Running True
Girl Talk & Lucy Hamilton
National Treasure & Samuel Knight
National Treasure & Samuel Knight
One of the things that was important in a racing stable such as Riverview Acres was keeping that competitive spirit and drive high. The jockeys needed to want to win, the horses needed to be kept sharp for the track. There were several ways such things could be done to maintain such, but Alexia found that one of the most effective was to run horses together in workouts. As a jockey she had loved the challenge of going head-on-head with her colleagues to prepare for races, and she was hoping that Sam and Lucy would share that passion otherwise she would need to look at other ways of keeping everyone on their toes.
While separated by a year of age, Girl Talk and National Treasure shared not only a preference for turf (with a two furlong overlap) but also a similar level of experience on the track. It made them ideal workout partners, and it would be interesting to see how Girl Talk handled the maturity of the older horse now she was no longer a juvenile. What Lassy lacked was experience in the bigger races, although she had started to move up at the end of the year and had actually claimed a major win in her last start of the season - Alexia could only hope that the few races she had ran at a higher level would have prepared her for the classic season that hopefully lay ahead.
Lassy was as playful as ever as the handlers led her toward the practice track - in the yard she had knocked over a water bucket, nosed shut an ajar stable door and rubbed against several items. Even now, on the short path between the barn and the track and was pulling to get at the fence in such a way that Alexia couldn't help but smile. Their was certainly an entertaining nature to the filly, and she wasn't exactly lacking in talent if her record was anything to go by. As long as Lassy and Lucy got on (which was likely) then their should be no issues.
Behind the playful youngster, Treasure looked positively regal. She moved with quiet purpose, looking much better for the race two weeks previously. She was no longer just fit to race, she was ready to really start pushing for those wins and to build a name for herself - with four of her five wins the previous year being in major races, it shouldn't be too hard a feat. With careful selection of races, and by ensuring she continued to receive the training she deserved, it was quite likely she could start to push up as a four year old. Who knew, by the time she retired at the end of her five year old season she might even have become one of the big turf superstars. It wasn't unheard of for horses to really come into their own in their later years.
As they reached the track and the handlers started to warm the pair up, the differences between the two became even more apparent. Lassy just seemed to be playing, her head high and tail up as she frolicked through the work. She was clearly enjoying herself, her handler making the most of her energy as he worked her. Treasure was a different story, although no less willing her maturity was clear in the way she worked. It was a no-nonsense sort of session, the horse eager to please without expending the sort of energy that Lassy flaunted. Alexia just smiled to herself, it would be interesting to see how they worked together.
The jockeys, too, were preparing for the workout. They chattered as they stretched out, bickering about something which was not important. Alexia heard something about wins and shook her head - Lucy had made quite the impression in procuring the stable's first two wins the previous week and it seemed she was teasing Sam about it. No doubt Sam would catch up, and a little competition wasn't going to harm them. If anything, it was just what they needed - as long as it didn't get between their friendship and them working together then all would be fine.
Soon enough the jockeys were mounted up, the two horses loading into the gates with little fuss. Lassy was on the inside of Treasure for the start, but neither seemed all that interested in the other. Sam shifted in the stirrups, preparing himself while Luy seemed more intent on focusing on Lassy beneath her. "We're ready for this." she assured the horse as she stood in the stirrups herself, gathering up the rein.
"Let the best jockey win, Sam."
"Then you'll be eating my dust."
The jockeys grinned, fixing eyes on the track beyond the gates, and waited. It was probably the slowest and most tension-filled stage of any race... Waiting for the buzzer to sound, the gates to open. In a race, every move right from the beginning counted toward the final results, you had to get this first part right or risk throwing the whole race. In this workout it wasn't much different, what with it being a miniature race between the fillies.
When the buzzer did sound, neither filly had a flying start although Lassy was clearly ahead as they moved out onto the straight. The stocky three year old was suddenly all focus, any signs of the playful flicka gone to be replaced by a much more determined equine. Lucy looked good on her, too, eyes set on the track as they moved forwards steady and sure. Behind them, Sam did not look worried as the taller filly started to fall behind. He was biding his time, just waiting, and Treasure looked as if she could stay there forever. Unlike some horses, which would be itching to push the pace, both seemed content to run at a relaxed gait.
Everything was fairly quiet, Treasure picking her pace up a little to match that of Lassy around a furlong in and clearly a length or two behind. She was clearly paying attention to what was happening and what Sam was telling her, but beyond that showed no other signs of even starting to move up on the other. Lassy, on the other hand, was slowly starting to build pace with a little encouragement from Lucy. It wasn't overly noticable from the stands, but slowly she was creeping further ahead and by the end of the third furlong there were a good four lengths between the two fillies.
But Sam and Treasure weren't looking so patient anymore. The jockey started to drive, the filly lurching forwards and suddenly their pace grew. Gone was the relaxed, patient image that had been Treasure before now and instead you saw the determination of a true racehorse. Lucy, too, was asking more of Lassy who continued to battle onwards although without the impressive spurt of the other. Still, it was impressive and anyone watching could see that both fillies were now going for it.
Another furlong, and Treasure was only about a length behind Lassy and still pushing up. Her auds pressed against her skull with fierce determination as they drew head and head, the younger filly clearly responding to the added pressure in these closing stages. But Treasure slipped by, taking the post at five furlongs by a neck. Sam turned, grinning at Lucy who just laughed.
"We'll get you next time." she promised.
While separated by a year of age, Girl Talk and National Treasure shared not only a preference for turf (with a two furlong overlap) but also a similar level of experience on the track. It made them ideal workout partners, and it would be interesting to see how Girl Talk handled the maturity of the older horse now she was no longer a juvenile. What Lassy lacked was experience in the bigger races, although she had started to move up at the end of the year and had actually claimed a major win in her last start of the season - Alexia could only hope that the few races she had ran at a higher level would have prepared her for the classic season that hopefully lay ahead.
Lassy was as playful as ever as the handlers led her toward the practice track - in the yard she had knocked over a water bucket, nosed shut an ajar stable door and rubbed against several items. Even now, on the short path between the barn and the track and was pulling to get at the fence in such a way that Alexia couldn't help but smile. Their was certainly an entertaining nature to the filly, and she wasn't exactly lacking in talent if her record was anything to go by. As long as Lassy and Lucy got on (which was likely) then their should be no issues.
Behind the playful youngster, Treasure looked positively regal. She moved with quiet purpose, looking much better for the race two weeks previously. She was no longer just fit to race, she was ready to really start pushing for those wins and to build a name for herself - with four of her five wins the previous year being in major races, it shouldn't be too hard a feat. With careful selection of races, and by ensuring she continued to receive the training she deserved, it was quite likely she could start to push up as a four year old. Who knew, by the time she retired at the end of her five year old season she might even have become one of the big turf superstars. It wasn't unheard of for horses to really come into their own in their later years.
As they reached the track and the handlers started to warm the pair up, the differences between the two became even more apparent. Lassy just seemed to be playing, her head high and tail up as she frolicked through the work. She was clearly enjoying herself, her handler making the most of her energy as he worked her. Treasure was a different story, although no less willing her maturity was clear in the way she worked. It was a no-nonsense sort of session, the horse eager to please without expending the sort of energy that Lassy flaunted. Alexia just smiled to herself, it would be interesting to see how they worked together.
The jockeys, too, were preparing for the workout. They chattered as they stretched out, bickering about something which was not important. Alexia heard something about wins and shook her head - Lucy had made quite the impression in procuring the stable's first two wins the previous week and it seemed she was teasing Sam about it. No doubt Sam would catch up, and a little competition wasn't going to harm them. If anything, it was just what they needed - as long as it didn't get between their friendship and them working together then all would be fine.
Soon enough the jockeys were mounted up, the two horses loading into the gates with little fuss. Lassy was on the inside of Treasure for the start, but neither seemed all that interested in the other. Sam shifted in the stirrups, preparing himself while Luy seemed more intent on focusing on Lassy beneath her. "We're ready for this." she assured the horse as she stood in the stirrups herself, gathering up the rein.
"Let the best jockey win, Sam."
"Then you'll be eating my dust."
The jockeys grinned, fixing eyes on the track beyond the gates, and waited. It was probably the slowest and most tension-filled stage of any race... Waiting for the buzzer to sound, the gates to open. In a race, every move right from the beginning counted toward the final results, you had to get this first part right or risk throwing the whole race. In this workout it wasn't much different, what with it being a miniature race between the fillies.
When the buzzer did sound, neither filly had a flying start although Lassy was clearly ahead as they moved out onto the straight. The stocky three year old was suddenly all focus, any signs of the playful flicka gone to be replaced by a much more determined equine. Lucy looked good on her, too, eyes set on the track as they moved forwards steady and sure. Behind them, Sam did not look worried as the taller filly started to fall behind. He was biding his time, just waiting, and Treasure looked as if she could stay there forever. Unlike some horses, which would be itching to push the pace, both seemed content to run at a relaxed gait.
Everything was fairly quiet, Treasure picking her pace up a little to match that of Lassy around a furlong in and clearly a length or two behind. She was clearly paying attention to what was happening and what Sam was telling her, but beyond that showed no other signs of even starting to move up on the other. Lassy, on the other hand, was slowly starting to build pace with a little encouragement from Lucy. It wasn't overly noticable from the stands, but slowly she was creeping further ahead and by the end of the third furlong there were a good four lengths between the two fillies.
But Sam and Treasure weren't looking so patient anymore. The jockey started to drive, the filly lurching forwards and suddenly their pace grew. Gone was the relaxed, patient image that had been Treasure before now and instead you saw the determination of a true racehorse. Lucy, too, was asking more of Lassy who continued to battle onwards although without the impressive spurt of the other. Still, it was impressive and anyone watching could see that both fillies were now going for it.
Another furlong, and Treasure was only about a length behind Lassy and still pushing up. Her auds pressed against her skull with fierce determination as they drew head and head, the younger filly clearly responding to the added pressure in these closing stages. But Treasure slipped by, taking the post at five furlongs by a neck. Sam turned, grinning at Lucy who just laughed.
"We'll get you next time." she promised.