Agent Of Truth
Russian Agent & Lucy Hamilton
Vindicated & Samuel Knight
Vindicated & Samuel Knight
"Tanya, it's great to have you with us. I am glad you feel ready to return to the track, and to agree to ride for Riverview Acres... Well, you have no idea what a honor this is."
"Really, Alexia? As if I was going to go anywhere else."
"Well true, how is Lucas taking it all?"
"He says if you let anything happen to me he'll take your head. He was jesting, of course."
"Yeah... Well, he was going to take it hard. How about Welbeck Acres?"
"It will be ready to open soon."
"Good, good. Anyway, sorry to throw you in the deep end but you've arrived just as we're about to run a workout... One you should be interested in."
"Oh?"
"Yes, two of the horses you will be riding are scheduled to run together. I thought you might like to watch."
"Definitely. I've been spending time with all of them, and put some under-saddle work in with each, but I have yet to see them run in person. Of course, I have been following you on TV but it's not the same."
With conversation still flowing between them, the pair headed down to the track. They were truly animated, with hand gestures and laughter. Two friends reunited in their favorite sport once more. The news that Tanya was returning had been well received by the community, but few would understand how important this really was to the stable. Tanya had experience, style, and seemed able to adapt to most horses. Unlike her current pair.
The handlers were already at the track with the temperamental filly, Indi (known as Vindicated on the track). She had her head held high and was making things difficult for the handlers as she pulled this way and that. In her way, she was just playing with them although if she did get loose she would no doubt be flying down the dirt without a moment of realizing. She had been the first of Alexia's horses to arrive at Riverview Acres, trained carefully for the track, and so far she was not doing too badly having gained two wins. In fact, Alexia was hoping the filly was ready to move up and start claiming some HoTY races too. The trainer had to admire the filly's spirit, and her heart.
Baron was much quieter as he was led out onto the track. The bay was an unusually mature colt, calm and collected as he followed the handlers who were working with him. His auds flicked a little, his eyes shifting over the track as he took in the environment around him. Including Indi. He watched her, his eyes following her energetic movements for a long moment before moving on and across the dirt once more.
The jockeys walked across the track and mounted. Indi danced away from Sam but he still pulled himself into the saddle while Baron stood well for Lucy to mount. His tail snapped at his rump as his head raised a little - the colt was definitely more focused and responsive with someone in the saddle. Indi was pretty much the same, energetic and ready to go, not wanting to stay still any longer now that she had her jockey. This led to the next task - the gates.
Indi's enthusiasm had a downside. The spirited dark bay was in a rush to get started and several times had to be turned away to stop her from crashing into the contraption. It was only on the third attempt that she successfully loaded, a rather bored Baron looking on before also being led to the gates. It almost appeared he was mocking her as he strode confidently into the gate on the first attempt and settled quickly in the stall. All was calm as they waited for the start of the workout and as the shutters sprang open things were quick to get moving. Baron had the better start, getting a slight lead over the filly and holding it with ease as she slipped quietly behind him without a fuss. He settled into a quiet, comfortable pace and she matched it well.
It was obvious this was not going to be a quick run, while Baron could run up front it was not his preferred position and Indi tended to drift somewhere in the middle of the pack with no real set style. Two of the three furlongs were more of a relaxed jaunt, the pair seeming to draw even as they made their way up the dirt stretch. They were clearly at ease on the track, enjoying the run, but as the jockeys started to drive as they entered the third furlong things changed.
What might have, until then, been classed as a friendly encounter turned into an all out war. The filly and colt dove into the run, duelling it out as they pressed onwards. At one point, it seemed that Baron was going to show the filly what for as his acceleration gave him an upper hand but Indi was not giving up without a fight. The dark bay battled on and drew even again, pulling ahead by a nose before hitting the post. It was a wondrous display of spirit, and both horses had benefited.
"Really, Alexia? As if I was going to go anywhere else."
"Well true, how is Lucas taking it all?"
"He says if you let anything happen to me he'll take your head. He was jesting, of course."
"Yeah... Well, he was going to take it hard. How about Welbeck Acres?"
"It will be ready to open soon."
"Good, good. Anyway, sorry to throw you in the deep end but you've arrived just as we're about to run a workout... One you should be interested in."
"Oh?"
"Yes, two of the horses you will be riding are scheduled to run together. I thought you might like to watch."
"Definitely. I've been spending time with all of them, and put some under-saddle work in with each, but I have yet to see them run in person. Of course, I have been following you on TV but it's not the same."
With conversation still flowing between them, the pair headed down to the track. They were truly animated, with hand gestures and laughter. Two friends reunited in their favorite sport once more. The news that Tanya was returning had been well received by the community, but few would understand how important this really was to the stable. Tanya had experience, style, and seemed able to adapt to most horses. Unlike her current pair.
The handlers were already at the track with the temperamental filly, Indi (known as Vindicated on the track). She had her head held high and was making things difficult for the handlers as she pulled this way and that. In her way, she was just playing with them although if she did get loose she would no doubt be flying down the dirt without a moment of realizing. She had been the first of Alexia's horses to arrive at Riverview Acres, trained carefully for the track, and so far she was not doing too badly having gained two wins. In fact, Alexia was hoping the filly was ready to move up and start claiming some HoTY races too. The trainer had to admire the filly's spirit, and her heart.
Baron was much quieter as he was led out onto the track. The bay was an unusually mature colt, calm and collected as he followed the handlers who were working with him. His auds flicked a little, his eyes shifting over the track as he took in the environment around him. Including Indi. He watched her, his eyes following her energetic movements for a long moment before moving on and across the dirt once more.
The jockeys walked across the track and mounted. Indi danced away from Sam but he still pulled himself into the saddle while Baron stood well for Lucy to mount. His tail snapped at his rump as his head raised a little - the colt was definitely more focused and responsive with someone in the saddle. Indi was pretty much the same, energetic and ready to go, not wanting to stay still any longer now that she had her jockey. This led to the next task - the gates.
Indi's enthusiasm had a downside. The spirited dark bay was in a rush to get started and several times had to be turned away to stop her from crashing into the contraption. It was only on the third attempt that she successfully loaded, a rather bored Baron looking on before also being led to the gates. It almost appeared he was mocking her as he strode confidently into the gate on the first attempt and settled quickly in the stall. All was calm as they waited for the start of the workout and as the shutters sprang open things were quick to get moving. Baron had the better start, getting a slight lead over the filly and holding it with ease as she slipped quietly behind him without a fuss. He settled into a quiet, comfortable pace and she matched it well.
It was obvious this was not going to be a quick run, while Baron could run up front it was not his preferred position and Indi tended to drift somewhere in the middle of the pack with no real set style. Two of the three furlongs were more of a relaxed jaunt, the pair seeming to draw even as they made their way up the dirt stretch. They were clearly at ease on the track, enjoying the run, but as the jockeys started to drive as they entered the third furlong things changed.
What might have, until then, been classed as a friendly encounter turned into an all out war. The filly and colt dove into the run, duelling it out as they pressed onwards. At one point, it seemed that Baron was going to show the filly what for as his acceleration gave him an upper hand but Indi was not giving up without a fight. The dark bay battled on and drew even again, pulling ahead by a nose before hitting the post. It was a wondrous display of spirit, and both horses had benefited.