we have the winning touch

Easy Winnie, I said to the filly gently, as she paced around her stall with energy, prancing on the spot. Will you pack it in? I said again. The bay snorted and pawed at the ground. She knew that the Triple Tiara was nearly here, and it was time to show what we had in store for the Ruffian Handicap. We would do a series of workouts leading up to the end of March. We’d just done well in the In The Middle Stakes, against older horses, Firebird and Calle Ocho. Winnie had been moving the stables up the ranks. Soon, she would be competing for Horse Of The Month. We were still preparing for the Ruffian Handicap and Alabama Stakes. For the first time, it was being held at The Wire’s track – but would it be as successful as the Tiara when it was held over Green Horse Fields track?

I finished tacking up Winnie and secured everything. Her exercise rug fitted snugly, and her girth was tight. Jacey walked over to me to offer me a leg up. Don’t – I said to her, reaching my foot up into the stirrup and bouncing on. Last thing we want is you hurting yourself, I said to her, looking at her ever growing bump. She only had a month and a half months left now, and she shouldn’t be doing too much right at this moment. Jacey sighed and followed me onto the track. She stood by the rail, watching eagerly as the versatile bay filly stepped gently onto the track. I halted her, and let her look around. She loved this track, it was one of the tracks that she’d raced down the home stretch of… that, and Green Horse’s Racing track, where she made her move too late to place a gallant second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, against more competent horses, and Georgies Girl, the beautiful Grade 5 racer. She was a stunner… I loved her to pieces, I had much love for that filly…

Winnie walked forward, and I gathered my reins, walking her in a few circles to warm her up. Okay Meg, you’re gonna sprint two furlongs from the gate up the hill, so the opposite way down the home stretch as it goes uphill. This will help Winnie’s speed as it will strengthen her legs and make her stronger, okay? I nodded and pushed the bay filly forward forward into an energetic trot. She pricked her ears and flicked her toes out, whinnying and flicking his short mane around as she tossed her head. After a slight canter towards the gate, we came to a halt. Winnie didn’t mind the gate. Winnie would break from the gate quickly, but drop back to just behind the leaders, settling in around third or fourth, depending on the amount of horses in the race. If she is the only horse that likes to race at the front, she will happily take the lead but only by a length or two and she won’t set a furious pace. She can travel with just about all paces. She can race quickly, or slowly, depending on the ground. If it’s sloppy, she prefers to go slightly slower than if it’s dry and fast. The bay filly walked in, her ears perked. She looked around. When we settled, I gave the starter the go ahead. I waited then for the bell to ring…

The bell rang, I immediately pushed her forward, stretching my arm out as fast as possible. The filly’s massive stride stretched out and she reached a maximum, pricking her ears and sticking her neck out. I got my whip and showed her and he immediately sped up. I made myself as small as possible, stretching my arms out far and long. I grinded my back teeth and pushed her forward even more. Winnie finally reached his full speed, and we sped through the final furlong up hill in 9 and 4/5 seconds, which was insanely quick for a filly of his maturity. I’d hoped that over the winter, Winnie would mature into a strong and bigger three year old filly. She was still growing, and I hoped she’d get to around sixteen hands. We flew round the bend and I pulled the filly up. I think she was rather confused with being on the opposite lead to what she was used to. I patted her and turned her round, cantering him back to Jacey. You did well out there Megs, you really showed her who’s boss and I admire that. I think after a couple more workouts, she will beat Sonja. This three week break between now and then will help. Good luck! She said, smiling.