Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Jul 31, 2009 17:43:31 GMT -5
The last time this beautiful black colt had worked out, it had been on the dirt, but now we would race on the turf. He had a proficiency for both surfaces, and I wanted to keep him comfortable on both for future racing engagements. The surface didn't matter to the two year old son of Royal Red Richard; only the running and the loosement of energy mattered. All Asus cared about was getting rid of all of his boundless energy, and this made him hard to handle but manageable if you just managed to break through at the end.
Today was no exception to his boundless energy level. The black two year old pranced and danced, exceedingly hard to handle as we stepped onto the turf track. He whinnied excitedly before plunging his head forward sharply, hoping to break through my iron hold and canter, or at the very least trot. I was not to be fooled. My experienced hands held the reins firm, not allowing for him to run away with me. The colt, however, could not be so easily dissuaded from the task at hand.
I finally asked for a trot once we were near the track rail. Asus took no extra walking strides - he broke into a trot immediately. I posted to his energetic strides that begged for me. He certainly was a very headstrong colt. Stop it Asus I growled. Or else we'll slow down! He didn't understand what I was saying, but picked up the grim, menacing tone and quit it. We now glided along at a passionately powerful trot, Asus asking politely now for more with the occasional light pull on the reins. I glanced at the track rail for spectators and saw that Amber was there with Krystal. The two ladies watched with interest as Asus pulled once more for a faster pace.
At the top of the backstretch I let him fly, and he effortlessly accelerated into a gallop, bypassing the canter without so much as a split second of hesitation. We flew like birds down the turf stretch, Asus extending his stride a bit to cover more ground. We bore down along the turf, and now Asus's emotions flew through the reins and joined with me. Adrenaline was the first. The blood was pumping fast through the colt's veins, and he needed it with each panting breath. We were blowing out three furlongs today, and the colt was making the most of each second. Exhilaration filled me as the rail whipped past on the inside of us, and Asus hugged the inside closely. Three races of experience and extensive training had taught him that staying close to the rail was a good thing.
The first two furlongs of our blowout disappeared. There was just one more before I would slow him from his breeze and slow gallop him under the wire. I readied myself to pull the powerhouse up, and the colt felt it immediately, the sudden stiffness and gathering or power within me. He dug in, pushing off with his hooves and reaching forward hungrily in his eagerness to cover more ground. The turf track stayed firm underneath his hooves, but he paid the surface no heed. His only thoughts were run run run.
We coasted into the final turn into the backstretch, and Pegasus Wings fought for the right to keep running. I pulled back mightily, and unable to resist my hold he decreased his pace a bit. We were now simply gliding to his long strides, which became short whenever he did an all out sprint. He pulled against my hold, not a spot of sweat anywhere on him. The workout hadn't taken anything out of him at all. Three furlong breeze, easy peasy. With difficulty I managed to keep him slow as we crossed the wire at our gliding pace, and then I fought to slow him down completely.
Amber and Krystal walked over to meet us as we trotted off the turf track. Asus woofed with excitement and eagerly awaited affection. I eagerly awaited some feedback. It was Amber who gave me this information. He blew through those three furlongs in a marvelous time she declared, her eyes shining. Still one of the top two year old sprinters around. I agreed with her instantly, adding Just like his energy, his potential is boundless.
