Worthy
Tanya Stratt & Russian Agent
Tanya watched the three year old with a slight smile. He'd been very lightly raced as a juvenile thanks to the fire, but in her mind there was no denying that potential. He moved with an elegance and purpose, looking at the world around him and yet barely reacting. He was like a veteran, just taking everything in his stride, and most would likely not guess he'd been through the things he had. The barn fire, an injury to his hock... But he was through all that now and Tanya was sure that together they would be able to bring things together.
Of course, it wasn't going to be easy. There were juveniles with more track experience than him, his own age group were moving toward the classics and he was still sitting pretty on a single win, but not all was lost. Sometimes, time was all a horses needed. Well, she had plenty of time and she believed in him.
As she walked alongside Alexia on the way down to the track the pair were quiet. They'd been through a lot together, and Tanya knew the trainer was concerned about the future. They couldn't afford anymore disasters and Baron had been one of their highest hopes the previous year. Words wouldn't settle her though, the only thing that could do that was seeing that things had not ended in that fire - for her to see that this stable still had the potential to produce winners and make a mark on the racing world in which they had once been so prominent. Tanya was not about the let her down.
"Three furlongs, right?"
"Yeah. Show me what he's got... I need to see that he's ready."
Tanya crossed the track and mounted, patting the bay's neck as he was loaded into the gates. He was calm, and his jockey was too - stressing was going to do nothing but cause the horse to know something was wrong and that never ended well. The world seemed still. The horse barely moved beneath her and her breath seemed the be the loudest thing around. The gates clattered open and, just like that, they were away.
The break was clean, though not the quickest, and the colt seemed to take a moment to unfurl his legs beneath him. Tanya gave him time to find his stride on the dirt and once she felt that secure, steady rhythm started to push him forwards. His gait quickened, his ears forwards as he moved onwards. He felt the part, Tanya decided - the way he moved was powerful and sure as it had always been.
In the stands, Alexia was sat forwards watching the pair with a slight smile. The speed was good and building, the dry dirt kicking up behind them as they pressed through the work. They came to the final furlong and Tanya upped the pace, throwing herself and the colt into it. Baron reacted as he always had - a strong surge of speed and once he hit his best he held it. Stride after long stride they moved forwards, soon speeding past the third furlong maker. It was a good work, and perhaps a good omen.
Of course, it wasn't going to be easy. There were juveniles with more track experience than him, his own age group were moving toward the classics and he was still sitting pretty on a single win, but not all was lost. Sometimes, time was all a horses needed. Well, she had plenty of time and she believed in him.
As she walked alongside Alexia on the way down to the track the pair were quiet. They'd been through a lot together, and Tanya knew the trainer was concerned about the future. They couldn't afford anymore disasters and Baron had been one of their highest hopes the previous year. Words wouldn't settle her though, the only thing that could do that was seeing that things had not ended in that fire - for her to see that this stable still had the potential to produce winners and make a mark on the racing world in which they had once been so prominent. Tanya was not about the let her down.
"Three furlongs, right?"
"Yeah. Show me what he's got... I need to see that he's ready."
Tanya crossed the track and mounted, patting the bay's neck as he was loaded into the gates. He was calm, and his jockey was too - stressing was going to do nothing but cause the horse to know something was wrong and that never ended well. The world seemed still. The horse barely moved beneath her and her breath seemed the be the loudest thing around. The gates clattered open and, just like that, they were away.
The break was clean, though not the quickest, and the colt seemed to take a moment to unfurl his legs beneath him. Tanya gave him time to find his stride on the dirt and once she felt that secure, steady rhythm started to push him forwards. His gait quickened, his ears forwards as he moved onwards. He felt the part, Tanya decided - the way he moved was powerful and sure as it had always been.
In the stands, Alexia was sat forwards watching the pair with a slight smile. The speed was good and building, the dry dirt kicking up behind them as they pressed through the work. They came to the final furlong and Tanya upped the pace, throwing herself and the colt into it. Baron reacted as he always had - a strong surge of speed and once he hit his best he held it. Stride after long stride they moved forwards, soon speeding past the third furlong maker. It was a good work, and perhaps a good omen.