop out. Both horses were tugging at the bits, tossing their heads, wanting to continue - but they were eventually pulled up, sweating and far more worked up with competitiveness than they had been before. If anything was going to make them driven for the summer's races, this was it.
When they got to the track, Hal spotted Tigris on the big stallion Fifty in Front, warming up without the aide of a pony - despite his fractiousness when they'd got him, Finn was fairly easy to handle now. He preferred Tigris and was most pleasant for him, but he wasn't really bad for anyone. Finn had done well in the undercards as a three-year-old, and had even taken a stab at the Belmont Stakes, though he fell short at 4th. He was finding his feet at four still, but he was getting better with every start. With wins being hard to come by, even the one he had on the year was an achievement. She caught Tigris' eyes, and he nodded - when Rillo was done being escorted through his warm-up, the two of them would meet up to work. There was quite a bit of traffic around the track, but things moved smoothly, with the warming up kept to the outside.
Amarillo Sky had finally broken his way into the HOTY-winning ranks, but that didn't mean his path had been smooth. He was facing the best that racing had to offer, and if he wanted to be ready for the Marathon at the end of the year he needed to rise to the challenge. It would take a bit to get his bearings, but Hal had every faith in him. The mean six-year-old did not take coming in behind very gracefully, and Hal was determined to see him rise in his last season. They got him warmed up pretty quickly, given that he was already a little worked up, and soon she was waving Tigris over. As Finn came cantering up a few lanes out from the rail, Rillo was released from his pony - he immediately tried to surge off, and his nose was nearly bowed down to his chest, he was reaching so hard. Hal kept him held until the two horses were side-by-side and, after a quick glance over their shoulders for traffic, they let them into a gallop and moved them to the rail. Rillo took the slack offered readily, and Finn matched the older stallion's enthusiasm out of pure comptetitive drive. The two were running five furlongs, so their riders tempered the pace up front, though both males obviously wanted their heads to go.
While both preferred the lead, Finn sat about a head back from Rillo on the inside, and the older horse was completely content as long as Finn wasn't actually passing him. They went easily through the first three furlongs, completely ignoring the distractions around them in favor of the current competition. They didn't let them loose to duel until the last furlong - a glance between the two riders was all the communication they needed, and the stallions were off. Rillo was almost vicious in his acceleration, ears pinned and eyes rolling as he charged on, keeping himself ahead of the younger horse as they went. Finn fought gamely, not loosing ground but not gaining either as the bay stayed almost vindictively that head's length up. Matching speed-for-speed, they finished out the distance for the work and were eased fractionally to gallop out. Both horses were tugging at the bits, tossing their heads, wanting to continue - but they were eventually pulled up, sweating and far more worked up with competitiveness than they had been before. If anything was going to make them driven for the summer's races, this was it.