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Post by Melissa on Jul 8, 2009 19:13:34 GMT -5
The chestnut colt snorted, his mane bouncing as he trotted along the track rail. With no less than five races on FS Mockingbird's schedule this work would have to be a good one. The Classic over at The Wire would be our main priority, if he won there then the other races would be a breeze but I'd be happy with a place in the Classic especially after the way he'd battled for a top three place in the Dominance Cup. Jay had loved the pampering I'd given him after that race. Now with a two month break the colt felt really good, and totally Classic-worthy. Most importantly I was determined to win at least two big races with the chestnut colt, whether it be two Classic victories, a Barbaro/TW Dirt Cup or whatever. My job would be to make sure he got his moment in the winners circle, if it was more than one or two well it would make me incredibly happy. Tossing his head the muscular chestnut Fly High Silver son pinned back one ear, chewing a little on the bit in his mouth. Shifting sideways he kicked out in readiness to get his workout to his favorite part, the breezing. I gave a small smile and balanced over Jay's withers, the sunshine flooding the colt's chestnut coat and turning it a burning copper color. Big-boned and trim from been ridden on the trails, as well as being breezed every three to four days had shaped the magnificent colt immensely.
Nudging Jay forward into a canter, I settled contently into the powerful three year old's rocking motion, his hoof beats almost lulling me to sleep but I forced myself to stay focused, the colt might be one of my special favorites but he wasn't the type to let you sleep on him. Santana and Folksong would let you but not Jay nor Faith, you wanted to stay in the saddle of Faith and Jay you had to be alert even if you had worked three other racers and just wanted to nap before working six hunter/jumpers that afternoon. As of lately that was what I had been doing since Kyle was working Cain more, so I would head back to the house and fall down on the couch, not even bothering to kick off my boots. No matter how tired I was, I'd rather take a breeze on Kore VS before anyone else rode FS Mockingbird. His silky mane lashing against my cheek when he shook his head, the muscled stud colt squealed and gave a bunny hop to hurry me up. "Okay sorry big guy. Let's go." I mumbled, nudging the Oddside colt into a brisk canter, letting the towering colt work out his kinks before he got down to the grueling two mile gallop, followed by a quick blow-out over six furlongs. Once Jay was moving smoothly, and responding a bit more willingly to my cues I shifted my weight forward and he tugged at the reins, already knowing what my movement meant. "Steeady." I crooned, gripping the leather reins tighter in my hands when the three year old stumbled in his eagerness to pick up the pace. Once he was balanced again I loosened my hold on the reins and Jay charged forward, his powerful hindquarters sending him forward with ease over the track.
My cheek pressed into his glistening neck as he pounded forward, his breaths coming rapidly as his legs tore up the track and he wasn't quite going at top speed yet. It didn't matter though, he had plenty of galloping at a steady pace left to go before he was asked for more. I could tell his rapid breathing was just from the short warm-up and not from weariness. He was quite accustomed to a short warm-up and then a long gallop to bring him up to steam before a blow out. It was nothing to him, except I changed the distances of his gallop. Today's two mile would be the first time he'd gone at a gallop for longer than a mile and a quarter. That was how I worked him, always had and always would. I pushed him to the limit and he responded like a warrior, one definitely up to the challenge I presented him in training. If he stood any amount of chance of winning a few big races this season Jay would have to be razor sharp on his speed. It was bound to a lot of jockeys out for the win so most importantly I would have to be on my toes, looking for any opening that looked safe enough to go through. We wouldn't be the ones who would be classified as has-beens in a year from now. Jay had been born to champions and that was what he would be.
Swinging around the turn Jay hugged tight to the rail, his muscles straining as he continued on at a steady clip, the reins were loose in my hands but I still had a strong hold on him and he wasn't putting up too much of a fight now but his strides were lengthened as far as they would go. I kept a good eye on the marker poles as Jay moved steadily at a gallop down the backstretch before making his second turn and continuing down the front stretch. "5...4..3" I said to myself as the marker where I would let Jay out at to start his six-furlong breeze approached. Without hesitation I leaned forward, giving the colt his head immediately and Jay pinned both ears back, Jay's head shot out as he barreled forward, his long-legged strides becoming longer. He would never have a huge stride like Man O'War but he did know how to kick up his length a little bit. I closed my eyes slightly as Jay's rough breathing sounded in my ears. Snapping them open when Jay's body curved like it did when he was about to round the turn. Leaning back I took a short hold on the reins, and in a few seconds I had the chestnut slacking off from his rapid pace and he flicked back one ear. "Sorry boy, I need you in tip-top shape, not exhausted for the big races this year." I mumbled, riding out his canter and then posting to his bouncy trot before finally Jay sighed and scooted his hind end underneath him to relax to a walk for his cool-down. |
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