Just a Visit (Cav)

[Sammy]

Chris had his truck loaded and was halfway towards the Intrepid property with GS Super Charged in the trailer the truck was pulling. Angela would have came as well but she and Ben were not on good terms. Chris had given the owner a call and wanted Ben to re-visit his old home to get him a little rest before the invitational started. Intrepid held Ben's blood so why not bring him to it? Pulling up passed the gate Chris had stopped the truck just outside the stables. Ben was at his prime and Chris was nervous how he was going to react. He grabbed the lead rope attached to Ben's halter and pulled him out slowly. "Be nice now Ben this is your old home huh?" He said as he then rubbed his nose gently.

The bay colt snorted with the new smells. Chris could perhaps use some tips on how to break even from the back of the pack. He then tied the lead rope to the trailer as he began to brush Ben to calm his nerves. Chris had never been on Intrepid's stables before and he didn't just want to wonder off and leave Ben. He did manage to get the books out to see what horses were at this stable that he didn't know of yet. The Rosters were pretty wild with a long line of War Admiral genes. Chris was happy to be the proud owner of Ben the two were like brothers except they couldn't talk to one another.

He fed the colt some oats and watched him pound at the ground in irritation. "Someone will greet us soon Ben easy boy." Chris said to him placing a blanket on his back soon after. The colt had grown from when they got him He had came in second in the Kentucky Open and almost won a leg of the crown. Ben was a great horse in Chris's eyes and their was still the breeders cup yet to come but he would rest after the Invitational. He would soon be a 4 year old and take on heavier races. Chris hoped to achieve Ben as a G1 and hoped to win awards with him. This was Ben's birth home and Chris felt it would be natural for the colt to enjoy a nice breeze here.

[Cavallo]

<sub>Beth yelled from her office that they had visitors, as she heard the rattling approach of a trailer and the crunch of tires on gravel. She checked her books double check that there weren't any scheduled incoming mares. Nope. She was in the clear, which definitely made this Nick's job. NICK LANDING! VISITORS! She yelled from her office door, knowing that he was lurking in the broodmare barn. Nick stuck out a sandy blonde head from Allure's stall and gave his sister a mock pout face before slipping out of the mare's stall and exiting to see Chris Stevens from Nature Blue unloading a stunning looking thoroughbred.

One of the stallions on the property caught a whiff of a new arrival and bugled out a challenge. Nick looked to the source seeing the black stallion racing along his fence-line in the distance. Nick knew he would never get enough of his pride and joy, the sole MHS TC winner Admiral's Revenge. He chuckled at turned his attentions immediately back to Chris and the thoroughbred he immediately recognized. The bay Admiral's Revenge son had really shaped up with Nature Blue this year and he was becoming a real contender for the bigger races for Y14.

Nick was pleased to see both horse and man and walked forward towards them with a warm smile. Chris! So good to see you and Ben too! To what do I owe this pleasure? What can I do for ya? He held out a hand in a firm handshake, quick to make the man feel more comfortable and at home here.</sub>

[Sammy]

The nerves Chris had was a bit shaky but, it was natural. Nature Blues was opened now for 2 years and soon going on three. Intrepid Stables were a high stables. With enough patience and quietness Chris could hear hollering from the inside and smiled. It wasn't long until he heard the snorts of other horses among their stables. Ben started bobbing his head with what he heard and was eager to know what was to happen. They had failed the shot against the Canadian Triple Crown but Ben certainly did his best.

Chris could see Nick Landing in the distance and stood off from leaning on his truck as he took a few steps forward. Looking at a small distance he could see a black thoroughbred and smiled towards who it could have been. He watched Nick hold out his hand and Chris did the same and took his hand firmly and shook it. Ben was not pleased with the new human and whinnied towards the movement. The thoroughbred had also kicked the ground below him. Chris could only shake his head towards the colt. "It's great to see you too Nick. Well Ben here got invited to the Tropical Rainforest event and after this race he would break until the breeders cup. I wanted to ask you if you had any horse to build Ben's confidence for the Breeders cup?" He said hoping he wasn't asking much.

"Every horse we place him with well....he likes to take on challenges not give them." Chris said hoping Nick knew what he was talking about. GS SuperCharged needed someone with the same caliber as him and the horses at Nature Blues were either biters or sweet as pie. So far, none of Nature blue horses had the temperament of Ben unlike Intrepid Racing had. The Admiral's Revenge son then rose his head to snare at the horse from a distance and remained still for a few minutes. This place was nice and Chris was nervous already he was hoping he wasn't wasting Nick's time.

[Cavallo]

<sub>Nick kept a respectful distance from the feisty bay stallion, he was definitely every inch a Reve son. After shaking hands with the younger man, he put his hands casually into his his jean pockets as he listened to the man's response. He smiled reassuringly hoping to put the younger man at ease. If there was something Nick couldn't say no to, it was helping out other people and other stables. He admired Nature Blue and how far they had come in two years. He knew that Chris and Ben were a large part of Nature Blue's success. The bay colt had narrowly missed out on one leg of the CTC and he could sense the pair's frustration. He listened to Chris' request and he knew that he wasn't about to send him and Ben off packing. He raised his right hand slowly to his face, rubbing it while thinking carefully about which horse to pit against the eager Reve son.

We have a lot of horses here that could give Ben here a good run, but the question is which one... He eyed the three year old colt thoughtfully. I could always call up Michael and have him saddle up Nightshade for you or in fact, I was just about to tack up my own big boy for a fitness run. He said as he dipped his head to the black thoroughbred in the distance, anxiously pacing the reinforced fence-line. Maybe Ben's old man, Reve could school him in a few things. Nick's eyes danced in eagerness at the sudden idea. It would be extremely fun to run his champion thoroughbred against his up and coming son. Admiral's Revenge was by no means flabby and out of shape, Nick had made it his personal job to ensure that all the stallions in the barn were kept on a rigorous training and fitness schedule and Reve was no exception.

How does that sound Chris? Care to pit your boy up against mine?His blue eyes danced with a friendly challenge and he was really hoping that the pair would take him up on his challenge. Reve had nothing to loose and besides if it meant he could help Ben find a serious edge for the Tropical Rainforest Invitational...well then why shouldn't he help them out?</sub>

[Sammy]

Chris looked at the bay colt after his movements and placed his hand back to his side after the handshake. Chris also rode Gamble on Peace who he was trying to reach G1 but, with every horse making their mark Gambler was getting older. Ben would be moving up to 4 year old competitions and take on younger horses. He would have more experience this coming year and perhaps would take on the Novisio Derby again along with that train of races. Chris realized he may be asking a lot to Nick but, the horses here were magnificent why not try on one of their horses one on one.

He listened to his words and suggestions as Chris then looked at the black stallion thoroughbred from a distance and saw the muscles the horse had and looked towards the black stallion's bay son and smiled a sneaky grin. Chris raised his eyebrows and looked to Nick with confidence. "Reve vs Ben? Nick Landing we accept..I'll saddle Ben up." He said with of course a nervous gesture. Admiral's Revenge was a Triple Crown winner of MHS. GS SuperCharged had a few good races to his name as well one being the Novisio Derby. Chris looked to the distance again towards the War Admiral son and grabbed a saddle from the back of the trailer.

He got his equine friend ready and went to face him. "You remember your old man huh Ben?" Chris said after he finished saddling up and placing the new racing bridle on Ben. He then walked the bay colt away from the trailer and turned him to face the giant stallion in the distance. "That's who we're practicing with today Ben...Nick thinks he'll school you I say we will show them." He said as he grabbed the ropes and started walking the horse towards the entrance and would wait until Nick's return. He didn't just want to wonder onto the tracks as it was not their own.

[Cavallo]

<sub>Nick was thoroughly pleased with himself at the prospect of getting to run his black monster against this young up-and-comer. Nick nodded and left the young man and Ben to get ready for their little match. His stride was long and quickened as he went to the barn and grabbed Reve's lead rope. Turning and walking back out, Nick made the trek back out to the far pasture where Reve was eagerly pacing the fence-line. Reve was no slouch, he knew that there was something up, he scented it on the wind and the elevated adrenaline levels of his human.

Nick smiled and whistled to the black stallion as he let himself into the pasture. In a flash of black, the stallion was right up in Nick's pace, pushing his muzzle into Nick's eagerly awaiting hands. How's my boy. You ready to try something new today for our workout today? The stallion only replied with a snort and shook his head excitedly as Nick clipped on the lead rope. The dynamic duo crossed the grounds back to the barns, where in a prompt fifteen minutes Nick had the stallion groomed, tacked and ready to go. Slapping the stallion's neck he led a confident and stalking Reve out into the circle drive where he'd left Chris and Ben to get ready.

The black stallion's eyes flashed defiantly when they landed on the young bay colt. He scented something familiar on the colt, but it only served to crank up his adrenaline levels. Reve acted up, head tossing and front legs slightly lifting off the ground. Nick quickly reined in the black with a glint of challenge in his eyes.

You and Ben ready to gallop things out on our dirt track? Eyebrow raised in challenge, a small smile lighting up his face as he turned to lead the way to the well-worn path that led over to the tracks.</sub>

[Sammy]

Chris was well pleased by this choice and while Chris was even scared of the black monster Nick rode he would gain confidence on the stallions son he shared his own bond with. GS SuperCharged bobbed his head in the joyment of what was coming. He rubbed the blaze on the colt's face and saddled him up after the good brush. He took the reins and the lead rope and attached them to the halter. Ben was highly proud of himself and Chris knew his friend quite well. He was a prize and had done well for Nature Blues.

Chris fed Ben another carrot to even his nerves as he spotted Nick Landing the giant Admiral's Revenge. It didn't take long until Ben turned his head towards the black stallion and snorted. The bay colt did frighten with Reve's sudden movements and he still bobbed his head with pounding of his hooves in the circle. "Hey there Ben its okay." He said keeping the lead rope tight around his hand. Nick spoke and Chris lifted his eyebrows with smile.

"Oh yeah are you sure Reve there can keep up?" He said in a joking manner. Chris then pulled Ben to follow him as both jockey and horse followed Nick and Reve to the proper dirt tracks. Ben whinnied prancing about with an attitude as he pulled to try to get free from Chris's hand however Chris kept walking knowing Ben would soon settle down.