Post by LK on Aug 22, 2015 16:35:30 GMT -5
Workout for the Cox Plate*
Ridden by Maverick Harris
Felicity paced the track by the starting gate, both confused and a little upset. The first leg of the Senior Superstar series had not gone at all by plan. Not only did Tabs not lead from wire to wire like they thought he might, he had come in third place with the winner running away by two full lengths. It was extremely unlike the chestnut stallion and the whole barn was astonished by the placing. All workout plans were now out the window and Fell scrambled to come up with new ones in time for the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup. Luckily they had a couple weeks in between to adjust his schedule and pray that it was enough to snap him out of the lull he had suddenly fallen into.
She was just making up her mind when they finally appeared on the track, fully tacked and ready to run. Tabby moped along behind his rider and did not seem to be his usual self since that last race. He had pulled up quickly after they passed the wire, enough so that the team immediately called for a vet check, fearing the worst. All had been cleared, however, so it was more of a mental stumble. Was he embarrassed by his performance? It's possible. Felicity watched as the stallion loped along, warming up for his breezing. He tossed his head a few times, refusing to listen to cues from Maverick. Hopefully his run today would lighten his spirits enough for the next tough race.
At the last minute Felicity decided to run the big chestnut by himself. He would benefit from running at his own pace and not a pace set by another horse. Tabs exceedingly excelled at running nine furlongs, having won six of eight turf races at that distance. In this workout, Felicity wanted Maverick to run the thoroughbred over the full nine furlongs, but not to push him. Just enough to get him to relax and forget about everything else in the world. A proper breezing for any thoroughbred. There was something calming about a good run with no other horses in sight. Had they a good bridle path in the area, Felicity would have recommended a gallop through the park. But as of lately the paths seemed to be congested and figured it would not go over very well if they went charging down a jogging path.
Maverick headed to the gates but was stopped by Felicity before he could get there. They would not be using any kind of mechanisms that reminded Tabs of a race. Instead, they walked a few paces in front of the gate before Felicity yowled and smacked the stallion on the rump, sending him off in a flurry. Mav gathered his reins up and encouraged the seasoned racer to run at a comfortable pace. It was quick but not overly so like a race would be. Tabs showed a bit of confusion when he realized he was not being chased by another horse. Had he been a stalker or closer, this kind of workout would be disastrous. But this morning, with no other humans or horses around, was the perfect time to let a horse run his problems away.
Tabby was settling into a rhythmic pace and floated gracefully across the grass. Maverick was rather skeptical of Felicity's instructions, but was now starting to see how the exercise was benefiting his mount more than anything else. The chestnut was running smoothly beneath him, his head bobbing with every step he took. For once they did not feel the rush of a race or the heart pounding anxiety that came with it. They were alone on the track, with nothing but Tabs's pounding hooves and the wind whipping around them.
Five furlongs passed before Mav sensed the stallion physically relax beneath him. His random tensing every time he believed another horse would show up had finally left him as they raced down the back stretch. He was no longer bracing on the bit and was content to go wherever his jockey would point him. Maverick did not have to urge him to run anymore as the red horse was just content to be running with no time limit. All the same, his jockey wanted to see just how fast Handsome Tabby would go without encouragement from behind.
They rounded the last turn completely at ease. Tabs had finally understood what they were doing and had his ears pricked, taking in his surroundings like he never had before. They had a furlong left and Mav was ready to release the cat that was Handsome Tabby. Instead of gathering his reins tighter, he released more and clucked to the stallion. Tabby flicked his ears back, curious to see what this small being wanted that was on his back. In a heartbeat he bounded away from his lazy self and opened up a whole new level of speed. He surged forward with more enthusiasm than Mav had felt from the chestnut in a long time. It was a long moment before he could rein Tabs back in enough to cool him down, both of them panting from their final effort. Felicity was waiting at the gate, grinning from ear to ear. She was confident it was the right move for their big stallion, and that he would enjoy running and being a racehorse the next time he went out against a field.
She was just making up her mind when they finally appeared on the track, fully tacked and ready to run. Tabby moped along behind his rider and did not seem to be his usual self since that last race. He had pulled up quickly after they passed the wire, enough so that the team immediately called for a vet check, fearing the worst. All had been cleared, however, so it was more of a mental stumble. Was he embarrassed by his performance? It's possible. Felicity watched as the stallion loped along, warming up for his breezing. He tossed his head a few times, refusing to listen to cues from Maverick. Hopefully his run today would lighten his spirits enough for the next tough race.
At the last minute Felicity decided to run the big chestnut by himself. He would benefit from running at his own pace and not a pace set by another horse. Tabs exceedingly excelled at running nine furlongs, having won six of eight turf races at that distance. In this workout, Felicity wanted Maverick to run the thoroughbred over the full nine furlongs, but not to push him. Just enough to get him to relax and forget about everything else in the world. A proper breezing for any thoroughbred. There was something calming about a good run with no other horses in sight. Had they a good bridle path in the area, Felicity would have recommended a gallop through the park. But as of lately the paths seemed to be congested and figured it would not go over very well if they went charging down a jogging path.
Maverick headed to the gates but was stopped by Felicity before he could get there. They would not be using any kind of mechanisms that reminded Tabs of a race. Instead, they walked a few paces in front of the gate before Felicity yowled and smacked the stallion on the rump, sending him off in a flurry. Mav gathered his reins up and encouraged the seasoned racer to run at a comfortable pace. It was quick but not overly so like a race would be. Tabs showed a bit of confusion when he realized he was not being chased by another horse. Had he been a stalker or closer, this kind of workout would be disastrous. But this morning, with no other humans or horses around, was the perfect time to let a horse run his problems away.
Tabby was settling into a rhythmic pace and floated gracefully across the grass. Maverick was rather skeptical of Felicity's instructions, but was now starting to see how the exercise was benefiting his mount more than anything else. The chestnut was running smoothly beneath him, his head bobbing with every step he took. For once they did not feel the rush of a race or the heart pounding anxiety that came with it. They were alone on the track, with nothing but Tabs's pounding hooves and the wind whipping around them.
Five furlongs passed before Mav sensed the stallion physically relax beneath him. His random tensing every time he believed another horse would show up had finally left him as they raced down the back stretch. He was no longer bracing on the bit and was content to go wherever his jockey would point him. Maverick did not have to urge him to run anymore as the red horse was just content to be running with no time limit. All the same, his jockey wanted to see just how fast Handsome Tabby would go without encouragement from behind.
They rounded the last turn completely at ease. Tabs had finally understood what they were doing and had his ears pricked, taking in his surroundings like he never had before. They had a furlong left and Mav was ready to release the cat that was Handsome Tabby. Instead of gathering his reins tighter, he released more and clucked to the stallion. Tabby flicked his ears back, curious to see what this small being wanted that was on his back. In a heartbeat he bounded away from his lazy self and opened up a whole new level of speed. He surged forward with more enthusiasm than Mav had felt from the chestnut in a long time. It was a long moment before he could rein Tabs back in enough to cool him down, both of them panting from their final effort. Felicity was waiting at the gate, grinning from ear to ear. She was confident it was the right move for their big stallion, and that he would enjoy running and being a racehorse the next time he went out against a field.