Post by Cavallo on Jul 28, 2012 12:01:59 GMT -5
Nick urged the 2yo black colt into a canter and Aba willingly responded with a vibrant toss of his head before settling down to the warm-up at hand.
The Grande Derby was quickly approaching and there were five other horses, excluding Abastor, that were entered for the upcoming race. The field sizes were definitely growing here on The Wire and that meant being more careful about race preps.
Nick had scanned the entry lists before tacking the Bucephalus son up. Out of the entire field Aba was the only stalker/preceder. This would be a huge advantage. There was three front runners, Heartless Revenge, Cold Mountain and Sizzling Dawn. In the middle there was Special Edition. This mid-packer had done exceedingly well in the prospect shows and had done decent starting out in his racing career. He would be the closest horse to Aba and Nick would need to make sure that the colt didn't block him and Aba in on the rail come race day.
Nick felt the snapping action of the black colt and smiled. He felt good. He'd been entered twice before and scratched both times on GHF...Nick just hadn't liked the field, but this field though more full than he would have liked was right up Abastor's alley.
The black colt's action became more relaxed and more fluid as Nick directed the colt around the track. Their warmup nearly complete, Nick started to direct his charge towards the starting gate.
This would be Aba's second start in his career and Nick was going to be sure that this special colt was more than prepared. Dark eyes rolled in excitement as the black horse walked sideways a bit towards the gate, but soon straightened out to enter the empty slot.
Nick waited for the animated colt to still before he looked to the track hand and nodded. Nick quickly got into position as Aba waited eagerly beneath him. Jeff Sanders leaned against the rail as he watched his boss riding what was soon to be his ride. He admired the fluid way Nick had with high spirited horses....the Admiral's Revenge was a proven testimony of the older man's skills. Jeff took notes of how Nick pushed the colt forward into the job at hand.
Aba was a high spirited colt, but boy was he easy on the eye. With fluid motion, a high spirit and that fierce attitude...he was definitely going to be one of his favorite rides...he simply had a feeling.
He watched eagerly for the colt to break.
Nick and Aba looked ahead, eyes locked on the empty dirt track and they waited for their moment....the two became one...
The gates flashed open and Abastor flew free, legs like black lightening. Nick rode with the colt and smiled as he had to catch his breath. Man this colt could break. Abastor swiftly found his stride and settled in, ears pinned back to mind Nick's ques...his mouth sensitive to his touch.
Good Boy... Nick rode the colt swiftly for three furlongs. Jeff looked at his stop watch and whistled. Phew...that colt is making good time.
Two more furlongs. Nick wanted Abastor on edge come race day, not zonked out from the workout...yes five furlongs would do just fine.
Nick smiled as he fed more of the rein to the colt and like a starving beast he ate up the slack. His head begining to pull forward....Nick fed the colt more now and they began to fully extend...as they whizzed through the final two furlongs.
Jeff stopped the watch as he looked from Nick and the colt and back at the stop watch. It was a competitive time to say the least.
Abastor slightly reared at the sudden halt, he had just been warming up! Nick laughed and pointed the colt towards Jeff on the rail. Abastor's auds flickered in the man's direction, as he clacked his teeth in worked up exuberance and chomped the bit in frustration. Nick kept a firm hand on the colt to prevent him from bolting away from underneath him.
Nick. This colt is a gem! If he runs this weekend like he did for you today...whoa. Watch out. Nick smiled and nodded. The time good?
Jeff rolled his eyes as he took the bridle of the black colt as Nick dsmounted. Good is an understatement.
Nodding his head he handed the reins to Jeff. Go ahead and take Abastor...cool him off and rub him down...after this race he's all yours.
Jeff couldn't hold back the wide grin he felt forming on his face as Abastor nodded his head exuberantly up and down...eager to be off. Jeff slapped the colt's neck and began to lead him back to the paddock and barn area as Abastor's intelligent eyes locked onto Jeff...first in unsureness and then in acceptance.
Nick watched the two walk off, the black's tail swishing in liveliness and rhythm. It would be a hard fought race this weekend and it would also be one of Nick's last races as a jockey...
He felt a twinge of regret, but knew the time was soon coming when he'd have to delegate all of his rides to either Jeff, Michael, Kyle or Adele...he wasn't particularly enjoying the idea, but it was simply the way things needed to be.
Him and Abastor would push through this weekend and Nick would cherish every moment of it and hopefully could ride yet another winner into the winner's circle.
