Post by Cavallo on Sept 24, 2012 20:47:29 GMT -5
Last week had been a disappointing third place. Adele knew that Ian was better than this and this was his next to last racing year..She thought of how much time was against them as she walked the well-worn path from the tack room to Ian's stall. The bay stallion thrusted his head as he heard the slight girl's approach. He nickered to Adele affectionately as she went through the process of unlocking all of the latches that bound the bay Houdini.
She smiled fondly remembering Ian's first week at Intrepid, where he'd somehow escaped his stall and was grazing on the property's (or rather Nick's) prized green way. Nick hadn't been thrilled when he'd gone to hit some golf balls and there stood Ian.
She chuckled. Since then the added locks had been necessary to keep Ian contained. She walked into the stall finally getting the last lock off. Ian nuzzled Adele preciously, as she clipped his lead line on and lead the stallion out of his stall. His halter jingled as he shook his frame, getting himself into the mood and flow of activity, following Adele's lead into the cross-ties. Now fully awake, he bobed his head in excitement as he caught a glimpse of his gear.
Smiling, Adele quickly brushed the bay and set about tacking up the stallion. Nick had scheduled them to race in the soon approaching Jaunce Stakes. In the race was two other worthy foes, Calle Ocho from Close racing and the recently on fire, The Winning Touch from Serendipity Hills. There was no front runner for this race so The Winning Touch would be running on an unfamiliar leg and the pace would be slow.
Adele pondered this as she led the fully tacked Ian onto the track. Seeing and smelling the track, Ian became hypersensitive as he began to pull on the reins. Whoa boy...easy, let me get in the saddle first. She teased as she jumped to get a foothold and delicately pulled herself into the saddle. Ian barely felt the added weight of her light frame, but seemed to sense that she wasn't ready yet and so huffed impatiently.
Yeah...yeah.I hear ya. Gathering herself she nudged the stallion into a canter. Lightly moving they made their warm-up lap. He was in a fiery mood today. He shook his head every so often his head reaching into the wind, as if trying to best an unforeseen rival.
She smiled and then asked the stallion for a run and off the stallion shot, his long leg reaching and striving, devouring the turf. Come race day it was going to be an interesting race. Adele didn't see an easy winner. Ian had experience and a sharp season. Winnie had youth and experience as well. Calle Ocho was also a year younger and had won the last two of his races...no horse was to be overlooked, but what was going to set them apart was their edge.
They weren't okay with third or second place anymore...no now their eyes were set on the prize and as they flew around the turf track, Adele knew that they would stand strong come race day...and they'd give there competitors a run for the money as they surged forward into the greatness that they knew was calling their name.
