Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2012 11:06:47 GMT -5
COLD MOUNTAIN AND BETH HARVEY
DAWN OF SILENCE AND IVANA BABICOVA
For summer, the dawn was pretty cold and spiteful. Dawn Of Silence was coming back into work and training for his comeback race. The colt had a pretty rough two-year-old season, not managing to do too well, but at the start of the year, he raced twice, capturing a second and a third, but Captain had done much better. He had captured a win last week in the Jenesaiquoi Derby, two seconds, three thirds, one of which was behind Danny in the Missile Stakes, and a fifth in a Unicorn Horn race.
For Beth and Ivana, it was a chance to catch up whilst Ivana rode her friendly old mount, and Beth had a challenge to do something new. The colt she was riding, Captain, was a challenging horse to work with, violent and demonstrative, but Beth being Beth was challenging. She would show them what she was made of with a ride on this large colt. For Ivana, the ride was slightly easier. She knew her colt like the back of her hand. Danny is a very willing, sweet colt who is one heck of a race horse. He is the one who puts a smile on everyone face as he is such a goof, always trying to help with barn chores. He has a big heart, and a winners spirit, never really discouraged by anything.
The horses had different racing styles, but it planned the workout with ease. Danny was a preceder. He likes to break quickly, and stick towards the inside rail, before dropping back behind the leaders. Around the four furlong pole he will move wide. He likes to come down the center of the track to avoid congestion along the rail. He will power energetically down the home stretch, using the slower pace he set during the pace to excel over the surface, whereas Captain was a powerful front runner. He breaks quite well and will run up to take the lead. He is only hard to handle when the rider has a tight rein or uses a whip on him. His jockey never touches the colt, not with her hands or crop. The black horse doesn't need any encouragement. He can be hard to handle if another horse runs up to him, but then he'll settle back into that massive stride of his and relax right into his jockey's hands.
Today, the workout would be over seven furlongs on the dirt. A distance both horses could run with sheer ease. Danny prefered distances between seven and ten furlongs on both turf and dirt, whereas Captain was recognised for his power over only the dirt, at six to nine furlongs. It was something new for Captain and Beth, and it was Danny's first workout with Ivana since the injury after the Missile Stakes. Walking the fiesty three-year-olds onto the track, both jockeys stayed side by side. Danny perked his ears as Ivana stayed relaxed upon his back. Captain stayed calm, and reluctantly pricked his ears forward. He was visibly huge, standing at seventeen hands.
Ivana giggled as Danny snorted, trotting energetically on the spot in the dirt. She laughed and squeezed him forward out of it and walked him forward. As for Captain, the big bold colt trotted forward with elegance. His blue eye eyed up Danny, but he wasn't being furious. He was being his usual self. Beth giggled, and after both colts had a trot, they asked them for canter. The two big colts side by side. They loped down the backside and Danny snorted as he cantered along. Captain pinned his ears and as they seven furlong pole approached, both jockeys crouched down and Captain was the first away. He leapt forward, his big bold strides carrying him to the front.
Danny did the same, but stayed a couple of lengths behind. Ivana tightened her grip on the reins and made sure that he wouldn't run on. The first furlong passed exceedingly quickly. Captain lead, not pulling Beth too much, but she held him back a little bit. Ivana sat two and a half lengths behind, sighing as Danny yanked her. She still had her tight grip and as they flew past the three furlong pole and into the bend, the released the grip bit by bit.
Into the home stretch and Captain still lead. It was the Missile Stakes over again. Ivana let Danny go and his big booming strides drew closer to Captain. Beth urged Captain on and soon enough, both colts were side by side. Crops rose and fell onto rumps and as they flew under the wire, there was nothing that could separate them. It was a thrilling finish. Smiling, both riders pulled there horses up and congratulated eachother. Ivana smiled at Beth. I think he likes you, she said.
