Post by Cruisey on Dec 15, 2014 15:21:24 GMT -5
Flying Fire
Flying Solo && Johnny Garner
Refute && Talia Smith
If you got the keys then start the car and
Drive as far as you can
If you got the blood then you got the heart to
Give yourself a chance
Seems like we've been so scarred
Some people call it art
I hope you make peace with your pain
And never lose your flames
Flying Solo && Johnny Garner
Refute && Talia Smith
If you got the keys then start the car and
Drive as far as you can
If you got the blood then you got the heart to
Give yourself a chance
Seems like we've been so scarred
Some people call it art
I hope you make peace with your pain
And never lose your flames
The second group of Breeders Cup workouts consisted of two bay horses with a huge age gap. Six year old Flying Solo; a stallion from unknown lines but a big name in the racing industry, was paired with two year old DW Flamekissed x Finale Slew son Refute. But because Johnny was riding both Solo and Ralph in the Breeders Cup, Carter had asked Talia to work the young colt for Johnny. Luckily it was not her first time aboard the small bay, so she knew what was expected of his running style. Ralph was one tough customer when it came to running, and his competition was no exception. Witch Creek’s Spotlight Pride was a heavy front runner and was sure to battle for the lead right from the gates, followed by SOPS Devil’s Flair, Ralph and Nature Blue’s Eavesdropper. Grayson Meadow’s Take Flight has to be Ralph’s biggest threat, being the only grade three in the field and was sure to precede the field followed by NBS Dragonheart. Carter’s plan for the young horse was to keep him one or two lengths off the lead where he was comfortable, and then when they round the final turn to let him go. Lucky for him, Ralph was an amazing instruction horse. You give him direction, he goes in that direction.
Solo on the other hand has a mind of his own. Being six years old, he knows the dirty tricks and secrets when it came to Breeders Cup time. Two years ago, Intrepid Racing had tried him in the BC Marathon where he came in dead last, and then the year after in the BC Turf Sprint where he came second to last. His last and final year proved to be his best one so far, having five HOTY points and just missed being the winner of the Senior Superstar Turf Sprint series. Since coming to Firestone at the beginning of his Grade Three six year old season, Carter had managed to successfully reach the prized Grade One status within 4 months. Hoping not for a repeat in last years’ Breeders Cup, the stallion would be facing WCS Cross My Heart, who had managed to beat him several times this season, NBS Manhattan Royalty who was just starting to flourish, and SOPS Demonic Desires; a real deadly horse on the track for Amber Black.
The two boys were still getting ready as Carter walked over to their stalls. Demi and Malva were quietly munching hay in the two stalls next to them, relaxing from their workout earlier. Ralph stood quietly as his groom put the finishing touches on his bridle, whereas Solo was being his cheeky self as usual. His normal routine included squishing whoever was tacking him up and playing with the chains on the cross ties. The old bugger had an amusing glint in his eyes, and it was clear he was getting a chuckle out of it.
While Solo was being finished up, Carter looked down once more at his training sheet. Since Ralph’s race was 9 furlongs and Solo’s was only 6.5, the training distance today was set for a three furlong breeze and a 2 furlong blow out. Carter chose the blow out for the two boys and not the girls because they both had recent races, whereas the colts did not. Both jockeys were talking amongst themselves as they watched their mounts prep. The plan today was to let Solo lead the field to see if Ralph would be up to challenge the older horse. Carter knew Solo was tough competition when it came to race time, but this was Ralph’s first real challenge as a whole.
Carter motioned for the grooms to lead the horses out and for the jockeys to mount. Johnny strode over to his stallion and mounted swiftly, scratching his neck for good luck. Talia patted the young horse before getting a leg up. Ralph was quiet on the way to the track, and Solo was being…well…Solo. He was constantly looking around for bystanders or cameras, always thriving attention. Johnny couldn’t help but chuckle at the horse, which even though was six years old, never left the cocky attitude stage. They too would be working on the turf. This time around, Carter was way more relaxed than he had been when he was watching Demi and Malva. Once the two boys had made it over the dirt track, they were instantly headed towards the gates. Johnny and Talia were perched on their horses’ backs, allowing them to warm up and canter down to the practice gates that were set up. Luckily, nobody seemed to be using them at the time so it made things flow faster. Solo was the first to be gated, followed by Ralph. The bays didn’t have any troubles whatsoever.
As fast as they were loaded, they were let out. As planned, Johnny guided Solo over to the rail to take the lead. Talia felt Ralph hesitate underneath her, but she quietly positioned him behind the older stallion. Ralph was a smart horse and quickly clued in as to what they were doing so he went with the pace Johnny and Solo were setting. Solo seemed a bit confused as to why he was in front and fussed with the bit, but his older jockey straightened him out and forced him to continue running. He was all too aware of the threat behind him, but his swift strides galloped on confidently. Ralph was trying to pace himself behind the leader, but he wasn’t used to the level of speed the sprinters possessed. All Talia could do was keep him in check and conserve his energy for the blow out.
Two furlongs had passed and Ralph was inching up to Solo’s rear. His head was just at the start of Solo’s rump, which the stallion didn’t seem too pleased about. Johnny could feel Solo was ready for the blow out; his muscles coiled and his strides became choppier the closer they got to their marker. Talia held Ralph out for just a bit longer until something clicked in his brain. Without warning, both horses lurched forwards and propelled themselves across the turf. Ralph’s small size looked strange against Solo’s larger frame, but both pairs of legs worked the same speed. Talia hunkered closer to Ralph’s neck as he lengthened his strides efficiently. Johnny could feel Solo’s energy being expelled through his once coiled muscles, which were now fully extended and working one hundred and ten percent faster.
One furlong passed and one remained in their Breeders Cup workout. Ralph still had plenty more energy in the tank; one of the better reasons his stamina was used for. He was rapidly approaching Solo’s head, but the older horse was having none of it. With a final burst of energy from both horses, they crossed the finish mark in a brown blur. Ralph had managed to slide up to Solo’s neck and only lost by the flare of a nostril. If that workout had been any longer, the young horse would have taken it for sure. Johnny didn’t want to expel all of Solo’s energy in the most crucial workout needed for race prep, so he wasn’t as hard on the horse as he could have; and Carter saw it from the sidelines. Though he wanted Johnny to blow out the horse, he was glad the older jockey knew what he was doing to make the actual race better count. He was perfectly behaved and performed everything that was asked of him. Carter was impressed with the two year old as well. If he could keep up with the fast pace the sprinter had set for the workout, he was sure the bay could handle and set the pace for his respective race without any issues at the end. Carter strived to train specifically for the fit distances of the horse, and Ralph had just shown him he could handle any pace thrown at him.
Solo on the other hand has a mind of his own. Being six years old, he knows the dirty tricks and secrets when it came to Breeders Cup time. Two years ago, Intrepid Racing had tried him in the BC Marathon where he came in dead last, and then the year after in the BC Turf Sprint where he came second to last. His last and final year proved to be his best one so far, having five HOTY points and just missed being the winner of the Senior Superstar Turf Sprint series. Since coming to Firestone at the beginning of his Grade Three six year old season, Carter had managed to successfully reach the prized Grade One status within 4 months. Hoping not for a repeat in last years’ Breeders Cup, the stallion would be facing WCS Cross My Heart, who had managed to beat him several times this season, NBS Manhattan Royalty who was just starting to flourish, and SOPS Demonic Desires; a real deadly horse on the track for Amber Black.
The two boys were still getting ready as Carter walked over to their stalls. Demi and Malva were quietly munching hay in the two stalls next to them, relaxing from their workout earlier. Ralph stood quietly as his groom put the finishing touches on his bridle, whereas Solo was being his cheeky self as usual. His normal routine included squishing whoever was tacking him up and playing with the chains on the cross ties. The old bugger had an amusing glint in his eyes, and it was clear he was getting a chuckle out of it.
While Solo was being finished up, Carter looked down once more at his training sheet. Since Ralph’s race was 9 furlongs and Solo’s was only 6.5, the training distance today was set for a three furlong breeze and a 2 furlong blow out. Carter chose the blow out for the two boys and not the girls because they both had recent races, whereas the colts did not. Both jockeys were talking amongst themselves as they watched their mounts prep. The plan today was to let Solo lead the field to see if Ralph would be up to challenge the older horse. Carter knew Solo was tough competition when it came to race time, but this was Ralph’s first real challenge as a whole.
Carter motioned for the grooms to lead the horses out and for the jockeys to mount. Johnny strode over to his stallion and mounted swiftly, scratching his neck for good luck. Talia patted the young horse before getting a leg up. Ralph was quiet on the way to the track, and Solo was being…well…Solo. He was constantly looking around for bystanders or cameras, always thriving attention. Johnny couldn’t help but chuckle at the horse, which even though was six years old, never left the cocky attitude stage. They too would be working on the turf. This time around, Carter was way more relaxed than he had been when he was watching Demi and Malva. Once the two boys had made it over the dirt track, they were instantly headed towards the gates. Johnny and Talia were perched on their horses’ backs, allowing them to warm up and canter down to the practice gates that were set up. Luckily, nobody seemed to be using them at the time so it made things flow faster. Solo was the first to be gated, followed by Ralph. The bays didn’t have any troubles whatsoever.
As fast as they were loaded, they were let out. As planned, Johnny guided Solo over to the rail to take the lead. Talia felt Ralph hesitate underneath her, but she quietly positioned him behind the older stallion. Ralph was a smart horse and quickly clued in as to what they were doing so he went with the pace Johnny and Solo were setting. Solo seemed a bit confused as to why he was in front and fussed with the bit, but his older jockey straightened him out and forced him to continue running. He was all too aware of the threat behind him, but his swift strides galloped on confidently. Ralph was trying to pace himself behind the leader, but he wasn’t used to the level of speed the sprinters possessed. All Talia could do was keep him in check and conserve his energy for the blow out.
Two furlongs had passed and Ralph was inching up to Solo’s rear. His head was just at the start of Solo’s rump, which the stallion didn’t seem too pleased about. Johnny could feel Solo was ready for the blow out; his muscles coiled and his strides became choppier the closer they got to their marker. Talia held Ralph out for just a bit longer until something clicked in his brain. Without warning, both horses lurched forwards and propelled themselves across the turf. Ralph’s small size looked strange against Solo’s larger frame, but both pairs of legs worked the same speed. Talia hunkered closer to Ralph’s neck as he lengthened his strides efficiently. Johnny could feel Solo’s energy being expelled through his once coiled muscles, which were now fully extended and working one hundred and ten percent faster.
One furlong passed and one remained in their Breeders Cup workout. Ralph still had plenty more energy in the tank; one of the better reasons his stamina was used for. He was rapidly approaching Solo’s head, but the older horse was having none of it. With a final burst of energy from both horses, they crossed the finish mark in a brown blur. Ralph had managed to slide up to Solo’s neck and only lost by the flare of a nostril. If that workout had been any longer, the young horse would have taken it for sure. Johnny didn’t want to expel all of Solo’s energy in the most crucial workout needed for race prep, so he wasn’t as hard on the horse as he could have; and Carter saw it from the sidelines. Though he wanted Johnny to blow out the horse, he was glad the older jockey knew what he was doing to make the actual race better count. He was perfectly behaved and performed everything that was asked of him. Carter was impressed with the two year old as well. If he could keep up with the fast pace the sprinter had set for the workout, he was sure the bay could handle and set the pace for his respective race without any issues at the end. Carter strived to train specifically for the fit distances of the horse, and Ralph had just shown him he could handle any pace thrown at him.
