Post by Cavallo on Nov 18, 2012 9:40:52 GMT -5
The first half of the year had passed quietly for Adele and the bay thoroughbred. Their last appearance had been in May in a disappointing 4th place. Nick had mandated then that the three year old was to be put on a conditioning and training schedule for the next two months to allow the colt to develop more. Adele could tell from Pred's robust and thick frame, that when all was said and done, Predator would be a monster horse, standing around 17 hands. That kind of bulk took longer to develop than other horses, but like a fine wine...things only got better with age and Adele had a sneaky suspicion that was the case here.
Adele guided the stoic Pred out to the track. Nick had decided to enter the three year old in a race on The Wire and Adele wanted to be sure that they were prepared. It was going to be a huge field with five other horses entered of all different ages and caliber. Position wise, it appeared that Pred would be able to have the front to himself, with the rest of the field making up closers and mid-pack runners. It was going to be a mine field for the closers in this race. Perfect Moment was the oldest horse on the field with the most experience to her name, then there was Predator, then Nature's Dream and a tie between Wish Upon A Star and Ignite. The last three were all juveniles, but Adele knew better than to rule them out. They were more than capable of pulling an upset, but then again...they hadn't raced yet against the likes of Predator.
Adele asked a light canter from her mount and Predator complied, but only because he himself wanted to canter. He was that kind of a ride. Adele smiled, it seemed the usually surly colt was in good spirits today, a rare occasion indeed. Usually she had some kind of grizzly bear at the end of her reins, but today Pred seemed more than content to go through the warm up process. She smiled. The rest and maturing was doing wonders for the colt.
Oh, Pred still had his attitude and edge, but now he was coupling it with his intelligence. Adele couldn't have been more thrilled with his progress. As they looped about the track, she checked the feel of her mount, every stride was firm and confident and seemed to flow seamlessly from the rippling muscles that danced under the bay's dazzling coat. He looked the part of royalty...Adele chuckled...that was until you got to know the colt. He was just flat out mean.....to everyone that was except for her. She didn't know why, but the colt seemed able to tolerate her. She wouldn't go so far as to say he cared....but it was a place to start...
Predator suddenly found his spirit as they drew the end of their three furlong warmup. His body and blood were heated and he was ready to let off some steam. The colt had to be run on a regular basis....otherwise biting and kicking was a common occurrence. It was on the track that Pred was healthily allowed to release his oodles of pent up energy and anger and boy was it a sight to see. Predator was one of the fastest horses in the barn, but it was always tricky to get him to use his speed. Adele had figured out the game.
In the final stretch, let him see a horse gaining or hear the approaching hooves and you would have the show of a lifetime. Though rude and cruel, there was one thing that also fueled the legs of this bay cynic....Pride.
It was a nine furlong race, perfectly within Predator's range...so they would have plenty of stamina and speed to fend off the final challengers. Adele released Predator his head and instantly the bay colt pounded out his pent up energy and passion into the dirt below. His stride lengthened as he began to extend himself in true cold professional form. There was nothing that was going to stop this colt, not Adele or a foe, from running. He ran like the wind, hooves churning the dirt behind him in a spray, eyes searching for a challenger, as though daring the other breezers on the track to accept his silent claim of authority of the track.
Adele smiled an went along for the ride. She loved this cruel, arrogant colt and hoped that the rest and maturity and time she'd put into training the colt would finally pay off...it was time to show the racing community that Predator wasn't a toothless threat, but actually had a nasty bite.
