Post by Ripley on Feb 2, 2016 21:05:31 GMT -5
COME HITHER
Featuring.
My Kingdom Come.
"Only you, Ripley, would think it's a good idea to take in a filly that just finished last in her four year old debut," Brooks said as he watched a pair of juveniles finish up their gallops. "Granted, she's been consistent, but she doesn't necessarily scream of star power, does she?"
Ripley huffed and rolled her eyes. "And that's exactly why I had to talk Grayson Meadows into giving her to me for a season. She's only a grade three and prior to this year, she never finished worse than third. Consistency is key. I'm not going to watch a talent fade into the sunset before she gets to shine. Who knows what she can do? She has a great attitude."
"Yeah, hard to believe we have a talent without a massive ego," Brooks taunted.
"Shut it, Brooks," Ripley replied. Her green eyes were already sweeping the horizon for My Kingdom Come. David Carter had taken the mare for a jog on the flat strip that ran alongside the hills of the turf track. From what she'd seen, Bey, as she was known, was a cool, calm and collected customer. Normally, Ripley would have sent Brooks along with Jabberwock to keep her company, but the horse wasn't much of a hothead and David was a very strong rider. He'd looked at her like she was crazy at first, but even watching them jog off, she could see him relax with the filly's swinging stride.
David had been quite astonished to see his name attached to this one's for the workout. He'd been mostly focused on his four horses--three year olds and two year olds--and didn't have an older horse assignment going into Year Sixteen until now. It wasn't that he couldn't ride the mare because he damn well could, but he just hadn't expected it. Although, truthfully, My Kingdom Come didn't fit anyone's style except his. She was a competitive fiend that could be malleable and only ran on the turf. She struck him as different than Artemis and Flying Fashion, different than Game Over and the past turf sprinting champion mares that Battle Brook boasted. She had talent, but it wasn't in your face like Cross or Para. It was a muted glow and it followed her like a halo.
She jigged beneath him, a tiny little rocket ship waiting to take off. She had big donkey ears and a compact body. She wasn't the prettiest thing he'd seen, but her 15.3 form promised speed. He patted her gray and white flecked neck as they marched back to where Ripley and Brooks were waiting in their golf cart. He could feel their eyes on his mount, analyzing her every nuance. They'd have to report to Grayson Meadows about her body, her performance and her mind. Maggie'd been galloping her over the turf hills for a week now and she really seemed to love the added challenge of extending and contracting her stride to fit the terrain.
"She looks good," Ripley stated when he was in hearing distance. "She's definitely settled in since she arrived. I like what I see. Today will be a good first workout."
"She feels nice. I can play with her a bit. She's an easy read. I think they gave you the jackpot."
"We'll see," Ripley replies with a side-eyed glance at Brooks. Brooks rolls his eyes and looks away and I wonder what I've missed. Ripley smirks and nods at Bey. "Take her for a five furlong canter and then run her for the 3 furlongs. She's a light one."
David nodded and turned the gray mare back around. She tossed her head when he asked her to move off of his leg and threatened to kick out, but once he showed her the crop she cut her antics. She instantly picked up the pace and swept into her easy movement. Her stride was strong and true, albeit a little bit short, but he could blame it on the hills. Her nostrils flared in and out, pumping oxygen through her slim body. David kept the reins as loose as possible in order to keep the filly relaxed and in control. He didn't to tell her where to put her feet. She was in charge of her own body and he wasn't about to make a miscalculation on his part.
The mare galloped along easily over the grass. She didn't make much noise. No snorting, no pounding on her hooves. She was nearly catlike in her movements and reminded him a bit of Notorious. His best colt was a strong horse and he really did move as this one. Both were athletic and sharp. He twitched the reins one side and she basically hopped at the chance to obey. He nodded in approval as they bounded to the last hill before the three furlong sprint. When they reached the top, David spotted Ripley and Malcolm in the valley beside the flat. No doubt Bey's workout would be timed to perfection.
"Alright, Lady. This is where you get to prove what you've got," he murmured in the gray's ears. She chomped at the bit and he released the reins one inch at a time. She danced down the hillside, tossing her head the whole while. She'd obviously picked up the idea that this was where she was to do her best running. David huffed and let her go at the bottom. He grabbed mane and prayed. She rocked back on those thick haunches and hurtled herself into the wide open expanse. She was a cyclone taking off for the other side. Where she was delicate and dainty in her early canter, she was chaos now.
Her black mane whirled back into his face as she pummeled the grass with ever impressive strides. He caught her bit before she could tear off and tire herself out. She didn't seem to mind and settled into an effective stride. Her big ears stood straight up in the air as she galloped across the valley. He had no clue what the time would read because she'd screwed up his internal clock. Her early blitz and her disguising second furlong threw everything out the window. He tossed all sense into the fire in the final furlong and let her do what she did best.
Bey was quick to rise to the occasion, immediately picking up the pace and stepping out into her brilliant gallop. He ducked down, cringing at the whipping wind and the tears that it caused. The mare was impressive to say the least. He wondered how she'd slipped through Grayson Meadow's cross hairs, but now knew that Ripley's had been focused on the roan this entire time. She was a crafty woman and he would take advantage of every opportunity to ride this fine filly.
Ripley and Brooks gawked at the mare as she bounded up the gallop out hill. Once she hit the increase, her ears perked right up and she mellowed out. ":36 for the three. You get that last fraction in :10 2/5?" Brooks marveled.
"Yeah... Whoa," Ripley said before doing the most unprofessional thing he'd seen her do: she squealed. "Wow that was incredible. Wait til I tell Grayson Meadows. We'll see what we can do, but it's time to get into a race. Damn it that was brilliant!"
