Post by Kenren on Aug 20, 2013 21:37:15 GMT -5
Felix Hernandez && Biohazard
"Out of bed, you monsters! Time to earn your hay." Felix's voice was playfully firm, and he slapped his whip against the stall doors as he passed. The horses, of course, were already awake since the early morning sun was already in the sky. Hungry nickers greeted him and a couple of insulted squeals, but he ignored them with a hearty whistle, walking to the stall of the new celebrity at the barn. Felix was only a jockey for Valkyrie, but he liked to exercise the horses that he'd be racing, and he now had a new mount - the accomplished, incredibly talented Biohazard. The stallion was being brought down the aisle, and Felix had to pause for a moment to take him in. In a sport so focused on young animals, it was almost easy to forget how much a Thoroughbred filled out in five years. Arty, as he was called, was not the tallest horse. However, he had the full muscle and presence of a mature animal, and Felix couldn't help but appreciate it.
Felix walked with the young groom and the chestnut stallion out to the track, joking lightheartedly and admiring the cool, intelligent look in Arty's eyes as he took in his surroundings. They reached the track, where the old trainer Kent was watching another of the horses finished up - the two humans and horse waited patiently until the old man finished, then turned to the trio. The man gave an appraising eye to the stallion, who was standing as if he hadn't a care in the world, with no interest toward the humans around him - hardly the attitude of a stallion, but much appreciated. It wouldn't last long, of course - Arty had proven to be a spirited creature, but he was apparently not interested in causing trouble at the moment, perhaps because of his new surroundings.
Felix got a leg up into the saddle, receiving instructions from the trainer. "We know he's got power, so he mostly just needs a sharpening run. Take him at a quick clip for two, then ask him to really dig in for one. He should be able to do that without much trouble, so let me know if he's laboring at all." Kent was obviously excited about the new stallion, because that was more than he normally said in one go. He wasn't the talkative sort. Felix saluted with his whip. "Aye aye, captain. But I think you're right - this monster could do that and then some." Felix gathered the reins and urged Arty onto the dirt track, feeling the formerly docile stallion come alive once he hit the racing surface. His neck arched, walk lengthening, but he didn't fight against Felix's firm hands.
Feeling that Arty wasn't going to pull anything, Felix clucked Arty into a canter, allowing the horse to begin to loosen up and stretch his legs. The muscles under the chestnut's gleaming coat were hard and rippling, exuding power and strength. Felix found himself almost giddy. They continued the warm-up lap for a mile, then Felix asked Arty to open up into a slow gallop. The stallion obeyed, but the way he mouthed the bit told Felix that he was done with this slow stuff - he wanted to run. He was a frontrunner by nature, and Felix knew as soon as he gave him his head he'd explode with force. Preparing to reach the furlong pole to start, Felix leaned close to the stallion's neck, wrapping a chunk of his mane around his fingers.
Three, two, one.
Felix gave a whoop and gave Arty more of his head, and the stallion responded immediately, digging in and charging forward. Felix hadn't ridden a large number of sprinters, but he could tell Arty was something special. The G2 stallion pushed forward, hindquarters digging, breathtaking even when he wasn't at full speed. Two furlongs went quickly, and Felix gave the stallion his head, smiling as the stallion pushed even harder. It was obvious that competition didn't have a whole lot to do with his spirit. He just wanted to run as fast as he was able. If someone passed him, he probably just wanted to pass them to prove he could go that fast as well.
As they flew by the wire, Felix slowly asked Arty to check down into a slower gallop, though he finished the rest of the half-mile strongly. Felix brought Arty up to the gate, hopping off as a hotwalker took control. He turned to Kent, a smile on his face. "Definitely no problem with that one. He's got kick, Kent. It's crazy." The young jock's excitement was infectious, and Kent smiled lightly back. "He looks good. I have high hopes." Pretty good praise from such a veteran. It would depend on Arty's mood, but Felix felt good about the upcoming race.