Bikini Weather
Girl Talk jockeyed by Lucy Hamilton
National Treasure jockeyed by Samuel Knight
National Treasure jockeyed by Samuel Knight
Of the horses at Riverview Acres, two had been worrying Alexia more than the rest - National Treasure (who had won a leg of the Triple Tiara the previous year) and Girl Talk (a grade four three year old who the trainer believed had a lot of potential) had struggled to get their first win of the season. It had been getting to a stage where she was questioning if her methods just weren't working for the pair when they had both broken that barrier in the same week. National Treasure had claimed an undercard race at Green Horse Fields while Girl Talk had been victorious at the SOPS Stride For Perfection Classic Series. It was a start for them both, but they were far from done. Now that they were back in winning form Alexia had every intention of keeping them there.
As the trainer walked out onto the track the sun beat down mercilessly, hot rays causing a heat that had been absent over the last few days. Alexia found herself sweating slightly, and she wasn't even doing all that much but her jockeys... Well, this is what they had signed up for. Hot weather was just another obstacle, and not one which was impossible to overcome. While the heat wave was a bit of a freak occurrence this early in the year it would become more and more common for the weather to be like this as the summer continued. Some horses even liked the peaks in weather and thrived during the hottest months of the year. In fact, the trainer suspected that given her peak the previous summer, Treasure could well be one of those horses.
Treasure and Lassy had become quite friendly over the months - they shared pasture time, and both being of gentle natures seemed to have something of a bond. While Treasure certainly wasn't the most sociable mare around she had found a buddy in Lassy and Alexia would be sad to see that end when the younger filly transferred back to her home stable at the end of the season. As such, it was no surprise to see them walking down to the track side by side - Lassy was still curious about the fences, her tongue out as she licked at them while Treasure walked in the cool, collected manner which was typical of her. As they came out onto the track the older of the pair nuzzled the younger slightly before being led a short distance away.
Neither jockey was wasting time - they wanted out of the heat. They hadn't bothered to bicker, had been quiet throughout the briefing and seemed to just want to get started. Which was fair enough - this was more like bakini weather than silks weather. No doubt in their gear they were too hot and somewhat uncomfortable. Really, Alexia felt cruel for sitting in her light, cotton clothing. As they settled into their saddles she sat back in her seat, glanced down at the notes in her lap, and waited. This should be a nice run.
Loading was a quick task, neither of the dark-coated equines putting up a fight as they entered the stalls and when the gates opened it was clearly the younger, stranger looking (due to her roaning) of the two that took the early lead. Even though she was a gradual runner, she was not so laid back as Treasure who, while focused on the track, always seemed to lack that forwards drive in the early stages of a race. If Sam had been pushing her then the filly would be sure to respond, but he seemed content with their positioning and that was a good thing, given that Treasure performed at her best when coming from the back.
With no front pace and no pressure from behind, Lassy set gentle fractions and continued to pull away from Treasure who still did not seem phased by the growing distance between herself and the other horse. The taller, black filly was just waiting for he cue and then things would change. Sam started to push her a little after the second furlong, not wanting to make an impossible task, and was making sure that she knew the time was almost upon them. Ahead, Lucy was still letting Girl Talk build her pace slowly but surely, with just a little encouragement but that changed around half a furlong as the jockey started to encourage the filly in earnest. No whips yet, however.
It was as the third furlong came to a close that things really got into gear - Sam was driving Treasure, cracking the whip and she flung herself forwards. Lucy, too, had brought the whip into play and the fillies were going for it. Lassy seemed to have an easy lead, but with the way Treasure was closing these fractions Alexia just knew it was going to be exciting. They passed the line, and she couldn't even tell who had come in ahead! In a race this would have been a photo finish, but here on the practice track it was just a welcome end to a nice workout. The fillies were looking good.
As the trainer walked out onto the track the sun beat down mercilessly, hot rays causing a heat that had been absent over the last few days. Alexia found herself sweating slightly, and she wasn't even doing all that much but her jockeys... Well, this is what they had signed up for. Hot weather was just another obstacle, and not one which was impossible to overcome. While the heat wave was a bit of a freak occurrence this early in the year it would become more and more common for the weather to be like this as the summer continued. Some horses even liked the peaks in weather and thrived during the hottest months of the year. In fact, the trainer suspected that given her peak the previous summer, Treasure could well be one of those horses.
Treasure and Lassy had become quite friendly over the months - they shared pasture time, and both being of gentle natures seemed to have something of a bond. While Treasure certainly wasn't the most sociable mare around she had found a buddy in Lassy and Alexia would be sad to see that end when the younger filly transferred back to her home stable at the end of the season. As such, it was no surprise to see them walking down to the track side by side - Lassy was still curious about the fences, her tongue out as she licked at them while Treasure walked in the cool, collected manner which was typical of her. As they came out onto the track the older of the pair nuzzled the younger slightly before being led a short distance away.
Neither jockey was wasting time - they wanted out of the heat. They hadn't bothered to bicker, had been quiet throughout the briefing and seemed to just want to get started. Which was fair enough - this was more like bakini weather than silks weather. No doubt in their gear they were too hot and somewhat uncomfortable. Really, Alexia felt cruel for sitting in her light, cotton clothing. As they settled into their saddles she sat back in her seat, glanced down at the notes in her lap, and waited. This should be a nice run.
Loading was a quick task, neither of the dark-coated equines putting up a fight as they entered the stalls and when the gates opened it was clearly the younger, stranger looking (due to her roaning) of the two that took the early lead. Even though she was a gradual runner, she was not so laid back as Treasure who, while focused on the track, always seemed to lack that forwards drive in the early stages of a race. If Sam had been pushing her then the filly would be sure to respond, but he seemed content with their positioning and that was a good thing, given that Treasure performed at her best when coming from the back.
With no front pace and no pressure from behind, Lassy set gentle fractions and continued to pull away from Treasure who still did not seem phased by the growing distance between herself and the other horse. The taller, black filly was just waiting for he cue and then things would change. Sam started to push her a little after the second furlong, not wanting to make an impossible task, and was making sure that she knew the time was almost upon them. Ahead, Lucy was still letting Girl Talk build her pace slowly but surely, with just a little encouragement but that changed around half a furlong as the jockey started to encourage the filly in earnest. No whips yet, however.
It was as the third furlong came to a close that things really got into gear - Sam was driving Treasure, cracking the whip and she flung herself forwards. Lucy, too, had brought the whip into play and the fillies were going for it. Lassy seemed to have an easy lead, but with the way Treasure was closing these fractions Alexia just knew it was going to be exciting. They passed the line, and she couldn't even tell who had come in ahead! In a race this would have been a photo finish, but here on the practice track it was just a welcome end to a nice workout. The fillies were looking good.