People: Kirsten Jade, Melanie Mackenzie, Charlie Burke Jr. and Aaron Phillips
Place: Akita Rose Stables Track
Date: February 9 2013 (January Week 1)
We're caught in a trap
we can't walk out.
"So? What do you think?" Kirsten chewed her lip as she tried to read the expression on the face of ARS' new head trainer. Charlie nodded slowly. "I think your two year olds look pretty promising. They could use a lot of work but that's typical." Kirsten nodded. She respected the opinion of the son of the Legendary trainer Charlie Burke. She was so excited but also very nervous to have Charlie Burke Junior join their team. She was honored. She focused back on the two horses on the track that were just getting into their warm ups.
Aaron exchanged a quick look with Melanie aboard the juvenile sprinter, Optimus Unstoppable. They were all a little bit jumpy and nervous this morning. It was the first week that Charlie was taking over as head trainer and both jockeys felt a little bit self conscious. The horses were picking up on it and that was not good as they were jumpy enough on their own. Optimus huffed out a breath and sharply turned towards the inner rail. Aaron jerked the reins back (a little too sharply) and pulled the horse's head up. Optimus screamed and half reared, scaring the living daylights out of him. Aaron quickly re-arranged his hands and got the colt under control. His face was brimming with red embarrassment.
Melanie watched the entire fiasco from aboard her sprinter filly, Wired Loose. Wiz flicked her ears forward and slowed her pace to watch her stable mate act out. The bay filly turned her head to sneak a peek at her rider. She had a look of annoyance in her eye. Melanie couldn't help but start a fit of giggles. The look in Wiz's eyes was pure gold. It was as if the filly was condemning the other pair for acting out, she was just too well behaved for that... Melanie patted Wiz's neck and continued to giggle. Wiz shook her mane and seemed to sigh. This just made Melanie laugh even harder.
Kirsten felt her cheeks turn red at the pathetic show her top jockeys were showing on the track. It was like they had lost all professionalism and pride. From the corner of her eye she saw Charlie grimace. "HEY!" He yelled onto the track and waved his hands to get their attention. He waved them in and waited for the duo to approach the rail.
"If you jockeys are unable to keep your heads in the game and ride this horses to my high standards then I will replace you. Consider this your first warning. Is this understood?" Charlie's mouth was set in an angry scowl. He was not fooling around. He was going to do anything in his power to win the Trainer of the Year for Y13 and no immature jockeys were going to stand in his way. "Yes Sir" Aaron and Melanie chorused in unison from the top of their mounts. "Good. Now bring your mounts to the starting gate, I was not satisfied with Optimus' gate test. I want you two to break fast and let them battle it out for two furlongs before pulling in." He frowned and waved them off.
Melanie and Aaron kicked their mounts into gear and silently made their way towards the iron gates. Once they were out of earshot Aaron looked over at Melanie and sighed. "I have a feeling this year is going to be a lot more intense." Melanie nodded. "Yeah. But if it'll win in some big wins for ARS I don't care how much I have to work to make it happen. Maybe then I won't have time for certain distractions." She kicked Wiz into a canter and moved on ahead. Aaron frowned and watched her retreat. What was that supposed to mean? Since when was he a distraction? He smirked and moved Optimus up.
They moved into the gates side by side. Optimus rolled his eyes and attempted to take a step back. Aaron held him firmly and encouraged him forward. He stepped in calmly and stood shaken as the groom shut the gate behind them. Wiz shook her mane and trotted straight in. She was too smart to cause a scene. Melanie grinned and prepared herself for the take off.
The gates slammed open and both horses shot out like cannons. Wired Loose had her nose in front as they ran parallel to each other in the first furlong. Optimus hit another gear, increasing his speed and started to pull away from Wiz. She waited as Optimus finished his speed burst and then she shot out and over took him in the final furlong. Once again she finished with her nose in front.
They slowed their mounts (quite difficultly as they both wanted to keep running) and turned them to the outside rail to walk them out. Melanie smiled and patted the dark bay filly. Both horses were going to surprise the tracks this year with their speed. It just might be ARS' year.