Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2013 23:00:28 GMT -5
It would be Diesel's biggest race of the year so far. The son of Admiral's Revenge was certainly in form as a seven year old, and would go up against his arch rival, GS Ultimate Challenge in the next big steeplechase, the Grand National Steeplechase Final. The stallion would be retiring to stud next year and he only needed three more wins to break the Grade One barrier and retire in the footsteps of his father. He was the first grade two that In Stride Racing had actually got, so it would be something new and interesting. Beth would be riding the stallion today in a two mile workout on the steeplechase course. Twelve large jumps including water jumps and open ditches awaited them, hopefully this time they would be able to win.
Calle Ocho would be starting in Gate One. The horse hadn't ran a solid season but he wasn't going down without a fight, and especially in this race. We had beaten him each time when we had raced him, but this time it might be different, I could feel it. In Gate Two was the reigning champion, GS Ultimate Challenge. We had beaten him once, but it didn't seem overly likely that we would beat him again. His previous experience as a three day eventer gave him a headstart, but he was only a grade four racer, one win away from breaking into the Grade Three barrier.
Diesel was fit, strong, and raring to go. He stood at a whopping 17 hands high, and as a son of Admirals' Revenge it was almost certain that he would try and follow in the footsteps. The stables were hoping that he could break that Grade One barrier before Christmas in December, so he had just under two months to do so. Whether or not he would do it was a different story. He was going to run a two mile workout over the steeplechase course, which would be good.
Beth mounted onto Diesel and walked onto the track. After a quick warm up they were on there way. Rounding the first turn and towards the backstretch, five jumps awaited them. The first came quickly and Diesel cleared it with ease. The next three followed and he took off far away for his huge stretch in his body meant that he could fly them. Into the home stretch he cleared the jump just after the turn and infront of the stands he flew the large water jump and continued round into the back stretch.
The next jump proceeding back into the back stretch was the open ditch, which had caused some major fatalities, but because the jumps would be bigger for the grand final, it would be harder, but they were destined to do it. It approached and Beth closed her eyes, gripping for her mane and bit her lip until it bled, but they did it with ease. The stallions subtle body muscle would make it easier to fly the jumps as he could stand off them and still clear them.
After the five backstretch jumps again, the route had changed and they took the inside route into the homestretch which would take them to the end of the two furlong workout at the finish line. Beth pushed her hardest and Diesel extended beautifully and gracefully over the wire. She patted his sweaty neck and cooled him down, before dismounting and washing him down at the hose pipe.
