BRIGHT DAWN

[S u N f r O s T ~]

you see the painted picture of him
as the sun paints the sky in orange
you see him raise his head and mane
to let his radiant light illuminate the world
uncovering the bright dawn....

The sun peeked from the horizon, smiling its warm light down onto the freshly mowed dirt track. It was excellent footing today, and I could tell because of the two year old's footsteps. They were light and gentle, dainty, like a filly's. Beneath this pure picture of fillyness was the strength of the strongest champion colt. His strength was not obvious to the outside viewer; you had to know your horses to know why he was so bulky. No, he was not unconditioned. He was perfectly in shape. But he was more of a distance runner then anything else. Classic distances were his best, but he could do a mile race with impressive time and also a huge fifteen furlongs without breaking into a huge amount of sweat.

The sun's rays swept up the track as fast as the racehorses that ran on it, and it illuminated his coat. The dark bay was light bay now from exposure to the sun, radiant and beautiful - as was fitting. He was Radiance, son of True Enough, carrying his father's legacy to the track proudly within his muscled legs and compact body. His movements were slow but hinted at power. I could feel the power moving through his body, but once more the outside viewer had to be educated to see it.

Our plans for the day involved a quick mile gallop in preparation for his maiden debut coming up. I was nervous, all right. My horses had so far come in either third or fourth in their debuts. I wanted them to do well, as well as Onya and Ario from last year - but that wasn't possible unless I put more work into them. Radi seemed to relish the chance to stretch out his new two year old muscles, that was for sure. His strides became energetic as we broke into the trot smoothly. I kept him to the outside - always vying for a stamina buildup - and let the colt go as fast as he wanted at the trot. I was sitting to the trot, conditioning my body some more to the hard bounce. He put no pressure on the bit, because he knew he would get to run soon. He was a knowledgeable colt with a playful attitude coupled with a desire to impress the fillies. He had no strategic mind whatsoever yet, but he listened to his rider - and that was always the difference between winning and losing.

His stepped up to a canter at my small urging, flying into a lope that was a cheetah uncoiling its legs for the pounce. He didn't need to uncoil them that much, of course, seeing as he wasn't overly tall [at sixteen hands], but he liked to take his time. That was why he was a closer - he hung around on the outside for the majority of the race and then hits gas to fire and takes up. I hoped his strategy would be effective in his maiden race. It had to be, with all the practice we had done.

We were in the backstretch at his smooth canter when his stride became effortless and loose. He was ready for the faster pace. We rounded the turn and entered the stretch. I let him out into a gallop for the two furlongs before the finish wire, where we would breeze the next mile in a good time. I had Krystal at the rail with a stopwatch. My gaze found her at the rail a furlong before the wire. She looked calm but excited. Her gaze constantly flicked back to the barn while watching Radi and I. She had plans to work Foolish Lad after this. I whistled a soft tune, and she looked up, startled. She smiled and nodded, then clicked the timer.

It was my turn to be startled. We weren't breezing yet! I loosened the rein two inches and kneaded my hands urgently. Radi responded simply by accelerating his stride. He didn't lengthen and open up just yet - he saved that for when all hearts were beating the loudest.

A smooth sensation took over now. I balanced myself perfectly over his shoulders as we went along. A furlong slowly disappeared behind us, and then we were curving into the backstretch. Now, this was uncomfortable. I had to slow the colt and guide him through the turn - he didn't have the experience to know to slow here yet. I didn't want him to get hurt. He had prized bloodlines and was a small favorite of mine, like all of my horses. We entered the backstretch at barely more then a very fast gallop - hardly a breeze. Our times for the first three furlongs would be disappointing.

I clicked my tongue into his pricked ear and asked for more speed. He decidedly responded by stretching his neck forward, as if gaining a place just by doing that. Jeez! Radi was playing around again! I gave him a sharp heel in the barrel, which woke him up, and asked for more speed again. It wasn't needed; the colt had intentionally done that, and was moving his legs with an increased speed. This was much better. I stopped asking and crouched. We were through the midway point of the backstretch, quickly approaching the wire at an ever increasing pace. I was not surprised - he usually revved it up around now.

I felt his pace quicken ever more as the final turn came. I readied myself to guide him, slowing him slightly and watching his turn. He did what I asked more readily now, understanding why from the last turn. No doubt by the day of his maiden race he would understand to slow and would need no instruction. He was a smart colt who learned quick, and my bond with him was strong. Radi and I make an excellent team, really. Just look at him listening throughout this workout.

The final turn was behind us. Two furlongs to the stretch. I urged him into the gear he always came up with; the cheetah finally unleashing his power in its amazing glory. His strides lengthened, and lengthened, and lengthened until he scored his body on the earth and left his mark on the dirt to let all know that greatness had arrived. Clods of dirt were thrown up behind him. A furlong to go, and the pace only increased. His nostrils were flared so wide to breathe that I could see it, and his ears were flat against his head to protect from the whistling wind. His mane had been braided already and didn't block my gaze. My eyes were wide open despite the wind's sting. I didn't want to miss one moment of this, this rocket flying at a million light years to the next galaxy over.....

We passed under the wire. Greatness had arrived. And as we passed and slowed, the bright dawn became radiant. Radiant in his glory, ready to paint with the colors of greatness - for that what was I rode. The next big thing, awakened on the bright dawn of a new day.....

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