Post by Ripley on Apr 23, 2015 13:10:36 GMT -5
Supreme Speed
featuring: Optimus Unstoppable & Sun King
Laura was riding up high on cloud nine. Her whole season had turned around in the space of a summer. No longer was she so frustrated with her riding skills, not when it looked she would take another horse straight to grade one, potentially two. Optimus Unstoppable and Lethal Dose were giving her terrific rides. The pair simply had run right into her heart with their determination and their will to battle. She loved having a partner she could count on.
She had it in the sleek bay stallion that stood with his head tilted to the side. His bright eyes were assessing a cat that was stalking a mouse. She smirked at his interest. Only Optimus would care about a mouse when he was in the middle of tack up. The good nature back at the barn was almost as wonderful as the pumped up horse that could run like the wind on the track. She tightened the girth, shook her head when he barely acknowledged it. Lethal Dose always threatened with teeth at that point. Not Optimus.
She patted the horse's neck, admiring the glint of shine. Few could deny that the horse was riding a similar high. He had notched his twelfth victory in a Horse Of The Year caliber race, signaling that the best was yet to come. The horse had been talented enough to take down a Sprinter Crown race at three, but Laura was thinking he was about to hit his full measure at four.
Brooks operated quietly and efficiently around Sun King. The towering chestnut colt stood with his head cocked to look back out over the stall door, ears pricked with keen interest. Even in the subtle morning light, the Native Flame horse glimmered like a candle. He would always be a stunning horse to look at. He had supreme speed and incredible talent. He blew you away when he ran through impossible fractions and barely came back blowing. Brooks looked forward to getting the colt back to where he could succeed. They'd taken a whirl at the Triple Crown preps, but ultimately Brooks liked the massive horse going shorter.
He'd won the Swale and the Holy Bull devastatingly, but his jaunts at nine furlongs hadn't been as pretty. Perhaps that was why it was so strange to find that the colt could get the ten furlongs. He hadn't run that distance since two, but he was unbeaten over that distance. Perhaps it would be a case of the big horse really getting the distance at the age of four. Originally, plans had called for the handsome horse to retire after three, but Ripley was changing her mind. Why not run the horse? It's not like they weren't represented by El Sol Del Mar in the breeding shed. Mastermind was doing just fine in that regard.
Plus the colt needed to get back to doing what he did best: winning.
Ripley hit the end call button, sighing tiredly. Keller was being a handful for Mal. She expected no less from the boy. He was going to be absolutely terrifying at two and three. Ripley felt nervousness toward what was ahead. Two and three year old horses were much easier to care for than two and three year old little boys.
She held Sun King's stall door open, aiming a tired smile in Brooks' direction.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm heading out after this workout. Mal says Keller is screaming up a storm and he needs back up. You can handle the last set today. It's just Josephine and Noc. Take them five furlongs over the turf. Dogs are up today so 1:01 is a good time."
Brooks kissed Ripley's forehead. She was doing such a terrific job managing the string while also managing their life. Keller was indeed a handful. Brooks would be on Keller duty this afternoon while Ripley took a nap and checked on the yearling's progress. Mal was going to start getting very busy himself as training ramped up.
She boosted Brooks into the saddle and slipped away to do the same for Laura.
Optimus whuffled his lips over Ripley's hands, looking for treats where there weren't any.
"You know the drill, punk. None til after."
The horses walked to the track side by side. Optimus started flexing those muscles, bowing his neck and prancing. The Shiver Me Timbers colt could get so hot on the way to the track. Laura let him do his thing, not arguing or ramping his temper up any further. Sun King strolled right alongside him, surveying his kingdom.
King was easily one of the more recognizable colts on the track and plenty of people came to watch him. It wasn't easy forgetting a horse of his caliber. Not when he lit up with the course with two minute gallops that bordered breezing exercises. Brooks loved this horse for everything he had given him. King was easily one of his best mounts of his life. Ripley had El Sol Del Mar and Mastermind. Reese had Bella Luna. Maggie had Paranormal Hunter. Only he and Justin had not really experienced that once in a lifetime mount.
Sun King was it for him, though Brooks wouldn't deny Enrapture a wealthy future if she chose to act on her hinted talent.
The horses moved onto the track, snorting at the sight of galloping horses.
The clockers took note of Optimus and Sun King's presence, keying into how good both colts looked.
Ripley called over the headset, "Six furlongs should do it. If you can manage to get it in 1:10 and two, that would be beautiful. Slower early, faster late."
She leaned against the railing, ignoring the new buzz that crowded around her. Reporters were quickly becoming her least favorite people. Maybe her protective instincts were finally kicking in.
Optimus immediately pulled Laura toward the rail heading into the first turn. He was in his element over this track, trained over it quite brilliantly. Laura kept the reins tight, urging him to settle down. Optimus tended to get stronger earlier in his workouts without the gate holding him back. At least she had a chance to grab him up out of the gate if he needed to close. In his workouts, he would lead and put the test to Sun King.
Sun King cruised into his giant gallop stride, settled just off of Optimus' outside hip. His big ears played over his head as the pace picked up. He was such an easy going horse to ride until you got into the homestretch. Then there were only two options: break the race open or fight to the wire. Shortening up would allow King to get back his tactical speed advantage to break the race open. That would likely happen in a future race, but the battle would be today. Optimus was too tough mentally and physically to go down easily.
Optimus whirled through the furlongs, growing stronger with every stride until he was flying by furlong three. The bay horse could run through the wind when given the chance. Laura kept herself calm, let the horse whip into the turn, grinned when he switched leads and gained more of an edge over Sun King.
The big chestnut colt powered along in order to keep up with his fleet workmate. Now his ears were pinned. Now he was taking the threat seriously. He rolled into the stretch three wide, swapped leads and stretched. Brooks practically laughed as the three year old swallowed the ground so easily between himself and Optimus. The Native Flame colt poured it on to get to the older horse's throat, then his neck.
Optimus snorted at King's challenge. He was outraged at King's young defiance. Laura knew her mount wasn't about to let King beat him to the wire.
The colts soared through the wire on par with one another. King galloped out the better of the two, but he was the type that didn't expend as much energy in his actual workouts. Ripley was impressed with both efforts.
And the time had more than caught the eye of the reporters. 1:10 flat was nothing to sneeze at.
Was it too fast? Not according to the smug smile that spread over the trainer's face as her colts jogged back with good energy.
