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Post by Melissa on Aug 16, 2007 14:46:42 GMT -5
[WB Gallant Lover & Murder Afire & Southern Dancer]
"Well this should be interesting." I remarked softly as I left the racing barn with Jules and Dancer in tow. Jewel glanced over her shoulder at me where the young stablehand was grooming Murder Afire. The bay GS Gallant Prince son looked in tip top shape and would certainly be pressing the chestnut and bay fillies being led by me. "Why do you say that Mel?" She asked curiously continuing to go over Scene's bright bay coat with a currycomb before she picked up a soft brush and brushed away the dirt that the currycomb had discovered. "Well Scene's the only big winner out of the three but both Jules and Dancer have talent and with Prince as these guys sire this workout should be interesting." I answered securing Dancer to a ring outside the barn.
Those rings were barely used except in the summer when it was nice enough to groom the horses outside. They were a bit rusty as well, I'd have to get Cain to clean them. Southern Dancer snorted and crowded close to her half-sister pushing at Jules with interest. WB Gallant Lover squealed and nipped Dancer, slapping her copper tail against her flanks in annoyance. "I know Jules, how dare she try to touch you." I said sarcastically to the chestnut three year old, rolling my eyes at the filly's attitude. With a snort Jules narrowed her big brown eyes as if she could understand my words. Jewel gave a soft laugh at my words as she bent over to clean out Scene's hooves. Much like Dancer the bay colt was extremely friendly almost to the point of a pest but he had speed and wasn't overraced. He'd be in good shape when he met up with Touchstone, Contessa and Goddess Fly High in the Classic.
Craning his head around Murder Afire nudged at Jewel's back, leaving a wet spot from where he lipped at the soft cotton. Bringing her hand around with a grin she lightly pushed away Scene's head before continuing. I meanwhile had tied up Jules and was running a currycomb over the chestnut's coat. Like most of Prince's foals, Jules's dam was exceptional. Love of A Starr had produced Sweet Symphony, the dam of my black yearling Determination filly appropriately named Devious. Southern Dancer's dam had hailed from Mr. Prospector/Secretariat/Storm Cat blood and Murder Afire's dam was Regency, a San D' Aigo Starr daughter just like Love of A Starr was. Jules wasn't booked to any studs although I did plan on breeding her to WB Thunderbird, my BC Sprint winning colt once she was retired. Southern Dancer was currently booked to MD's brilliant Pegasus stakes winner Fleeting By. I had been tickled when MD had inquired about getting a brood to Dancer for such an high quality racing stallion.
"All ready?" I asked looking over at Jewel once the colt and two fillies were tacked up ready to go. "Yeah, just who's riding Dancer today?" she asked with a nod toward the bay Thoroughbred filly who flicked one ear and eyed us curiously. "Cain was supposed to ride with us but apparently he got distracted again." I replied with a touch of frustration at the young boy's short attention span. It annoyed me to no end how short Cain's attention stayed on one thing. Less than three seconds later Jade appeared and I gave a sigh of relief seeing her outfit. She'd traded in a skirt for riding pants but still wore the same tank top which didn't bother me, everybody wore tank tops to work in during the summer.
"Bumped into Cain over at Korona's paddock so I figured he'd forgotten that he was to ride Dancer today so I came." She said softly pulling down the stirrups on the bay Prince daughter's saddle. I gave a nod and mounted WB Gallant Lover nimbly. Shaking her head happily the chestnut Thoroughbred skittered sideways, nearly bumping into Murder Afire. "Easy Jules. You guys ready?" I said all in one breath, my brown eyes flickering between the two others. Jade gave a short nod and nudged Southern Dancer into a trot. The bay filly's ears pricked forward happily and she floated easily forward into a controlled trot. Murder Afire following close behind.
All too soon we were at the gates and Murder Afire was loaded first. The bay three year old was an old pro and stood calmly while Jewel got prepared for the start from the gates. Southern Dancer went into the stall on Scene's right and I loaded WB Gallant Lover into the starting gate on Murder Afire's left. Barely two seconds later the gates flew open and the two bays and one chestnut charged from the gates. The dirt from the track flying up around their hooves as they strained to take the lead from each other. Murder Afire veered a bit towards Southern Dancer and Jules immediately shot forward, her strides long and fluid holding all the poise of a filly who definitely knew what she was doing.
Streaking along ahead in front of Southern Dancer and Murder Afire Jules rooted her head and flared her nostrils taking in huge amounts of oxygen as she galloped easily along a few lengths in front of her two half-siblings. I kept a firm hold on the three year old, glancing back under my arm in the middle of the turn to see Southern Dancer surging past Murder Afire and coming on strong at Jade's urging. In a flash the bay filly had moved up on Jules' side and instantly the chestnut's ears swept back and her tail flicked. Murder Afire moved up in position on Southern Dancer's outside as the three three year olds swept around the turn.
Relaxing my hold some on Jules' reins I leaned forward and the flame colored filly plunged forward with big, powerful strides. Zipping down the backstretch the Prince daughter didn't let either Dancer or Scene in range of her as she breezed past the finish wire. Standing up in my stirrups I brought the brightly colored filly to a walk but Jules wasn't happy about it, shaking her head and jerking at the reins. |
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