Post by Ripley on Feb 29, 2016 18:43:30 GMT -5
SWEET, SWEET NIGHTINGALE
featuring:
Secret's Surprise and David Carter
Nocturnal Runaway and Maggiletti Reynolds"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Ripley shouted as she lead the tall chestnut mare through the door to the indoor track. David sat innocently in the saddle as Secret' Surprise pushed the trainer out of her way. She flung her head up in an effort to avoid Ripley's chastising hands. Her eyes rolled white and for a moment she looked like a giraffe. Her lean body fish tailed around until she was facing Ripley head on and only then did she stand still. Ripley huffed and glared over Secret's shoulder at David. He shrugged and did his best to convert his amused smirk to a stern frown. "After this, take her to Malcolm. I'm not going to tolerate her attitude."
Ripley guided the flashy mare through the gap and along the rail, making room for Maggie aboard Nocturnal Runaway. The silver filly flared her nostrils and took a massive breath, wary about being the next to get yelled at. Maggie patted the Night Stalker daughter on the neck and shook her head. "Don't worry. Ripley isn't mad at you. You're an angel."
Ripley snorted and strode back to the gap, her eyes moving from one elegant mare to the next. "Both of them need a boost. Noc needs her confidence back and Secret... Secret just needs foundation. She's a consistent lady, but she has yet to run this season. Which is part of her behavioral problem. A lady like her needs to run." Ripley swung the gate closed and turned her attention to the stopwatch in her hand. She cleared the quick fractions Sun King had set in his weekly workout and nodded to herself. He was ready for his run in the GHF Stable Faceoff. Now it was time to bring the other members of the roster up to par.
"Jog them a lap, please. You can lope on Secret, David, but only if she doesn't stay at a jog. We'll work them for five furlongs starting at the wire when you return."
The riders didn't wait too long to get their fillies going. Both the chestnut and grey were nervous types, types that didn't enjoy being given the chance to stand around and think. Noc in particular wasn't one who needed to get inside her head. Maggie had taken over from Reese aboard the mare, but she didn't need a rocket scientist to tell her that Reese's blood and sweat had turned this sleek one into an upstanding citizen. The four year old jogged over the ground purposely and powerful, pushing mightily off of her hind end over the synthetic surface. The hilly turf track was out for today after a massive spring storm came through last night, but this would do for Noc.
Secret's Surprise jogged along behind Noc, her mouth gaping around the bit as she demanded to be released. Her high energy was surprising to David Carter because on the ground, Secret was a sweetheart and very eager to please. David jabbed at the reins, moving the bit back and forth in the mare's mouth. "Stop that nonsense."
She didn't listen, only swung her haunches sideways and picked up a rough loping stride. He rolled his eyes and let her do it. As long as she stayed behind Noc in this fancy posture for a lap, she'd be fine. He kept his hands at her withers, feeling her mouth, but not pulling. She was a hotheaded vixen and he was not in the mood to get dumped. Not when he was so close to feeling her run full out for the first time since she arrived.
Eventually, Secret's Surprise settled down into her jog. She'd realized it was far more easier to let David jog her around the track than it was to maintain the awkward performance. She snorted and relaxed into the bit just as Noc stepped from the middle of the track to the rail. The chestnut's ears shot right up when she saw the wide open space before her and she leaped for it like a lion. David lost his breath in the face of her great lunge, but he was quick to catch her before she bolted by Noc. "Easy lady."
Maggie urged herself to breathe when Secret lunged up to Noc's side. The silver filly was notorious for her striking competitive spirit. For one so meek at first glance, Noc sure could get fired up in a heartbeat. Her dark eyes flashed angrily and she pinned her ears at the newcomer, but she didn't go for the throat yet. Secret's gait was a strange mixture of loping and hopping in the air and not enough to put her in direct competition with Noc.
It was so quiet on the track that Maggie was sure everyone would hear a pin drop. She heaved a sigh of relief when the wire passed and Ripley gave the signal to move. Noc lingered for a moment when Maggie cued her forward, but upon her chirp, Noc shot forward. Her powerful legs carried her to the lead without much effort at all. Her ears flicked back to track her rival and soon she was settling into that coolly efficient stride. Maggie let her hands settle at the pretty mare's withers and waited for Secret to join them.
Surprisingly, she wouldn't. She flat out refused. David gave her the chirp, a couple nudges, but Secret didn't budge. She galloped professionally two lengths behind her workmate. While Noc cruised through the early furlongs, Secret did her thing, not picking up speed in spite of his multiple attempts to get her to run. Secret flicked her large red ears and he could ear the mare scoff at him. He growled low in his throat, but it didn't appeal to her sense of fear. She trucked along, keeping a steady two length distance between herself and Noc.
Noc turned it up a notch through the third furlong into the turn. Her legs blurred beneath her as she picked up speed and stretched over the track. Maggie sat chilly and quiet, admiring the horse's timeliness in her lead change. Noc was nothing if not brilliant when on her game. Maggie wasn't sure of the time because this one had a naturally comfortable stride. She never seemed rushed and even though the poles were flying by at a good clip, Maggie was sure she was breezing. The exercise rider peeked under her arm and stared at the chestnut mare behind them. She was still in an economical gallop, but now she was four lengths behind with the gap widening.
David swore in the mare's ear as they moved to straighten down the stretch. She had a furlong left to catch the sleek fish that was Noc. He let go of one of his reins to snag the whip tucked neatly in the back of his pants, but it was to no avail. He was left clinging for survival when Secret barreled foward without any warning. She uncoiled her long legs and struck out after Noc. The chestnut mare leaped into high gear still giving the impression that she wasn't undergoing any hard effort. Her ears were pricked and locked on Noc like laser light. She chipped away at the other mare's lead until she was a length back.
Maggie heard the rush of horseflesh to her outside and so did Noc. While she'd been forgiving in the pre-warmup, Noc took no prisoners now. She surged forward in an impressive turn of foot and put another length between herself and Secret's Surprise by the time she hit the wire. Once past, Noc's ears flicked straight into the air and she started licking her lips, clearly pleased with herself.
David gave Secret a pat on her neck when the chestnut galloped out on nearly even terms with Noc. It might have been an illusory effect because Noc was just the type to gear down after the wire, but he swore the insurgent mare felt just as strong going in as coming out. She gave a great yawn when they turned for the gap and looked around the track as if to say, "What can I do for you next?"
