|
Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Nov 22, 2008 17:35:12 GMT -5
The chestnut two year old skittered uneasily to the side as we entered the dirt track of the stables. I held him in with experienced hands, waiting until he calmed down before asking him for the acceleration. We began an ungainly trot of nervousness. Positively Precious was as nervous as they came. Well, he was slightly better then he used to be, because of that work he had done with us. He had been horrible in that work. This colt liked to do what he wanted, but since he was still young I hoped I could change him.
He was maturing. His chest was broader, his legs longer but sleeker, and his barrel was smaller - he was finally transforming into racing form. Whenever he saw another horse or saw another person he would spook. He was nothing like my other two year olds, Impressario and On To The Spotlight. Ario would calmly ghost along, confident of himself and carrying with him the maturity of a young three year old - even though he was only two. Onya would go nicely, trying to be in the imaginary spotlight the whole time. Cobalt here was different - he was more cautious, more nervous, and not as well trained. He had stayed with us for a little more then a year, but another year had passed. We had sold him as an older yearling, and now he was an older two year old.
I scanned the track for the bay breezing partner that would be joining us. I knew the stallion well. He had been Merry Bay King's top rival. He was True Enough, fresh off of Meadow Creek Farm. All the breezing partners were managed by Krystal Yhate. She would be riding True today. True was a bit out of Cobalt's current league, but the experience would teach Cobalt competitiveness, and I would start to understand his running style as well. I had noticed how, at Snow Pearl, he had run mid pack to stalker to front runner, and not one suited him. I would try out him as a closer today.
As we were trotting under the wire and then circling back to lap the stretch again I glimpsed him. True Enough had just stepped onto the track. I zeroed in, my eyes following the Hall Of Famer's movement. He was graceful and composed, ghosting along as if he knew nothing but to move. His strides were long and ate up ground - I remembered him only too clearly as the fabulous distance runner he was. Krystal was flushed red with happiness as she turned True towards us and began to warm up just like us. I slowed Cobalt to a walk and then sped him up as they caught up to us.
Krystal looked really happy to be where she was. Her smile was all the greeting she would give me in the frigid winter air today. I smiled back, and then reached out a hand to pat True. Cobalt was not reacting well to True being there - he tried to canter, but I held him in. I thought he had a point though - True's stride was so long that Cobalt was finding it hard to keep up.
I gave my instructions. We'll turn them at the end of this and canter them to the wire. Once pass the wire, we gallop them until the middle of the backstretch. At that point, turn True loose, and we can see what Cobalt has to give us. Keep True at a reasonable pace, please. Try and stay about one length ahead of us at all times, but don't be more then five lengths ahead. Got it? Krystal nodded solemnly and turned True to the wire. I followed her lead, and we began cantering side by side, True easily loping along and Cobalt pounding out a furious tempo to keep up.
We soon passed under the wire, and True exploded. Given the chance to gallop, he sped up. Cobalt went into a gallop too, and he ran furiously to keep up with True. I knew he would get tired if he kept up the pace, so I gently coaxed him to slow. Much to my surprise, Cobalt listened and slowed to a cruising pace. I glanced at the poles flashing past and measured our speed. To my surprise, we were going at a good closing clip. Cobalt seemed happy to not be leading or stalking. He seemed happy to just follow True - but hopefully not stay following the seven year old. He had to learn to lead, too.
True was four lengths ahead of us and seemed to struggling against an iron hold as we hit the first turn. As soon this turn came, Cobalt leaned in and gripped the dirt with an experienced hold. I was rewarded with a fabulous experience of smoothness. It took my breath away. Had he really this much to offer? Looks like he learned something at Snow Pearl after all. We were still cruising along though, still four lengths behind True. I could once more see True struggling to open up. They lengthened the lead to five lengths, and Krystal finally seemed to take charge. I could see her grip on the reins becoming tighter, her restraint harder to disobey.
But why was I focusing on them anyway? I was riding a horse too! I refocused on Cobalt in about two seconds. I could feel him testing my grip on the reins, looking for weakness. This surprised me. It seemed he had some spirit, some spirit I'd seen him lacking in all the stakes races he had been entered in. I eagerly let the reins go a bit as we blew into the backstretch.
His reaction was immediate. It was like he was planning to go in now after all. I saw his legs flash ahead, and a huge bound nearly gave me whiplash. Jeez! What a kick! Where had this come from? this new surge of speed had us closing the distance. We had two furlongs to go before Krystal released True. I let Cobalt into his desired pace. We gained a length on True, so he was three lengths ahead [Krystal had held him back a bit], and then Cobalt stayed, stationary, waiting. We had finished a quarter of the backstretch.
I felt the pressure building, the pressure to catch up to True. If Cobalt felt my pressure he took no notice of it, only continued his leisurely pace. Another furlong passed. We had only one more left to catch True. I let the reins go some more, asking for speed. The chestnut colt seemed to take no notice of the reins at first, but then I felt the power building. Another huge bound came, and we were flying to True. We closed the distance in huge bounds. He was only one length away now. I desperately looked at the furlong markers as we continued to gain. Half a length from True, Krystal let him go. I saw the bay snatch eagerly at the reins and take off. Before I knew it, he was three lengths ahead and pouring it on.
I felt no try for the win from the chestnut colt. Cobalt continued to glide forward, but I abruptly felt his mood changed. Before he had been lazy; now he focused. I could practically feel the buzz filling him, and his muscles tensed, coiled to spring. All he waited for, all he wanted was my signal, and he received it. I dropped low and let the reins go, and he ripped like a cannonball and started to catch up.
It was amazing. The two year old zipped like Impressario, Onya, Missy. It was crazy, adrenaline filled, but perfectly true. Not one touch of his earlier nervousness had survived; he was just a predator closing in upon his prey. We closed the distance, a cheetah in flight. Two lengths, one length.....half a length. We were at the end of the backstretch. Once more I felt the precision of his turn. It was smooth and dreamy.
Cobalt picked a position on the outside and continued his drive, but he lost ground. True led by a length, and Krystal had seen us coming. She prodded him with more open rein, and then the seven year old legend was going away with it. Two lengths in front, he crossed the wire. Cobalt quickly followed, his coat covered in a sheen of sweat. I could do nothing but pat his neck, bend down to hug it with delight.
He's great I commented to Krystal, and quickly cantered Cobalt off. Krystal looked after me with confusion in her eyes, wondering if I meant True or Cobalt. But even she had seen the greatness released on the track. She knew what it meant.
A monster walked in our midst......
|
|