Post by Ripley on Aug 7, 2015 13:19:36 GMT -5
WHO IS CARRYING WITCH CREEK THIS YEAR?
Ripley Marsh isn't usually one for blocking the media, but many people have noticed that she has been rather elusive in Year Fifteen. We finally tracked down the lady of the manor in the entries office at The Wire. She seemed a little hesitant at first, but I got the scoop. What scoop may you ask? Well the scoop on the horses of Witch Creek. Last year's seemingly effortless domination has faded into memory with the retirements of Mastermind, Bella Luna and Cross My Heart. Everyone wants to know how Ripley feels about Witch Creek's new position back on earth and how she is handling being both a mother and a trainer.
IV: Well, well, well Ms. Marsh. It's delightful to be sitting in your office here at The Wire.
RM: *smiles coyly* I suppose so. I don't have time to do interviews back at the farm. We're getting to the busy point of the year.
IV: Are you ever not busy?
RM: There's always something to do. I have to sleep at some point and that's the closest I come to not being busy.
IV: *chuckles* That's good to know. Now... Everyone wants to know how you are fairing this year after what had to be one of the most dominating seasons ever.
RM: It's been pretty good actually. I'm getting to appreciate every win my horses notch. This is a year of transition for us. Our best horses retired and we took in a lot of projects, especially among our older horses. The three year old division was cut throat this year, although this has been a year for the Triples. Pandora, Impress The Moonlight and Call Me Crooked were all deserving winners.
IV: Not bad for a first time breeder. You managed to breed quite the performer in Call Me Crooked. Are you sad that you let her go as a juvenile?
RM: *laughs* I can't say I'm not regretting the decision a little. Like Lady Timeah,--who we sold to Intrepid this year in trade for Firestorm--Call Me Crooked was a proven runner. We knew what we had, but we liked certain horses better and she clashed. She was either going to run head and head with Taboo or she was going to run with Sun King. Who knows if she would have even gotten as far with us?
IV: Sun King's been a proverbial star and Taboo has simply been spectacular in the races she's won. Are they both going to be in training next season?
RM: Both of them. Taboo is just mentally getting things right. That's all thanks to Reese's hard work, truthfully. She was a bit of a basketcase as a juvi and she had a bit of a delicate constitution. However, with her, we've won our third Miesque in a row and our third Daisy Stakes. She also became a winner of two legs of the turf sprinter tiara with a victory in the Butter Cup Sprint. She's been put in the lofty company of Paranormal Hunter and Cross My Heart with those kinds of wins.
IV: Do you feel she matches up?
RM: Not yet, but she could. We just started cutting her back in distance this season so she's just getting cozy at the sprinting distances. While Call Me Crooked is running lights out against the boys, I think our little filly will give her a run for her money next season. Until then... we'll just keep building her up.
IV: Are you issuing a challenge to Grayson Meadows?
RM: Not yet.
IV: How do you feel at the moment with Sun King? He's lost three key races in a row and showing us that he might not be the second coming of Mastermind after all.
RM: *leans forward* I haven't advertised him as the second coming of Mastermind. That's all the media hype. Sun King is not Mastermind. Sun King won ten races at two. Sun King won two Triple Crown preps. Sun King's won two Red Mile races, something Mastermind never had the chance to do. They're two different types of animals, physically, mentally and by what they have accomplished thus far."
IV: I stand corrected. *shuffles papers* I'm surprised you plan on keeping him in training. Do you expect him to get better?
RM: He'll reach his peak at four. He's a powerful horse and he's going through a growth spurt at the moment... It's almost hard to believe, actually. I'm excited for whatever animal I have come Breeders' Cup time.
IV: Where's he going?
RM: He'll probably go to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Optimus Unstoppable has the Dirt Sprint locked up as his spot.
IV: Ahhh... Which takes me into my next set of questions about your older horses. How do you feel they have done as a whole?
RM: Optimus has achieved a lot in his four year old season. He's been the most impressive. Him and Miss Josephine. They are perfect examples of niche horses. I can count on them to pull off wins and if not wins high finishes.
IV: As a fan, I am so pleased to see Optimus Unstoppable finally hit the big time. You just knew he had something extra to give and now that his full talent is on display, he keeps on giving more than expected. Miss Josephine's talent has always been there, but under your care she has seemingly come alive. How is she to train?
RM: She's straightforward. She can get tough on the bridle and likes to work. She's extremely competitive and she really digs in to get to her opponents. She's a good workmate for In Front. He likes to slack off in his workouts because he does everything so easily. She'll push him to the point that he has to work even harder if he wants a win.
IV: Are you satisfied with how he's performed?
RM: Yes and no. He started the year off so brilliantly. He had that spark again. As soon as I move him up, he places and shows. He works like a champ, but the deal seems to be tough to close. I'll know more the further we go. This year, the older horse division is loaded. If we're not facing Abastor or Handsome Tabby on the turf, we're facing Nightshade, Anodyne or Limited Edition on the dirt. We'll get our moment of glory, but we just have to work harder than the rest. That's the Touch Up in them.
IV: *chuckles* Little Awestruck broke into grade four in style and so too did Enrapture. You've got quite the juvenile filly roster waiting in the wings.
RM: By this point every season, I'm always sitting in a good spot for the next season. I know what I have. I know the press likes my fierce words and my certainty. I'm not going to shy away from saying that I have a great bunch of horses. I know what I have. While I might not have that grade three superstar juvenile this season--
IV: Hush. It's still early yet.
RM: *shrugs* I'm content, nonetheless. I like my juveniles. I feel like Year Sixteen will be a good year for us.
IV: Not another word, huh? *slaps clipboard against his knee* Well that's all I've got for you for now. It's nice to see Witch Creek hanging in there after a rather quiet season. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot from you in the Breeders' Cup.
RM: Don't doubt it.
