Post by ripley on Dec 23, 2017 21:56:06 GMT -6
Heir Apparent
Rightful Heir jockeyed by Maggiletti Reynolds
Golden Envoy jockeyed by David Carter
Ripley sat astride Jabberwock as the next set of horses moved onto the turf course at The Wire. The powerful eight year old snorted and sidestepped impatiently. After three months away from the track for R&R, the gelded son of Native Flame was more than happy to remind Ripley why he'd made a strong racehorse in his prime. He tossed his fine head and neighed longingly in the direction of the youngsters jogging his way. "Not today, boss. Another time."
The head trainer didn't need binoculars to tell these two juveniles apart. Golden Envoy's chestnut body glimmered in the sun as she jogged beside Rightful Heir. Her pinned ears gave her the typical chestnut mare resting bitch face, but her efficient manner and willingness to move forward gave her away. For all of the grumpiness the daughter of GS Royal Crown and Ebony Gold Lady displayed on a daily basis, she was a good workhorse. While most other babies had their hiccups, Envy had relished every step of the training process. Ripley rubbed a thumb over the meaty part of her thigh, reminding herself that the filly's vicious tendencies took a back seat to her talent.
Rightful Heir, a lean 16.0 hand tall colt, was not vicious, but he certainly deserved the award for 'Most Stubborn.' The blaze faced colt bobbed and weaved over the track, giving Maggie a hard time. One would think the colt had not seen the track before the way he behaved, let alone every day for the last two weeks. Ripley shook her head when the colt started leaning on Envy. The 15.2 hand filly pinned her ears and twisted her head to give him the evil eye, but David Carter would allow her no more than that. Sighing, Ripley nudged Jabberwock into a jog as the juveniles passed. "Well horse, it looks like you'll get to spread your wings after all."
Rightful Heir's dainty ears flicked backward when Jabberwock moved up the gap between the rail and the juvenile. Maggie flashed Ripley a relieved look when the trainer leaned over to clip a lead rope to Rightful Heir's bridle. The colt didn't even flinch, demonstrating how often this task had to be performed. Once hooked, the trio moved into ground eating strides and proceeded with their exercise. Ripley admired the Royal Cadenza colt and sought out his dam in him. Cross My Heart would never have stood for a pony at her head like this. The pony would have been a weight holding her back and Cross had been a creature for freedom. Ripley leaned over and patted Mr. Right's neck. The good natured horse just tossed his head back and forth like he was due for all of the affection. "You're more like your dad than her," Ripley remarked.
Maggie smiled. "That's not a bad thing. Cadenza was a sharp horse in his own right."
"You definitely paired the right horses together in this workout," David smarted when he nudged Golden Envoy into a lope back down the homestretch. The filly snorted and twisted her compact body into a snake like posture. Her eyes flashed as she threatened a buck, reminding Ripley of another chestnut filly who wasn't fond of being told what to do. "How so, David?" Ripley asked.
"You know how," David said, grunting as he straightened Envy. "These two are going to lay all over each other. Lazy unless they're engaged in combat."
Ripley smiled because the description was apt. The chestnut and bay duo descended from brilliant horses and possessed speed themselves, but neither of them were particularly fond of blitzing their competition into the ground. "I'll start you at the back marker. You'll go five furlongs in around 1:01 with the dogs up."
Maggie and David leaned closer to their mounts' necks as Ripley urged Jabberwock on faster. The bay stud was all too willing to drag Rightful Heir with him. The brazen baby pinned his ears at the older horse, but he moved off, all bark and no bite. Ripley unclipped the juvenile and set him off with a whistle. Maggie held tight as the black mane slashed her face when the colt launched into his longed legged stride. He glided over the ground with an easy athleticism, as if running this fast were just a walk in the park. Therein was the power of Rightful Heir. He wasn't going to blow you away with blazing gate-to-wire speed like Mama Cross, but he could run fast fractions and save for the later sprint home. Maggie peered under her arm at the little filly running at Mr. Right's hip. Golden Envoy took two strides to his one, but she was dogged in her determination to stay with the colt. David didn't even have to encourage her to run with the colt, her pride simply wouldn't allow him to get away.
David knew Maggie's colt had a swift turn of foot on the turn. He was a larger horse, but he was slick as a fish if his rider caught him in the right moment. Golden Envoy was a grinding, long-running type of filly. She'd stay with him for as long as David kept her glued to his side. In David's opinion, his filly was the toughest horse in the string. She could sprint with you and she could stay with you. Her effective cruising stride made her a tough little horse to beat. He leaned low over her warm neck as they bounded into the far turn. The clock in his head had them hitting 1:01 on the button.
Maggie shook the reins at Mr. Right and was rewarded with a face full of mane as the colt rocketed upward to push off his powerful haunches. He had a character to him, Maggie reminded herself as she spat out a mouthful of mane. The colt stretched low over the turf as he ran into the stretch, daring the filly to match him. His ears got to flicking over his head, listening for the presumed competition. Maggie kept the colt to task, flashing him a right handed whip and for the moment, it did the job.
Envy surged forward to engage the colt, her ears pinned and her tail flying out behind her. She was a quick little bugger and soon Mr. Right was being kept to task by David's filly. The horses dashed side by side for the wire, their bodies inches apart, but not brushing. Both jockeys smiled inwardly at the achievement. It had taken a lot to keep the competitive fires of both horses from physically taking out the competition.
Ripley nodded in satisfaction when Malcolm came over the radio and said the duo had shaded exactly 1:01. She petted Jabberwock on the neck as the pair of juveniles danced by in their gallop out, each of them looking very satisfied with themselves. They were regally bred, but she had a feeling that they'd each make their own legacy, separate from their powerful relations. There was no need to fill shoes when they could grow into their own.
Rightful Heir jockeyed by Maggiletti Reynolds
Golden Envoy jockeyed by David Carter
Ripley sat astride Jabberwock as the next set of horses moved onto the turf course at The Wire. The powerful eight year old snorted and sidestepped impatiently. After three months away from the track for R&R, the gelded son of Native Flame was more than happy to remind Ripley why he'd made a strong racehorse in his prime. He tossed his fine head and neighed longingly in the direction of the youngsters jogging his way. "Not today, boss. Another time."
The head trainer didn't need binoculars to tell these two juveniles apart. Golden Envoy's chestnut body glimmered in the sun as she jogged beside Rightful Heir. Her pinned ears gave her the typical chestnut mare resting bitch face, but her efficient manner and willingness to move forward gave her away. For all of the grumpiness the daughter of GS Royal Crown and Ebony Gold Lady displayed on a daily basis, she was a good workhorse. While most other babies had their hiccups, Envy had relished every step of the training process. Ripley rubbed a thumb over the meaty part of her thigh, reminding herself that the filly's vicious tendencies took a back seat to her talent.
Rightful Heir, a lean 16.0 hand tall colt, was not vicious, but he certainly deserved the award for 'Most Stubborn.' The blaze faced colt bobbed and weaved over the track, giving Maggie a hard time. One would think the colt had not seen the track before the way he behaved, let alone every day for the last two weeks. Ripley shook her head when the colt started leaning on Envy. The 15.2 hand filly pinned her ears and twisted her head to give him the evil eye, but David Carter would allow her no more than that. Sighing, Ripley nudged Jabberwock into a jog as the juveniles passed. "Well horse, it looks like you'll get to spread your wings after all."
Rightful Heir's dainty ears flicked backward when Jabberwock moved up the gap between the rail and the juvenile. Maggie flashed Ripley a relieved look when the trainer leaned over to clip a lead rope to Rightful Heir's bridle. The colt didn't even flinch, demonstrating how often this task had to be performed. Once hooked, the trio moved into ground eating strides and proceeded with their exercise. Ripley admired the Royal Cadenza colt and sought out his dam in him. Cross My Heart would never have stood for a pony at her head like this. The pony would have been a weight holding her back and Cross had been a creature for freedom. Ripley leaned over and patted Mr. Right's neck. The good natured horse just tossed his head back and forth like he was due for all of the affection. "You're more like your dad than her," Ripley remarked.
Maggie smiled. "That's not a bad thing. Cadenza was a sharp horse in his own right."
"You definitely paired the right horses together in this workout," David smarted when he nudged Golden Envoy into a lope back down the homestretch. The filly snorted and twisted her compact body into a snake like posture. Her eyes flashed as she threatened a buck, reminding Ripley of another chestnut filly who wasn't fond of being told what to do. "How so, David?" Ripley asked.
"You know how," David said, grunting as he straightened Envy. "These two are going to lay all over each other. Lazy unless they're engaged in combat."
Ripley smiled because the description was apt. The chestnut and bay duo descended from brilliant horses and possessed speed themselves, but neither of them were particularly fond of blitzing their competition into the ground. "I'll start you at the back marker. You'll go five furlongs in around 1:01 with the dogs up."
Maggie and David leaned closer to their mounts' necks as Ripley urged Jabberwock on faster. The bay stud was all too willing to drag Rightful Heir with him. The brazen baby pinned his ears at the older horse, but he moved off, all bark and no bite. Ripley unclipped the juvenile and set him off with a whistle. Maggie held tight as the black mane slashed her face when the colt launched into his longed legged stride. He glided over the ground with an easy athleticism, as if running this fast were just a walk in the park. Therein was the power of Rightful Heir. He wasn't going to blow you away with blazing gate-to-wire speed like Mama Cross, but he could run fast fractions and save for the later sprint home. Maggie peered under her arm at the little filly running at Mr. Right's hip. Golden Envoy took two strides to his one, but she was dogged in her determination to stay with the colt. David didn't even have to encourage her to run with the colt, her pride simply wouldn't allow him to get away.
David knew Maggie's colt had a swift turn of foot on the turn. He was a larger horse, but he was slick as a fish if his rider caught him in the right moment. Golden Envoy was a grinding, long-running type of filly. She'd stay with him for as long as David kept her glued to his side. In David's opinion, his filly was the toughest horse in the string. She could sprint with you and she could stay with you. Her effective cruising stride made her a tough little horse to beat. He leaned low over her warm neck as they bounded into the far turn. The clock in his head had them hitting 1:01 on the button.
Maggie shook the reins at Mr. Right and was rewarded with a face full of mane as the colt rocketed upward to push off his powerful haunches. He had a character to him, Maggie reminded herself as she spat out a mouthful of mane. The colt stretched low over the turf as he ran into the stretch, daring the filly to match him. His ears got to flicking over his head, listening for the presumed competition. Maggie kept the colt to task, flashing him a right handed whip and for the moment, it did the job.
Envy surged forward to engage the colt, her ears pinned and her tail flying out behind her. She was a quick little bugger and soon Mr. Right was being kept to task by David's filly. The horses dashed side by side for the wire, their bodies inches apart, but not brushing. Both jockeys smiled inwardly at the achievement. It had taken a lot to keep the competitive fires of both horses from physically taking out the competition.
Ripley nodded in satisfaction when Malcolm came over the radio and said the duo had shaded exactly 1:01. She petted Jabberwock on the neck as the pair of juveniles danced by in their gallop out, each of them looking very satisfied with themselves. They were regally bred, but she had a feeling that they'd each make their own legacy, separate from their powerful relations. There was no need to fill shoes when they could grow into their own.
