Saratoga Dreams
Silver Lining & Samuel Knight
The colt snorted, kicking out viciously at the handler who had entered the stall, his eyes narrowed as he tossed his head. The handler dodged well enough, but looked wary as he moved forwards, seeming to shuffle closer little by little as if trying to fool the bay into thinking that he wasn't approaching. Shaman wasn't having it though, his nostrils flared as he continued to watch the man. At the door Alexia, who had just arrived, shook her head. "For christ sake, this isn't Pred. Stop pussy-footing around - we don't have all day." She wasn't in the mood for fooling around, entering the stall with a carrot which instantly grabbed the colt's attention. "See, food. It's like the key to this guy's heart. Next time, read the notes on the stall door."
Soon, Shaman was out of the barn and in a much less volatile mood. In fact, the way he pranced beside the handlers you would think this had been the colt's idea all along. Tacking him up had been a quick job with a few treats and now he was under control he was like a dream. A strange change, perhaps, but just one of the many things that made Shaman... Well, Shaman. He was one of the newer horses at the barn, unraced since October, but full of potential. He had a good, bulky build which suggested power and a fluid gait which drew the eye. His conformation was impressive, but there was more to it than that... Alexia couldn't put her finger on what, but she really liked something about the horse. Hopefully, it would also catch Sam's interest.
The jockey was punctual, arriving at the track as the handlers commenced the warm up and sitting on the bench. His eyes took in the horse's form, watched him carefully as he tried to get a measure of the horse he would soon be riding. "Nice choice Alexia. You have an eye for horses, I think." Alexia shrugged, smirking.
"Glad you approve. He's an interesting one for sure, and I'm excited to see how he performs on the track with us."
"Yeah, he's raced before right?"
"Yes. He has two wins to his name, the second in his last race - the Winter Cup Grade Five Dirt Sprint. It runs at six furlongs, which is why I thought it would be a good distance to get him back on the track with."
"The Saratoga Stakes. Yeah, he shouldn't be too outclassed there."
"No, but I still don't want you going in cocky. Remember he's been away for a while, he may need reminding what the track is all about."
Sam nodded, his gaze returning to the colt as he moved around the handlers on the lunge line. How eager he was to move into each gait, how you could almost see the energy in the way he surged forwards. He was no typical horse, he just needed the right guidance.
"Right, he's almost ready. I want you to run from the gates - keep things steady for two furlongs, then push him for two. I want to see what he's got for us."
"You got it, boss."
Sam mounted, adjusting the stirrups and checking the girth before gathering the reins and looking up the dirt track. "You've won before, so I know that you can run. Now show me." He spoke to the horse, his dark eyes looking up the track. "It's now or never." The jockey kicked the horse on, feeling the colt react quickly and feeling a complete change in the three year old. He was focused, seemed determined to run as his pace quickly picked up and the jockey found himself having to hold the bay back. "Not yet." He would do what Alexia said, and that meant these first furlongs needed to be at a more relaxed pace than what the eager colt was trying to give. "Soon."
Medium, comfortable strides made for a relaxing ride - unusual in a sprinter but not unwelcome - and Sam found he was soon able to relax a little as Shaman settled into the pace. The movement was efficient, easy, and the colt looked happy as he moved up the track. By the end of the first furlong the jockey felt he had a feel for the horse and allowed him a little more rein - the colt stretching out a little more but staying at a good, steady pace.
The two furlongs were soon up and Sam pushed the colt, cracking the whip which caused the colt to surge forwards, hitting a lovely cruising speed. It wasn't the closer's finish, but in a race it would be enough to give them a chance. His stride lengthened as he became more and more focused with the jockey driving him onward, his speed reaching a peak but not faltering as he held it. Those two furlongs seemed to fly and soon the workout was over. It had been a good run, and hopefully Shaman was now ready.
Soon, Shaman was out of the barn and in a much less volatile mood. In fact, the way he pranced beside the handlers you would think this had been the colt's idea all along. Tacking him up had been a quick job with a few treats and now he was under control he was like a dream. A strange change, perhaps, but just one of the many things that made Shaman... Well, Shaman. He was one of the newer horses at the barn, unraced since October, but full of potential. He had a good, bulky build which suggested power and a fluid gait which drew the eye. His conformation was impressive, but there was more to it than that... Alexia couldn't put her finger on what, but she really liked something about the horse. Hopefully, it would also catch Sam's interest.
The jockey was punctual, arriving at the track as the handlers commenced the warm up and sitting on the bench. His eyes took in the horse's form, watched him carefully as he tried to get a measure of the horse he would soon be riding. "Nice choice Alexia. You have an eye for horses, I think." Alexia shrugged, smirking.
"Glad you approve. He's an interesting one for sure, and I'm excited to see how he performs on the track with us."
"Yeah, he's raced before right?"
"Yes. He has two wins to his name, the second in his last race - the Winter Cup Grade Five Dirt Sprint. It runs at six furlongs, which is why I thought it would be a good distance to get him back on the track with."
"The Saratoga Stakes. Yeah, he shouldn't be too outclassed there."
"No, but I still don't want you going in cocky. Remember he's been away for a while, he may need reminding what the track is all about."
Sam nodded, his gaze returning to the colt as he moved around the handlers on the lunge line. How eager he was to move into each gait, how you could almost see the energy in the way he surged forwards. He was no typical horse, he just needed the right guidance.
"Right, he's almost ready. I want you to run from the gates - keep things steady for two furlongs, then push him for two. I want to see what he's got for us."
"You got it, boss."
Sam mounted, adjusting the stirrups and checking the girth before gathering the reins and looking up the dirt track. "You've won before, so I know that you can run. Now show me." He spoke to the horse, his dark eyes looking up the track. "It's now or never." The jockey kicked the horse on, feeling the colt react quickly and feeling a complete change in the three year old. He was focused, seemed determined to run as his pace quickly picked up and the jockey found himself having to hold the bay back. "Not yet." He would do what Alexia said, and that meant these first furlongs needed to be at a more relaxed pace than what the eager colt was trying to give. "Soon."
Medium, comfortable strides made for a relaxing ride - unusual in a sprinter but not unwelcome - and Sam found he was soon able to relax a little as Shaman settled into the pace. The movement was efficient, easy, and the colt looked happy as he moved up the track. By the end of the first furlong the jockey felt he had a feel for the horse and allowed him a little more rein - the colt stretching out a little more but staying at a good, steady pace.
The two furlongs were soon up and Sam pushed the colt, cracking the whip which caused the colt to surge forwards, hitting a lovely cruising speed. It wasn't the closer's finish, but in a race it would be enough to give them a chance. His stride lengthened as he became more and more focused with the jockey driving him onward, his speed reaching a peak but not faltering as he held it. Those two furlongs seemed to fly and soon the workout was over. It had been a good run, and hopefully Shaman was now ready.