Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 4:15:47 GMT -5
When the colt had come up for sale, advertised by Intrepid Racing, he had been in high demand. He was a powerful racehorse with good bloodlines, and as a three year old he had claimed the Kentucky Derby before his stable had gone bust. A year later, and he had arrived at his new home with Silver Stride Stables. It had not been a cheap trade, costing reserves to both Instant Success and Paradise Island, but it had been worth it. After all, he had the lines of a champion and the record to prove it. Plans had already been put in place for his future, but he was not yet due for retirement and Matthias was sure that the four-year-old was more than capable of showing the world just why he had been so well known before his home stable had gone into administration.
Souvenir was known as such both on the track and in the stable - one of the few horses at Silver Stride Stables to only have one name. He was an intense, daring colt and it was this that had led to him being so successful on the track - he was already grade one and he definitely had what it took to go on to great things. But first, he had to meet his jockey.
From the moment that he had arrived, Matthias had known exactly who he was going to put on Souvenir. The colt's intensity could only be matched by two jockeys, and one of them already had a strong four year old ride. As such, it was Mitch Evans who would be riding the colt. Of course, the jockey had yet to be informed of this decision and Matthias was looking forwards to seeing his reaction. As it stood, after all, Souvenir was the highest grade horse they had and his record was enough to make anyone look twice with only two places outside of the top three in his career.
What made it more exciting was that very few people knew about Souvenir's arrival. In fact, the knowledge within the stable so far only extended to himself, Alexia and Lucas. That was it. He had been waiting to reveal the secret to the jockey, and then the rest of the crew would find out when the colt was raced. Yes, sometimes Matthias liked to keep his card up his sleeve and he knew that Mitch would go along with the plan. He had asked Mitch to come to his office that morning, but the jockey was already late and that frustrated the trainer.
Staring at the clock, Matthias watched as the minutes passed by. Five, ten minutes later than expected the jockey finally rolled in with a bit of a lopsided grin. "Sorry I am late boss. The traffic was a nightmare this morning." Matthias sighed, shaking his head and rose from his desk. "Never mind. Why don't we go for a walk, perhaps the fresh air will do you some good?" Mitch nodded, and the pair walked out of the stable.
The area they were headed to was rarely used, except for Beltane, and so Mitch knew something was going down. Of course, he did not know what that something was. He was a little confused, but did not question as he walked to the left and around a step behind the trainer. The air was warm, and the day was set to get hotter, but they knew to make the most of the good weather while it was around and so did not complain. As they turned the corner, it was Bella who greeted them - her head out of the stable she looked well, and Matthias hoped she would soon pick up her performance again. However, it was not Bella that they were here to see and so after saying hello to her he moved onwards.
Right at the other end of the stall block was the horse that they were after. Matthias stopped by the hatch and gazed in at the newcomer, who seemed to be settling in well. Souvenir lifted his head to stare at the trainer with his intense gaze and Mitch appeared next to Matthias, gazing in at the colt. "Who is he?" he asked, taking in the strong muscular form of the thoroughbred, the good conformation and finding himself curious. For a moment, Matthias did not respond and that moment seemed to linger. "Souvenir. The MHS Kentucky Derby winner." Mitch's face brightened, and then confusion set in as the statement registered with him. "Wow. He's so handsome. So, is there a reason you are telling me, and not anyone else?" Matthias nodded. "I want you to be his jockey."
Mitch's jaw visibly dropped, his eyes alight with excitement. He grinned. "Can we go for a run then, Matt? I think we need to see just how well he runs." Matthias nodded, shaking his head a little as he tried to suppress laughter. "Of course, I'll get Lucas to come and get him ready. Get your stuff ready, and don't tell anyone about him okay?" Mitch nodded, ran off up the track to the jockey room and Matt pulled his phone out. "Lucas, Souvenir's tack, if you don't mind." he hung up, and several minutes later Lucas appeared.
The tacking up process was quick and easy, the colt accepted the bit without a struggle and stood calmly while the saddle was put on and the girth tightened. He seemed eager, also, to follow the handler out of the stable. Matthias had to say, Souvenir looked the part of a racehorse. He had the build, he had the strength and while he did not fight against the handler like some did there was a determination and energy in his stride. His head was held naturally, he looked sure of himself as he moved forwards and then their was that intensity.
Matthias could not really put the words together to explain the atmosphere around the colt. There was little that could be said that would really put across what it was like being around him unless you were there and experiencing it. As they reached the track the colt tossed his head, picking his hooves up more as he moved onwards. Matthias grinned to himself. Yes, these were all very good signs. Souvenir remembered the track, remembered what it was to race. If he remembered the thrill of the race, he probably remembered how it felt to win and that meant his return should be spectacular.
Mitch looked enthusiastic as he arrived at the track, he jumped the fence and approached the bay colt without a word, watched as the colt pranced slightly, pawing at the ground and smiled. He mounted in silence, ran his hand up the colt's muscular neck and looked to the trainer. "Today, you're going to run him three furlongs up the dirt. No starting gates, but you need to push him from beginning to end. I want to see what he is capable of." Mitch nodded, and Lucas led them to the starting point.
"Let's see what this baby can do." Lucas said as he pulled them to a halt. The colt seemed calm, but was already starting to focus. His audits were pressed forwards, his gaze on the track ahead of him. Mitch rose in his stirrups, held the colt's rein and waited. "Three. Two. One." the handler released his grip on the colt, the jockey urged him forwards, and the workout began. Souvenir was not the quickest to respond when asked to move off, it took him a moment to register what was happening but when he did break it was with a confident stride.
Several long, firm strides in and Mitch found the colt's rhythm meaning that he could start to drive. He pressed the colt onwards, and the colt responded eagerly as his pace started to quicken. The colt had not lost his touch - his acceleration was strong as they moved up the short distance. The first of three furlongs was quickly left behind them, and the colt's speed was still building.
The raw power of the horse was scary. He moved forwards with strong strides and was truly aggressive when he put his effort into it. Mitch felt like he was riding a powerhouse, and he was not wrong - Souvenir definitely had power and class is spades. He knew how to handle the track and he was not afraid to give everything. The post was looming, the second furlong finishing. Now, Mitch knew the real work would begin.
The crop cracked, the jockey continued to drive, occasionally encouraging the colt with another smack with the crop. His eyes burned brightly, the colt was giving his all and so was the jockey. Things were getting more and more intense and soon the flew past the post. It took several minutes to bring the colt down to a walk and Matthias was shaking his head. "Amazing. Just amazing. I want you to spend a few days getting to know him, then we'll test him again."
Souvenir was known as such both on the track and in the stable - one of the few horses at Silver Stride Stables to only have one name. He was an intense, daring colt and it was this that had led to him being so successful on the track - he was already grade one and he definitely had what it took to go on to great things. But first, he had to meet his jockey.
From the moment that he had arrived, Matthias had known exactly who he was going to put on Souvenir. The colt's intensity could only be matched by two jockeys, and one of them already had a strong four year old ride. As such, it was Mitch Evans who would be riding the colt. Of course, the jockey had yet to be informed of this decision and Matthias was looking forwards to seeing his reaction. As it stood, after all, Souvenir was the highest grade horse they had and his record was enough to make anyone look twice with only two places outside of the top three in his career.
What made it more exciting was that very few people knew about Souvenir's arrival. In fact, the knowledge within the stable so far only extended to himself, Alexia and Lucas. That was it. He had been waiting to reveal the secret to the jockey, and then the rest of the crew would find out when the colt was raced. Yes, sometimes Matthias liked to keep his card up his sleeve and he knew that Mitch would go along with the plan. He had asked Mitch to come to his office that morning, but the jockey was already late and that frustrated the trainer.
Staring at the clock, Matthias watched as the minutes passed by. Five, ten minutes later than expected the jockey finally rolled in with a bit of a lopsided grin. "Sorry I am late boss. The traffic was a nightmare this morning." Matthias sighed, shaking his head and rose from his desk. "Never mind. Why don't we go for a walk, perhaps the fresh air will do you some good?" Mitch nodded, and the pair walked out of the stable.
The area they were headed to was rarely used, except for Beltane, and so Mitch knew something was going down. Of course, he did not know what that something was. He was a little confused, but did not question as he walked to the left and around a step behind the trainer. The air was warm, and the day was set to get hotter, but they knew to make the most of the good weather while it was around and so did not complain. As they turned the corner, it was Bella who greeted them - her head out of the stable she looked well, and Matthias hoped she would soon pick up her performance again. However, it was not Bella that they were here to see and so after saying hello to her he moved onwards.
Right at the other end of the stall block was the horse that they were after. Matthias stopped by the hatch and gazed in at the newcomer, who seemed to be settling in well. Souvenir lifted his head to stare at the trainer with his intense gaze and Mitch appeared next to Matthias, gazing in at the colt. "Who is he?" he asked, taking in the strong muscular form of the thoroughbred, the good conformation and finding himself curious. For a moment, Matthias did not respond and that moment seemed to linger. "Souvenir. The MHS Kentucky Derby winner." Mitch's face brightened, and then confusion set in as the statement registered with him. "Wow. He's so handsome. So, is there a reason you are telling me, and not anyone else?" Matthias nodded. "I want you to be his jockey."
Mitch's jaw visibly dropped, his eyes alight with excitement. He grinned. "Can we go for a run then, Matt? I think we need to see just how well he runs." Matthias nodded, shaking his head a little as he tried to suppress laughter. "Of course, I'll get Lucas to come and get him ready. Get your stuff ready, and don't tell anyone about him okay?" Mitch nodded, ran off up the track to the jockey room and Matt pulled his phone out. "Lucas, Souvenir's tack, if you don't mind." he hung up, and several minutes later Lucas appeared.
The tacking up process was quick and easy, the colt accepted the bit without a struggle and stood calmly while the saddle was put on and the girth tightened. He seemed eager, also, to follow the handler out of the stable. Matthias had to say, Souvenir looked the part of a racehorse. He had the build, he had the strength and while he did not fight against the handler like some did there was a determination and energy in his stride. His head was held naturally, he looked sure of himself as he moved forwards and then their was that intensity.
Matthias could not really put the words together to explain the atmosphere around the colt. There was little that could be said that would really put across what it was like being around him unless you were there and experiencing it. As they reached the track the colt tossed his head, picking his hooves up more as he moved onwards. Matthias grinned to himself. Yes, these were all very good signs. Souvenir remembered the track, remembered what it was to race. If he remembered the thrill of the race, he probably remembered how it felt to win and that meant his return should be spectacular.
Mitch looked enthusiastic as he arrived at the track, he jumped the fence and approached the bay colt without a word, watched as the colt pranced slightly, pawing at the ground and smiled. He mounted in silence, ran his hand up the colt's muscular neck and looked to the trainer. "Today, you're going to run him three furlongs up the dirt. No starting gates, but you need to push him from beginning to end. I want to see what he is capable of." Mitch nodded, and Lucas led them to the starting point.
"Let's see what this baby can do." Lucas said as he pulled them to a halt. The colt seemed calm, but was already starting to focus. His audits were pressed forwards, his gaze on the track ahead of him. Mitch rose in his stirrups, held the colt's rein and waited. "Three. Two. One." the handler released his grip on the colt, the jockey urged him forwards, and the workout began. Souvenir was not the quickest to respond when asked to move off, it took him a moment to register what was happening but when he did break it was with a confident stride.
Several long, firm strides in and Mitch found the colt's rhythm meaning that he could start to drive. He pressed the colt onwards, and the colt responded eagerly as his pace started to quicken. The colt had not lost his touch - his acceleration was strong as they moved up the short distance. The first of three furlongs was quickly left behind them, and the colt's speed was still building.
The raw power of the horse was scary. He moved forwards with strong strides and was truly aggressive when he put his effort into it. Mitch felt like he was riding a powerhouse, and he was not wrong - Souvenir definitely had power and class is spades. He knew how to handle the track and he was not afraid to give everything. The post was looming, the second furlong finishing. Now, Mitch knew the real work would begin.
The crop cracked, the jockey continued to drive, occasionally encouraging the colt with another smack with the crop. His eyes burned brightly, the colt was giving his all and so was the jockey. Things were getting more and more intense and soon the flew past the post. It took several minutes to bring the colt down to a walk and Matthias was shaking his head. "Amazing. Just amazing. I want you to spend a few days getting to know him, then we'll test him again."
