Post by Ripley on Dec 3, 2013 9:08:15 GMT -5
Last Call
Frozen Motion's Final Workout
Bella Luna's First Workout of Year Fourteen
Sand Track Prep
Frozen Motion's Final Workout
Bella Luna's First Workout of Year Fourteen
Sand Track Prep
Dubai World Championship
Ripley's green eyes were razor sharp with focus as she leaned against the silver railing of the sand track. Dawn had turned into a beautiful, blue jay morning. Her gloved hands were wrapped around the rails, squeezing out of tension. It wasn't the atmosphere that was bothering Ripley, the place was pretty sedate. Only the major horses were out on the sand track. The best of the best would face off in the Dubai World Sprint and Dubai World Championship. She would have two horses in each race, riding in one and spectating the other. She was nervous as hell for the Dubai World Championship. Her horses were the top of their classes going into this division. Bella Luna, the Turf Triple Crown winner of Year Thirteen, looked to be sitting atop the throne of the filly and mare turf division. She would continue on in Year Fourteen, defending a crown that she had earned through sheer brilliance as a three year old.
Frozen Motion... Ripley sighed, looking down the rail upon seeing movement. Frozen Motion was a great horse, a horse likely to enter the Hall of Fame at The Wire because of his accomplishments upon concluding his career. It was just the fact that this was the final workout. The final workout of her and Brooks' iron horse, the horse that had brought Witch Creek back into the spotlight, made waves in a division that Witch Creek had really never stepped even a toe in. Now he would go into the Dubai World Championship, the prohibitive best turf male on the track at the moment with Silent Fury retired. Frozen Motion would carry the Witch Creek banner side by side with Bella Luna, who had also done the incredible in Year Thirteen. Ripley had been battling a sheen of tears all morning.
Running at this stage of racing stunned her immeasurably. She'd been here with Screaming Mimi last year and years ago in Year Six with El Sol del Mar. But the feeling she had today made her appreciate her younger days even more. Ripley clapped her hands to the railing, firmly slamming the door on her emotions. She shook her head, ridding the last remnants from her eyes. The horses had appeared. She appraised them with sharp, edgy eyes, feeling moody. Both looked fantastic, muscles rippling, eyes bright. Both had lightened up some in the past year. Bella Luna's mane and tail were dark as ever, but her body reflected the pure white sand. Silver dapples covered her body and her form from the Breeders' Cup two weeks ago, when she'd rolled to victory in the Mile, appeared to be holding. She looked to be something out of a dream.
Frozen Motion paraded beside Bella with his head held high, ears pricked. The muscles in his throat vibrated as he trumpeted a call. His stallion blood was taking over, his confidence had grown with every win late last season. He looked hot-blooded, beautiful and ready to make some noise. Ripley's heart nearly stopped at the sight of her own horses, impressed with their durability and physical appearance. Nothing would last in her memory more than this picture of her greatest turf horses. She pulled out her cell phone, whistled, smiling softly when Brookson and Reese looked up with smiles as the camera flashed. Perfect.
Brooks nodded when they reached Ripley, noted Frozen Motion's keen interest in the track. He pranced in place, the complete opposite of the aloof Bella Luna who merely flicked her ears at the people gathering. "So what's the plan Marsh? Besides taking pictures and what not?"
Reese punched Brooks hard in the arm. "Shut up. I know you want that picture just as much as I do." Brooks rolled his eyes, which glinted with both eagerness and dread. Freeze had been his mount from the beginning. Their journey had been incredible to say the least. He stroked a finger through Freeze's mane, nodded. Ripley laughed, glanced out at the track. "A mile gallop, six furlong breeze. Pretty much the same as the other two. They're as fit as they're going to get. Both of them are completely "on"."
She turned away, dismissing them, rolling her shoulders. One last workout, one last race. One beginning workout, a year yet to go. The horses were a contrast even down to their schedules. She watched the riders pass by, leaned against the rail and observed.
Reese felt magnificent aboard Bella Luna. The near silver-white mare floated over the ground at a hand-gallop, hardly trying as she headed down the stretch. Reese knew most people would be focusing on the horses that were heading off to retirement, but Bella... Bella was coming into her prime. She would be the dark horse of this race even though she had the most upside. Reese's traditional pinky held the mare together as she took a spot on the rail. Frozen Motion rumbled up alongside them, heading Bella Luna. The gray stallion could sense that Reese wasn't in any hurry to send Bella Luna. His brain was always working even with the hot-blood of a stallion thrumming in his veins.
Brooks could feel the wave of power that Frozen Motion emanated. It sounded crazy, but Brooks could swear the Spitz son would be able to run a whole other season. He was the kind of horse that did everything you wanted, that was happy no matter what direction you guided him in. It hadn't always been that way, but now it was. Frozen Motion had grown with his rider and they'd taken the racing world by storm. Brooks kept his fingers locked into Freeze's gray mane as they lead the way through the backstretch, completing the first four furlongs of the mile gallop.
The pair of them had been training at The Wire since four days after the Breeders' Cup. Every day since had been dedicated to handling the sand track. Reese's brown eyes focused on the wavering surface of the ground. Bella Luna glided over it, taking to it as easy as she had the turf. Her eyes were actually joyful as she followed the curve of the rail into the homestretch. Reese semi-wished that more races were run over this course. Bella Luna was enjoying the rarity of this experience and it had lightened her intense attitude so that she was willing to cooperate again in her training. When Bella Luna was on, she was on. Only training could turn the intensity of her winning nature off. Reese stroked the mare's neck, impressed with her nature. She'd been on her toes the whole week, fired up and ready to go. A faster gallop yesterday had calmed her down. A breeze would sharpen her back up for the championship race.
The gray horses swooped down the homestretch now level with one another. Frozen Motion was taking giant strides, moving with the sand, but still looking nearly effortless. Brooks was perched, confident, but not cocky as the big horse took them to new heights. Freeze bowed his neck, flexing his muscles and causing photographers along the rail to hit their "snap" buttons. Good looking, grand and talented. Three things you wanted in a top horse before the biggest race of his life. Reese and Brooks ducked down as the horses sped things up at the last bit of the turn.
Frozen Motion put on a burst of speed, heading Bella Luna temporarily. The gray returned her rebuttal with a swift kick and now matched the older stallion step for step. Their beats muffled by the sand, the horses could have been flying around the track instead of running. Neither appeared grounded in what could only be called an elegant demonstration of speed and stamina. Ripley held her breath as the pair glided into the final turn. The images were snapping quickly in her brain, one beautiful stride after the next.
Reese and Brooks could not shake each other off, neither could their mounts. They ran step for step, becoming frustrated when they weren't allowed to go any faster than a contained split. Their nostrils flaring, ears pinning, the horses put on another kick, teeth wrapping around their bits nearly simultaneously a hundred yards from the wire. In a death-defying split second, Freeze and Bella Luna hurtled through space, creating a storm of sand in their wake. Ripley's mouth formed a perfect "o" as the pair stormed beyond the wire. It wasn't exactly what she had wanted, but a perfect bit to add to this workout. She clapped her hands outwardly, grinning like a fool at the awe-struck spectators beside her. Now that was a workout their rivals would want to take interest.
Frozen Motion... Ripley sighed, looking down the rail upon seeing movement. Frozen Motion was a great horse, a horse likely to enter the Hall of Fame at The Wire because of his accomplishments upon concluding his career. It was just the fact that this was the final workout. The final workout of her and Brooks' iron horse, the horse that had brought Witch Creek back into the spotlight, made waves in a division that Witch Creek had really never stepped even a toe in. Now he would go into the Dubai World Championship, the prohibitive best turf male on the track at the moment with Silent Fury retired. Frozen Motion would carry the Witch Creek banner side by side with Bella Luna, who had also done the incredible in Year Thirteen. Ripley had been battling a sheen of tears all morning.
Running at this stage of racing stunned her immeasurably. She'd been here with Screaming Mimi last year and years ago in Year Six with El Sol del Mar. But the feeling she had today made her appreciate her younger days even more. Ripley clapped her hands to the railing, firmly slamming the door on her emotions. She shook her head, ridding the last remnants from her eyes. The horses had appeared. She appraised them with sharp, edgy eyes, feeling moody. Both looked fantastic, muscles rippling, eyes bright. Both had lightened up some in the past year. Bella Luna's mane and tail were dark as ever, but her body reflected the pure white sand. Silver dapples covered her body and her form from the Breeders' Cup two weeks ago, when she'd rolled to victory in the Mile, appeared to be holding. She looked to be something out of a dream.
Frozen Motion paraded beside Bella with his head held high, ears pricked. The muscles in his throat vibrated as he trumpeted a call. His stallion blood was taking over, his confidence had grown with every win late last season. He looked hot-blooded, beautiful and ready to make some noise. Ripley's heart nearly stopped at the sight of her own horses, impressed with their durability and physical appearance. Nothing would last in her memory more than this picture of her greatest turf horses. She pulled out her cell phone, whistled, smiling softly when Brookson and Reese looked up with smiles as the camera flashed. Perfect.
Brooks nodded when they reached Ripley, noted Frozen Motion's keen interest in the track. He pranced in place, the complete opposite of the aloof Bella Luna who merely flicked her ears at the people gathering. "So what's the plan Marsh? Besides taking pictures and what not?"
Reese punched Brooks hard in the arm. "Shut up. I know you want that picture just as much as I do." Brooks rolled his eyes, which glinted with both eagerness and dread. Freeze had been his mount from the beginning. Their journey had been incredible to say the least. He stroked a finger through Freeze's mane, nodded. Ripley laughed, glanced out at the track. "A mile gallop, six furlong breeze. Pretty much the same as the other two. They're as fit as they're going to get. Both of them are completely "on"."
She turned away, dismissing them, rolling her shoulders. One last workout, one last race. One beginning workout, a year yet to go. The horses were a contrast even down to their schedules. She watched the riders pass by, leaned against the rail and observed.
Reese felt magnificent aboard Bella Luna. The near silver-white mare floated over the ground at a hand-gallop, hardly trying as she headed down the stretch. Reese knew most people would be focusing on the horses that were heading off to retirement, but Bella... Bella was coming into her prime. She would be the dark horse of this race even though she had the most upside. Reese's traditional pinky held the mare together as she took a spot on the rail. Frozen Motion rumbled up alongside them, heading Bella Luna. The gray stallion could sense that Reese wasn't in any hurry to send Bella Luna. His brain was always working even with the hot-blood of a stallion thrumming in his veins.
Brooks could feel the wave of power that Frozen Motion emanated. It sounded crazy, but Brooks could swear the Spitz son would be able to run a whole other season. He was the kind of horse that did everything you wanted, that was happy no matter what direction you guided him in. It hadn't always been that way, but now it was. Frozen Motion had grown with his rider and they'd taken the racing world by storm. Brooks kept his fingers locked into Freeze's gray mane as they lead the way through the backstretch, completing the first four furlongs of the mile gallop.
The pair of them had been training at The Wire since four days after the Breeders' Cup. Every day since had been dedicated to handling the sand track. Reese's brown eyes focused on the wavering surface of the ground. Bella Luna glided over it, taking to it as easy as she had the turf. Her eyes were actually joyful as she followed the curve of the rail into the homestretch. Reese semi-wished that more races were run over this course. Bella Luna was enjoying the rarity of this experience and it had lightened her intense attitude so that she was willing to cooperate again in her training. When Bella Luna was on, she was on. Only training could turn the intensity of her winning nature off. Reese stroked the mare's neck, impressed with her nature. She'd been on her toes the whole week, fired up and ready to go. A faster gallop yesterday had calmed her down. A breeze would sharpen her back up for the championship race.
The gray horses swooped down the homestretch now level with one another. Frozen Motion was taking giant strides, moving with the sand, but still looking nearly effortless. Brooks was perched, confident, but not cocky as the big horse took them to new heights. Freeze bowed his neck, flexing his muscles and causing photographers along the rail to hit their "snap" buttons. Good looking, grand and talented. Three things you wanted in a top horse before the biggest race of his life. Reese and Brooks ducked down as the horses sped things up at the last bit of the turn.
Frozen Motion put on a burst of speed, heading Bella Luna temporarily. The gray returned her rebuttal with a swift kick and now matched the older stallion step for step. Their beats muffled by the sand, the horses could have been flying around the track instead of running. Neither appeared grounded in what could only be called an elegant demonstration of speed and stamina. Ripley held her breath as the pair glided into the final turn. The images were snapping quickly in her brain, one beautiful stride after the next.
Reese and Brooks could not shake each other off, neither could their mounts. They ran step for step, becoming frustrated when they weren't allowed to go any faster than a contained split. Their nostrils flaring, ears pinning, the horses put on another kick, teeth wrapping around their bits nearly simultaneously a hundred yards from the wire. In a death-defying split second, Freeze and Bella Luna hurtled through space, creating a storm of sand in their wake. Ripley's mouth formed a perfect "o" as the pair stormed beyond the wire. It wasn't exactly what she had wanted, but a perfect bit to add to this workout. She clapped her hands outwardly, grinning like a fool at the awe-struck spectators beside her. Now that was a workout their rivals would want to take interest.
