Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2012 7:54:29 GMT -5
Blue Me Away hadn't raced for almost two months and the reason behind that had been kept quiet by Silver Stride Stables, the stable for which the colt ran. After his last race in the Racing Post Trophy the colt had been found to have a little heat in his leg. It had not resurfaced a few days later when Matthias had ran a short run with him but the trainer had chosen not to take a risk and so had put him to rest. The issue with that, of course, was that Blue HATED rest - especially the kind that meant the colt had been kept in a large barn for a week before being allowed out to pasture again and even then the time in pasture had been limited.
For the last two weeks, the team had been preparing the colt for his return and they were hoping that he would make it in style. The race in which he would return ran over ten furlongs on the turf, was a major race, and threw him right against rival Abastor. The last few times they had clashed Blue had lost and it seemed to aggravate the black colt no end. But with Abastor in the race Blue would run all the harder and with rest behind him it was hoped he might be able to finally nose a victory over the other colt.
Leading the colt to the track now that it was time to run the workout for him return was proving to be a nightmare - Lucas could have sworn the colt was some kind of demon with his behaviour. He reared and kicked and lashed out at the handler at every given occasion and at one stage he had even tried to go for the stallion, Cryin Out Loud, who had been stood near by. Now, Jack was leading from the other side just so that they would have more chance of controlling the aggressive colt. It certainly seemed to go more smoothly, and Mia was also on hand in case she was needed, walking a small distance ahead of the others.
Soon they arrived at the track but Jacob, the colt's jockey, had not yet arrived and so Lucas walked the colt (who was now much calmer) to ensure he did not start becoming too impatient. All in all, the colt looked calm on the track. His head had lowered, his ears were up and his tail flicked a little behind him. It was several minutes before the man appeared, seeming a little excited about the upcoming ride. But then of course he was, everyone knew how much the jockey loved the temperamental colt. He seemed to do it all the time... Instant Success, now Blue Me Away - perhaps it was becoming a preference for him.
"Right, Blue, let's do this." he said as he was boosted into the saddle and Lucas led them to the gates. "Abastor again, huh?" Lucas smirked, knowing this bothered the jockey almost as much as he colt. "What's the strategy?" Jacob shrugged, putting his feet into the stirrups as they moved forwards. "We'll probably take the lead, set a nice pace and then try and hold it in the stretch, but it depends on race day. I know one thing for sure - Blue isn't going to go easy on his rival." Lucas nodded as they arrived at the gate and proceeded to load the colt. This was it, the workout was about to begin.
Silence as they waited, only the sound of the colt shifting his weight a little impatiently and the jockey's breath being inhaled and exhaled. Those few moments before a race, or workout, began were full of thought and anticipation. The horse and jockey in position, waiting for the buzzer. Of course, that moment did not last long and soon the gates crashed open, the black colt throwing himself forwards quickly. This was where they took the lead, this was where they started building their race.
The stretch of turf before them was only four furlongs and would be more than doubled come race day but they certainly did not want to tire the colt and ruin the rest he had been given now when the race was only several days away. Jacob had strict instructions to let the colt run at his own pace for the first two furlongs and then go for it in the final two for this workout and that was exactly what he intended to do. The colt was moving well beneath him and had already built up a good pace as they moved through the first furlong. While the colt focussed on the run Jacob was thinking about the race - how Abastor and Bella Luna would be hot on their heels at this stage and how Mini Monstorm would be sat comfortably at the back of the group.
The jockey pulled his mind to the track and smiled as he realised they were already moving into the second furlong, the colt's powerful limbs carrying them quickly forwards toward the third. Blue was happy now, his auds pressed forwards, and definitely seemed to be enjoying the run and Jacob was curious about how he would react to once again having competition and a challenge as well. If this was anything to go by, the horse would be dynamite come race day.
Again the furlong closed quickly and now the time had come to really push. The jockey crouched closer to the colt's neck and started to drive for several strides before cracking the crop. The colt was giving his all now, their speed creeping up further as they powered forwards. What had been short strides now lengthened and the turf seemed to give a little beneath each stride. Jacob drove the colt hard, fighting for the post and for victory.
One furlong remained and Jacob cracked the crop once more, willing the colt onwards as the post drew close. He could imagine the finish of the race, Bella Luna and Abastor beside them and Mini Monstorm barely behind with her speed a true threat. They flew past the post, the colt seeming eager to continue as the jockey started to slow him down. Nothing was certain, but this race would likely be close.
For the last two weeks, the team had been preparing the colt for his return and they were hoping that he would make it in style. The race in which he would return ran over ten furlongs on the turf, was a major race, and threw him right against rival Abastor. The last few times they had clashed Blue had lost and it seemed to aggravate the black colt no end. But with Abastor in the race Blue would run all the harder and with rest behind him it was hoped he might be able to finally nose a victory over the other colt.
Leading the colt to the track now that it was time to run the workout for him return was proving to be a nightmare - Lucas could have sworn the colt was some kind of demon with his behaviour. He reared and kicked and lashed out at the handler at every given occasion and at one stage he had even tried to go for the stallion, Cryin Out Loud, who had been stood near by. Now, Jack was leading from the other side just so that they would have more chance of controlling the aggressive colt. It certainly seemed to go more smoothly, and Mia was also on hand in case she was needed, walking a small distance ahead of the others.
Soon they arrived at the track but Jacob, the colt's jockey, had not yet arrived and so Lucas walked the colt (who was now much calmer) to ensure he did not start becoming too impatient. All in all, the colt looked calm on the track. His head had lowered, his ears were up and his tail flicked a little behind him. It was several minutes before the man appeared, seeming a little excited about the upcoming ride. But then of course he was, everyone knew how much the jockey loved the temperamental colt. He seemed to do it all the time... Instant Success, now Blue Me Away - perhaps it was becoming a preference for him.
"Right, Blue, let's do this." he said as he was boosted into the saddle and Lucas led them to the gates. "Abastor again, huh?" Lucas smirked, knowing this bothered the jockey almost as much as he colt. "What's the strategy?" Jacob shrugged, putting his feet into the stirrups as they moved forwards. "We'll probably take the lead, set a nice pace and then try and hold it in the stretch, but it depends on race day. I know one thing for sure - Blue isn't going to go easy on his rival." Lucas nodded as they arrived at the gate and proceeded to load the colt. This was it, the workout was about to begin.
Silence as they waited, only the sound of the colt shifting his weight a little impatiently and the jockey's breath being inhaled and exhaled. Those few moments before a race, or workout, began were full of thought and anticipation. The horse and jockey in position, waiting for the buzzer. Of course, that moment did not last long and soon the gates crashed open, the black colt throwing himself forwards quickly. This was where they took the lead, this was where they started building their race.
The stretch of turf before them was only four furlongs and would be more than doubled come race day but they certainly did not want to tire the colt and ruin the rest he had been given now when the race was only several days away. Jacob had strict instructions to let the colt run at his own pace for the first two furlongs and then go for it in the final two for this workout and that was exactly what he intended to do. The colt was moving well beneath him and had already built up a good pace as they moved through the first furlong. While the colt focussed on the run Jacob was thinking about the race - how Abastor and Bella Luna would be hot on their heels at this stage and how Mini Monstorm would be sat comfortably at the back of the group.
The jockey pulled his mind to the track and smiled as he realised they were already moving into the second furlong, the colt's powerful limbs carrying them quickly forwards toward the third. Blue was happy now, his auds pressed forwards, and definitely seemed to be enjoying the run and Jacob was curious about how he would react to once again having competition and a challenge as well. If this was anything to go by, the horse would be dynamite come race day.
Again the furlong closed quickly and now the time had come to really push. The jockey crouched closer to the colt's neck and started to drive for several strides before cracking the crop. The colt was giving his all now, their speed creeping up further as they powered forwards. What had been short strides now lengthened and the turf seemed to give a little beneath each stride. Jacob drove the colt hard, fighting for the post and for victory.
One furlong remained and Jacob cracked the crop once more, willing the colt onwards as the post drew close. He could imagine the finish of the race, Bella Luna and Abastor beside them and Mini Monstorm barely behind with her speed a true threat. They flew past the post, the colt seeming eager to continue as the jockey started to slow him down. Nothing was certain, but this race would likely be close.