Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2012 3:31:10 GMT -5
Alice and Jackie work for the Running Hard Maiden.
We had just lost out on first by a whisker. The slightest whisker, and it had wrecked our plans to go to the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Instead, Winning Touch joined the stables, and took second place, and then pulling away to win the Utanali Stakes and placing in the Quickum Stakes. She was definitely one to watch. Being a three year old, she had absolutely perfect consistency, and that consistency was to die for. Two wins, four seconds, two thirds, all in eight starts. Jackie had started her two year old season late, and she would be more experienced than the rest of the maidens in the field. In the yard, Jackie is known to be a bit of handful. Bright and energetic, she loves to be outdoors, and to feel free. She is always on the move, and does not cope well with being penned up for long periods of time. Jackie is one of those horses that will barge through the door as soon as it's open and then play a game of catch me if you can with her handlers. Jackie isn't happy unless she is the best at every game she plays, and to her racing is a game. She enjoys running, she enjoys being put against the other horses, and she is highly competitive due to her desire to win. She will put her all into every race but is currently a little immature and hasn't really recognised the serious side of racing.
The fact is that Jackie has a good head on her shoulders. She is creative, and she learns fast. Her desire to always improve has led to her being able to analyse situations and she realises that every player has their part and this includes in races. Before a race, Jackie tends to be quite excitable. She will practically prance beside her handlers and her ears flick to every sound. She isn't afraid of the atmosphere at the track, in fact she loves it. During the pre-race parades she will be full of life and although she might have moments where she pulls away from the handlers she seems to know that there is a race coming. The fact she starts at the back of the group, however, does not phase the filly. In fact, she would rather be at the back of the group. Having dirt being kicked into her face doesn't phase her and she is able to reserve her energy. She listens well to her jockey, and can be quite responsive. All in all, she just enjoys the game for the most part. It isn't really until later on in the race that her competitive nature shows through. She will start to rally when her jockey instructs her to, usually around four to five furlongs from the end of the race, in order to close the gap between her and the front runners. Although she does not gain great deals of speed she is usually up with the bulk of the pack when they start their moves in the stretch. Here, the stamina that she saved up earlier in the race comes into play as she makes a great burst of speed. This powerful filly will usually make her move from the outside of the group and move quickly down the stretch. Her highly competitive nature, as well as her love of the game she finds in racing, power her on and she will fight in every last stride until she passes the post.
The elegant bay filly stepped on to the soft turf. She held her head high, kept her ears perked and released a snort. I allowed her to look around for a second to get used to it... which was stupid as she was a racehorse. She was definitely the biggest horse I've ridden in a long time, standing at 16.2hh. The filly was muscular, in shape, and with a couple of great works, she'd be well on the way to success in this race – the Running Hard Maiden, over nine furlongs on the turf. The filly shifted her weight and I slowly eased her forward. She'd had me on board once, it felt so different... watching the birds, the other horses working, and many more things that look so different whilst on board this fine display of elegance. Just breeze today I think... get her used to me. We'll do a proper workout next time. I smiled and squeezed him into an elegant trot. She had a much longer stride. She lowered her head and tucked it in, flicking her toes out as she took the advantage to show off. I giggled slightly and stood up in my stirrups as she broke into a steady canter. I allowed her to get the feel of me. She ignored everything, but me. Her canter was smooth and she lifted her knees high. She definately had a good stride. I squeezed her forward a little more until the canter was now a steady gallop. She carried her head the same, beautiful and elegant. I felt her change her lead instantly as we entered the corner. Well what a beautiful colt this is. I kept him in this steady gallop around the turn. Her hooves hit the turf, flinging it back in chunks. The turf was soft and fast. Perfect. I smiled. As we entered the home stretch, I brought her back to a steady trot, then walk. We continued to walk until we got to the starting pole at the mile and an eighth post, which was the same as the race itself. I thought to myself Should I give it a go? Should I race against a workhorse? After a slight argument with myself in my head, I chose to do it. I trotted over to the posts. "Excuse me, please may I work a mile and an eighth with a work horse please?" I asked politely. They nodded. "Certainly." They took hold of the rein and began to walk Jackie in. Her ears perked up and she slowed. I gave her a little squeeze and she went back in. Good girl. A grey five year old gelding came up beside us in the gates. I looked to my right, and there he was. He was a bit smaller than Jackie, but boy he had muscle. I took my crop out my belt. And semi leaned forward, ready for the break. Briiiinggg. The bell. The gates burst open and Jackie leapt out, hogging the rail and dropped back to a length behind of the grey. I stood up and let the filly go. She kicked turf up behind him and he snorted. It was like he knew he was racing now. We came up along side the grey. The gelding seemed content on the lead, so I pulled Jackie back a tad, and the grey over took, leaving us a length behind yet again. On board, we were about to go round the clubhouse turn. I hogged the rail and kept Jackie at a steady gallop, nothing to intense just yet. With each stride, she would snort. As we entered the back stretch, the grey stretched out even more. They'd got a three length advantage. Surely it couldn't keep this up. I niggled Jackie a little more, and received an instant response. She picked up the pace almost instantly and we were gaining on our grey. Coming round the home turn, I showed Jackie the whip, moved him to the outside of the grey and niggled herm along. I was hand riding her, not using the crop, nothing, yet the grey was in full speed, being urged as much as the jockey could. Too much for us. I began to fully urge, and Jackie pricked her ears and off she went, powering over the turf and leaving the grey behind. We came into the final furlong, and I looked behind to see the grey, tired, somewhat ten lengths behind. I relaxed and stood high in my stirrups, patting Jackie's neck. We crossed the line and I grinned. "You got it girl. Let's go kick some butt." I smiled and patted the elegant bay's neck.
