Post by Rendezvous on Feb 24, 2016 23:06:43 GMT -5
KC RACING
FT. A TRUE HERO & MARDI GRAS | WELCOME & WORKOUT
Spring was definately around the corner as snow had been making less of an appearance with each passing day. With the career-ending injury that Mardi Gras endured last month, her assigned jockey Justin McKinney had refused to ride any of the other KCRS horses fearing that he would endanger their well-being for he blamed himself for what had happened to the black filly.
With the stable's main string down one horse and probably a jockey, trainer John Murchison recommended always being on the lookout for another horse. Dual-preferenced horses seem to come few and far in between and Mardi Gras had been a pretty decent one. It wasn't until the second week into March that the trainer came across a three year old for sale.
"You've gotta see this colt. He doesn't seem like the winniest of horses but he's placed second thirteen times. That's something I can definately work with." John had spoke with incredible enthuasiam having brought out both Kim and Justin to talk about the horse. "I don't see what this has to do with me." Justin McKinney spoke up, leaning against the wall closet to the door in preparation for a quick exit. "His name is A True Hero, great bloodlines and he runs well on both surfaces, 9-12F is his range in distance. He's up there with Mardi Gras, Justin, I called you in because you need a new mount yourself, you're so damn picky about who you ride. Kim, you're good with the bloodlines, check out his pedigree I'm sure you'll find something to love about them." While Justin stewed in the corner, Kim looked over the printed copy of the horse's pedigree.
KC Racing had gotten its hands on a few well-bred horses from across the country and this colt was no exception. "By Everyday Hero...that's a pretty stellar stud...out of..The True Nut. That's Cute Italian's half sister..this colt is her nephew practically. I'm in love with this colt already." Kim grinned and walked over to nudge Justin in the side. "Come on, Justin. Give him a chance." When the jockey didn't say anything, John spoke up for him. "If it helps, I already purchased him for $5,000, he'll be here next Monday."
Although he didn't want to be out there, Justin McKinney was lingering in the parking lot as the stablehands unloaded the chestnut colt. "Wow, he's a short little thing isn't he?" Kim commented for the red colt stood at 15.3hh and most of the other horses at the stable would tower over him. The colt tossed his head back and forth, sticking his tongue out as he went about seeming content with being off of the trailer. Something seemed to have gotten the jockey's attention as he stepped over and grabbed the colt's lead from the handlers. "He's certainly different." He commented as he gave the colt a once over. It was a big change from jockeying the 17hh Mardi Gras then going to a colt like A True Hero. "I'll give him a chance and try him out tomorrow. No promises." He spoke to John and Kim as he looked the colt in the eyes before handing him back over to the stablehands.
It would turn out that promises wouldn't be needed as when the time came for the colt to get his first workout under new ownership, Justin didn't seem to want to get out of the saddle. "Alright, timer ready." John called from outside the track as the colt was loaded up into the starting gates, still lolling his tongue out while holding his head up proudly at the same time.
When the gates pulled up the colt broke from the gates nicely and set himself immediately into a pace that fit his fancy. Justin led the horse down the track without any problems but it wasn't until they came around the first bend that he realized the colt changed gears much like how a person riding a bike would do. "He's got some speed on him." John commented as Kim walked up to watch the colt make his move down the stretch.
And then the colt's gears shifted again as he stretched out his legs not letting his small stature slow him down. He reached out with his legs and pushed himself down the track, propelling himself forward with power as he surged across the finish line and continued running down the track before one of the riders and their track pony came by to grab the horse's reins and pull him around.
The colt tossed his head back and forth and seemed to be pleased with himself as he was being led out of the track. "This colt changes gears like a bike, I could literally feel him changing speeds. He's got a heart like Mardi Gras, I think I could grow to like him." Justin spoke, trying his best to hide the hint of a smile as he patted the colt's red neck, feeling pleased to finally be back in the saddle and able to go back on the racetrack again.
With the stable's main string down one horse and probably a jockey, trainer John Murchison recommended always being on the lookout for another horse. Dual-preferenced horses seem to come few and far in between and Mardi Gras had been a pretty decent one. It wasn't until the second week into March that the trainer came across a three year old for sale.
"You've gotta see this colt. He doesn't seem like the winniest of horses but he's placed second thirteen times. That's something I can definately work with." John had spoke with incredible enthuasiam having brought out both Kim and Justin to talk about the horse. "I don't see what this has to do with me." Justin McKinney spoke up, leaning against the wall closet to the door in preparation for a quick exit. "His name is A True Hero, great bloodlines and he runs well on both surfaces, 9-12F is his range in distance. He's up there with Mardi Gras, Justin, I called you in because you need a new mount yourself, you're so damn picky about who you ride. Kim, you're good with the bloodlines, check out his pedigree I'm sure you'll find something to love about them." While Justin stewed in the corner, Kim looked over the printed copy of the horse's pedigree.
KC Racing had gotten its hands on a few well-bred horses from across the country and this colt was no exception. "By Everyday Hero...that's a pretty stellar stud...out of..The True Nut. That's Cute Italian's half sister..this colt is her nephew practically. I'm in love with this colt already." Kim grinned and walked over to nudge Justin in the side. "Come on, Justin. Give him a chance." When the jockey didn't say anything, John spoke up for him. "If it helps, I already purchased him for $5,000, he'll be here next Monday."
~
Kim stood outside the stall that belonged to Mardi Gras. Her injured leg had been bandaged and the resident stable vet was always coming around to keep an eye on the black filly. Today the Spring Cup winner seemed to be in good spirits and was happily taking peppermints from Kim's hand. "You're still number one in my book, Mardi. You've earned yourself an excellent retirement, and you don't have to be any kind of Breeders' Cup winner to earn that here." Giving the filly one last pat and another peppermint Kim walked outside of the barn as she heard the arrival of the trailer that would be carrying A True Hero.Although he didn't want to be out there, Justin McKinney was lingering in the parking lot as the stablehands unloaded the chestnut colt. "Wow, he's a short little thing isn't he?" Kim commented for the red colt stood at 15.3hh and most of the other horses at the stable would tower over him. The colt tossed his head back and forth, sticking his tongue out as he went about seeming content with being off of the trailer. Something seemed to have gotten the jockey's attention as he stepped over and grabbed the colt's lead from the handlers. "He's certainly different." He commented as he gave the colt a once over. It was a big change from jockeying the 17hh Mardi Gras then going to a colt like A True Hero. "I'll give him a chance and try him out tomorrow. No promises." He spoke to John and Kim as he looked the colt in the eyes before handing him back over to the stablehands.
~
It would turn out that promises wouldn't be needed as when the time came for the colt to get his first workout under new ownership, Justin didn't seem to want to get out of the saddle. "Alright, timer ready." John called from outside the track as the colt was loaded up into the starting gates, still lolling his tongue out while holding his head up proudly at the same time.
When the gates pulled up the colt broke from the gates nicely and set himself immediately into a pace that fit his fancy. Justin led the horse down the track without any problems but it wasn't until they came around the first bend that he realized the colt changed gears much like how a person riding a bike would do. "He's got some speed on him." John commented as Kim walked up to watch the colt make his move down the stretch.
And then the colt's gears shifted again as he stretched out his legs not letting his small stature slow him down. He reached out with his legs and pushed himself down the track, propelling himself forward with power as he surged across the finish line and continued running down the track before one of the riders and their track pony came by to grab the horse's reins and pull him around.
The colt tossed his head back and forth and seemed to be pleased with himself as he was being led out of the track. "This colt changes gears like a bike, I could literally feel him changing speeds. He's got a heart like Mardi Gras, I think I could grow to like him." Justin spoke, trying his best to hide the hint of a smile as he patted the colt's red neck, feeling pleased to finally be back in the saddle and able to go back on the racetrack again.
made by ritz! of wicked wonderland
