|
|
Post by Kenren on Sept 4, 2013 15:32:45 GMT -5
Handsome Tabby & Minske Mavecci
Greater Avalanche & Tigris Greenfire
Odd Number Out & Halexia Greenfire"Mmmm, morning boys," groaned the dark-haired girl, who appeared to be doing a backbend just outside of the stable doors. Minske had to admit, he was impressed. The girl looked completely comfortable with the acrobatics, standing without so much as a stumble, turning a bright smile to the two. "Morning, Hal," he responded, while Tigris simply grunted, pretending not to notice how, ah, flexible she was. Minske noticed, and hid a grin by saying, "Dad has a mock-race planned for us. I'm on Charlie, Tigris is on Ginny, and you're on Uno, Hal. He wants us out there in twenty." The three split off, early-morning coffees kicking in. Minske went to Charlie's stall and was greeted by the massive chestnut head, alert and eager, thrown over the stall door.
Minske smiled, patting the horse's neck before entering the stall to groom and tack him up. Charlie behaved like a gentleman, but that wasn't abnormal. From the next wing over, Minske heard a squeal, then a second - then Tigris vehemently telling his charge to be quiet. Minske looked over the stall door, calling out, "She only acts like that because you react. And she likes you."
"Yeah, well, it's deafening," Tigris yelled back, and Ginny joined in with a whinny of her own. Minske laughed, and finished the preparations on the big chestnut colt. Then he led the horse out, followed quickly by Tigris and Ginny and Hal with the big stallion, Uno.
Handsome Tabby, or Charlie, was a maiden that was lightly raced thus far, but had pulled second in both of his maidens - it was only a matter of time before everything clicked and he pulled through for a win. Ginny, Greater Avalanche, was also a maiden. She had a single start, and had pulled third. She would find her stride as well, Minske was sure. She was too precocious to come in behind the winner too many times. Finally, Uno, Odd Number Out, was by far the most accomplished of the three. The G4 stallion had been having a great run, winning his last two starts, placing no worse than third all season. He'd never looked stronger, and though he was a lease to Valkyrie, they had no less hope for his future.
The three pairs reached the track, and mounted up while they received instructions from Minske's dad. The older man was leaning against the rail, seeming as relaxed as could be. "Go out there and warm them up, then pull them around to the gate. They all load pretty easy, but there are hands there to help get them in. Charlie in one, Ginny two, Uno three. Since none of them are true frontrunners, put Charlie up front, unless someone else rises to the task. The gate's set at eight furlongs from the wire. Don't run full-blown if you can help it, but I think they could all use this to sharpen their runs." With that, Cole waved them off, and the riders pulled out.
The three let the horses trot half a lap, then cantered them the rest of the way around, warming them up before pulling them up near the gate. The horses could tell there was something different happening, and the riders kept them circling as the hands walked out to load them. Charlie was put in first, loading easily and calmly as his personality dictated. Ginny was put up second, only needing a little bit of urging. Uno went in like the pro he was, though he was snorting eagerly once he was in. Luckily, it didn't take more then a few seconds. The riders leaned in, prepared, waiting...
They were off!
The three horses surged forward, all breaking well, Uno immediately dropping back. Surprisingly, Ginny moved up to challenge Charlie for the lead, so Minske let the chestnut settle back, allowing the pushy filly to take the lead. As she was still learning, they shouldn't have been surprised. Uno finished just behind Charlie, Charlie just behind Ginny. The three of them moved toward the turn at an easy pace. The horses lengthened their strides coming around the turn, pressing their pace a little faster. Hal began making her move first, pushing the big grey colt up to challenge the leaders. As he drew alongside Charlie, the chestnut colt swung out into the opening, starting his run as well. Tigris pushed Ginny, seeing the others coming in behind him.
One thing was immediately apparent - Uno's age and experience put him way over the other two horses. He crossed the wire two lengths in front of Charlie, who was a head in front of Ginny. All of the horses were being lightly held, keeping them from going all-out. However, it was a good way to sharpen up the three horses for their upcoming races.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kenren on Sept 4, 2013 21:31:25 GMT -5
Barely Legal & Tigris Greenfire
Amarillo Sky & Halexia SuhailThe newest addition to the Valkyrie string, a filly named Barely Legal, stood waiting outside the gate as the three sweating horses were led out. The big bay horse was one of the most experienced horses at Valkyrie, and only from her two-year-old season - a horse that hadn't been worked correctly, and would hopefully put all of that experience to use under the expert hands of Cole Mavecci. To start, her breeze today would be with a more experienced horse, the stallion Amarillo Sky. Who, in all actuality, was not a good role model for behavior - the stallion was throwing his head, ears pinned and eyes rolling. It was causing Lily to prance a little nervously, but her eyes were on the track, and that was her top priority.
Tigris and Hal walked over, Tigris getting up on the well-mannered filly while Hal took her place on the aggressive stallion. Hal was something of a miracle-worker, somehow bringing the calm and sweet sides out of even the most bad-tempered horses. The stallion calmed fairly quickly under her hands, getting a bemused look from Tigris. "I don't get it," he said in defeat, shaking his head. Cole moved up to them, taking their attention. "Just take them out and breeze them five furlongs. Rillo out front, Lily behind." The riders nodded, moving the two animals out to the dirt track.
They started the horses into a trot, Rillo now acting like a complete gentleman beneath Hal's hands. Lily was always a sweetheart, and she gave Tigris no trouble. They continued without fireworks, then asked the horses to canter, stretching their legs down the center of the track. Whenever Lily got too close for Rillo's taste, he would pin his ears and buck lightly, earning and sharp rebuke from Hal. Tigris kept Lily further back, and Rillo got over his sass. Eventually the horses were asked to lightly gallop, kept under hand by their riders. Warmup finished, the horses drew closer to the furlong pole to start, and they took position on the rail, Lily three furlongs behind Rillo.
The riders leaned over the horses, and they were asked to pick up the pace. Rillo dug in readily, having to be kept pretty heavily restrained by Hal. Lily was a lot more relaxed, settling easily into her place. The first few furlongs went easily, then the time to kick in came. Lily moved first, legs churning to try and catch the stallion digging in in front of her. However, Rillo was a little older and a little more experienced, so even though Lily gave her all, she came up a length short when they crossed the wire. Completely to be expected, given the difference in their age. However, Lily showed a solid drive at the end, and she barely looked winded as they pulled up after the gallop-out. "She's going to catch him someday," Tigris said fondly as they dismounted, patting the filly's neck. She rubbed her nose on his chest. She was one of the only pleasant mounts he was given. It wasn't bias, though - Lily had been itching for a breakthrough for a long time, and he couldn't wait to see her get it.
|
|
