Refinement.

[Cavallo]

Refinement.
Featuring: Nightshade, Anodyne, Calypso's Fury & Night Visions

It was time to start passing the torch. With the end of the year in sight, there would be a massive re-haul of IRS. The majority of their string was made up of seasoned four and five year olds and once this year ended IRS was going to feel the loss, but hopefully not as greatly because Nick Landing was already thinking ahead. He motioned for Nightshade and company to take to the tracks as he sat astride a confident looking Admirable. The black bay mare had taken some time off from the breeding shed and she simply wasn't the kind of gal to sit around and do nothing. So here she was like a loaded gun, ready to fire and unable to keep her eyes off her old arch-nemesis Nightshade. Nick patted the mare's neck, containing her but still admiring her spirit. She was the only full-sibling to BHOF & TC winner Admiral's Revenge and so far she was making her own career marks with her oldest daughters climbing the ranks. She had been a fierce runner and hadn't taken people's or horses' shit, which is what was going to make her the perfect track pony today - granted if she stayed clear of Nightshade.

Nightshade had her own eyes locked on the mare. The two had never raced against one another on the track, but that didn't prevent dominance issues in the paddocks. They had learned quickly to not turn them out together. Nick didn't need an injured racehorse or to be out a prized broodmare. Michael was quick to redirect the filly as she took to the dirt with ease. She'd been nosed out by her distant relation, Mourning Passion in the last leg, but Atropa was out for vindication. It showed in the serious set of her movement as she moved with purpose. She knew the game well enough now to know that these kind of preps were what readied her for greatness. Nick admired that about the filly. No matter the season, the situation or previous outcomes, she was always working to be the best. It was that drive that made her a champion. But. Even champions needed refinement and that refinement was going to be in the form of three very athletic looking horses.

Anodyne was like a barely controlled rocket. He knew Nightshade. Knew she was fast, but he wasn't the child juvenile anymore or a developing three year old. He was a sturdy four year old, developed, but still ever on the prowl and climb for greatness and Jeff loved it. The bay colt was on fire this season and he was looking to add another impressive notch in the colt's belt before retirement and it was going to come in the form of the Winter DTC. They wanted it. Desperately. Nick watched as the stallion power housed his way through the gap and onto the track, ears pricked and focus locked in. He was in the right mindset. He clucked to Addie as Night Visions and Calypso's Fury came behind the two older racers. Sy instantly nickered out to his mother, who in return, flattened her ears against her skull and nipped him on the shoulder when he tried to break off from the formation. Adele just smiled in the saddle and shrugged her shoulder. "Guess mother's never stop trying to boss their kids around...," she teased and they both got a chuckle out of that. Angie smiled on the other side of Admirable. Cali was not impressed with the ultra dominant personalities on the track right now. Angie felt the tenseness in the three year old. Her guard was up and she was watching everyone's moves.

Nick whistled and Michael and Jeff stopped the senior racer's strides, spinning them about to stop a respectful distance from one another as they waited for the approaching younger horses. Night Visions was rank. He danced and seemed oblivious to his dam's instructions, pinning his ears but still trying to break the ranks and just break off from everyone. It was only Adele's light touch that kept the colt focused. Nick knew he needed to get these horses working quickly before all hell broke loose. "Michael. You and Angie. Pair up and gallop them. Let this old gal, show the new gal who's shoes she needs to fill. Jeff. Same with you and Adele. The mentoring starts now."

He watched as they all flew into action, quick to follow orders and their mounts just eager to get into motion. Night Visions was facing a massive field in the second leg of the Youth Challenge series, but he had faith. Sy had the fight and the drive to get the job done. His foundation was well-laid and now it was time for the juvenile to shine. How better to sharpen his prowess than to take on one of the top dirt runners? Dye and Sy instantly wanted nothing more than to be rid of one another as the boys led the first wave of workouts.

Nick strictly forbade any speed duals in workouts. It accomplished nothing except to wind your horse. What he wanted was the instruction of tactics, skill and stamina and that came from racing not just with talent, but with brains. Anodyne was cool and cold when he ran and it was paired with a burning passion to win. That was what made the bay colt such a lethal competitor. Sy was quick to pick up that this was not the run of the mill competition. This was something more and Adele felt the colt's mindset begin to adjust. Michael had always complained that the colt, dark in personality, just seemed so standoffish at points, but that was the case now. He was challenged. He was intrigued and now he was focused. She felt the colt have his light bulb moment as they stalked the bay's flank and then charged for home. The turn of speed Dye had was incomparable to the juvenile, but Sy wasn't dying out like an old trend. He pushed and rallied to nab the brute's flank in a sharp nip as their rider's attempted to pull them up. Dye with murder in his eyes and Sy with smug satisfaction. Nick shook his head at the pair, but was pleased with the work, if not only slightly annoyed by the now dancing horses juvenile behavior. He knew the pair had them in hand, but he kept a wary eye on Adele and Sy, The black bay colt was his mother's son and he had a fondness for bucking people off. Adele was tough though and managed to keep her seat as they moved off the track in Dye and Jeff's wake.

Nightshade and Calypso's Fury had been galloping, the second wave of this workout. Cali and Angie were poised like a cat stalking it's prey, eager, coiled and ready, but her prey was quite elusive. Angie felt the thrum of adrenaline running through her system as they took on the mighty Nightshade. Cali was not the next Atropa, but she was the best Cali the tracks would ever see. She set her own bars and fought for herself and no one else. Nightshade ran a head ahead of her partner. The thunder of their hooves hypnotic and steady as they galloped for home. Admirable danced underneath Nick, her running senses wanting to join in on the exciting energy in the air as the two fillies dueled for him. Michael released Atropa and off she went with her killer kick. Her every motion and stride reaching for redemption as Cali followed like an eager shadow looking to overcome her foe.

Nick nodded in satisfaction. Things were in the refinement process and that mean they had to go through some fire, but when they came through their upcoming challenges, they would stand pure and tested - wanting for nothing.