People: Kirsten Jade, Charlie Burke Junior, Melanie Mackenzie, Aaron Phillips & Chantal Leblanc
Place: Akita Rose Stables Track
Date: January 26 2013 (December Week Four)
Purpose: Y12 BREEDER'S CUP WORKOUTS
unwanted company.
just take the hint and LEAVE.
Kirsten hung up the phone in her office and smiled at her sister. "He has accepted our offer". Melanie let out a giant whoop and jumped up to hug her sister. "That's awesome! That means you can ride more and be more available for other things around the farm." Kirsten nodded. "Yep. I still will be extremely busy and still will probably only ride a handful of the horses but this will sure help my stress level around here. Although I will miss training every horse." Melanie huffed and waved her hand. "Face it. You are an amazing trainer but our true success was when you were in the saddle and we had a trainer" Kirsten gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah. You're right. Those were the good old days when ARS was on top. Man I miss it." Melanie nodded. "I miss it too. You on Sweet Stalker and Speed Demon and pretty much every other amazing horse in the barn, me on Train Wreck and Lusitania..." Both sisters sighed and then smiled at each other. "Well then Sis, now that Charlie Burke Jr. has decided to become our head trainer let's go out there and show the world that ARS is NOT all washed up and the offspring of our champions will be the ones to look out for." Kirsten grinned and high-fived Melanie. "You got it!"
The two sisters left the office and made their way down to the stable where their staff was bustling about to get their horses ready for their morning workouts. Today was the last day they would be putting in a full workout before the Breeder's Cup. Tomorrow would consist of driving down the string and settling them in their stalls at GHF for the races that were going to run the following afternoon. The horses would just have time to stretch their legs and settle in. Kirsten had decided to stay at home until last minute particular because all of her horses have already raced at the GHF track and were quite familiar with it. It would just be less noisy and stressful at home.
Plus Kirsten did not want the scientist staying with them to cause a scene. She sighed as she thought of Dr. Sheldon Cooper. The guy had definitely worn out his welcome (pretty much since the first day) and was still sticking around to do his "research". Everyone at the barn was fed up and finished with the guy - they will all be overjoyed when he left.
Melanie squeezed Kirsten's hand and turned to get her mounts ready for the day. Kirsten smiled and nodded to the staff she passed. Today was a big day and they had a lot of work to do if they wanted to be ready on time. It was time to get down to business.
APOLLO BEAR & THUNDERSTRIKE
Kirsten made her way to the rail expecting to see the pesky scientist lingering. Patience, patience Kirsten... But as she made her way over she was surprised to see the rail clear. What a lovely surprise. "Excuse me Boss?" Kirsten turned around to find one of her handlers holding a note and looking particularly disturbed. Kirsten smiled and retrieved the letter from the hands of the young groom. "Don't worry dear, We'll improve security around here even more." The groom smiled and left. Kirsten sighed and opened the note: Dear Mrs. Desorcy. I have finished my business at your facilities. I have left to return to Los Angeles. Look for my paper on my recent findings at your so called horse racing stable soon. Do not be alarmed if I search for better horses to base my research on. Yours was not satisfactory. You're welcome. Kirsten rolled her eyes and crumpled the note. Remind her to never again allow a scientist on her property again. Not that she had had much of a choice in the first place... Now the crazy coot was gone. Good riddance.
Melanie rubbed her hands together and collected the lead shank for Thunderstrike from his handler. Nothing like having an old friend to start off the workouts. She enjoyed working with Striker. He was a good and reliable ride. He wasn't the fastest horse at their barn but he always made sure to put it a good show. He was tall and sturdy with a beautiful dark bay coat. His ears were twitching with excitement to get on to the track. He loved to run and tried hard to win. This year had been quite a year for him too - he moved up from a grade four level (four wins) to a grade two level (ten wins). It was quite a good accomplishment for him.
They moved towards the track while Melanie spent the time to give the stallion a good rub on the nose. She thoroughly enjoyed the walk down to the track every morning with her first ride of the day, it was always a good time to spend with the horse. It was quiet and gave her time to prepare for the busy morning. Thunderstrike has been entered in the Breeder's Cup Mile. The competition was extremely tough in that race and included one of the top veterans: Executioner's Apprentice. "You ready big guy?" Striker flicked her ears back and forth and just stared ahead at the upcoming track. Yeah... he was ready.
Aaron watched as Melanie got a leg up on her ride from the back of the majestic black colt Apollo Bear. The colt huffed and continued his warmups. Aaron patted the three year old fondly. Apollo Bear was a horse that was severely unrated this year. He is never really looked at as a threat or a big time name but with the amount of talent he has it is surprising that he has not done better this year. Plus he has really improved as the year went on. In fact Aaron had a strong feeling that Olio was going to be a major competitor next year as a four year old. In his last four starts he had won three of them, and placed in the other one. That was a huge accomplishment and improvement!
The only downfall to the end of the colt's three year old season was the upcoming Breeder's Cup. He was entered in the Turf Marathon and the competition was BEYOND fierce this year. It was pretty much predetermined that Olio will get forth place. Aaron gritted his teeth together. It would be a terrible end to the season and would definitely wreck his record yet Kirsten had refused to scratch him. "It's the Breeder's Cup, the time to take chances - anything could happen", she had told him. Yeah right... Olio would be racing against the top three year old turfers: Frozen Motion and Infinite Warcry and then the four year old Firebird. All of these horses were top notch and at the top of their game. They can only hope for the best and that Olio puts in a good show.
Aaron quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and concentrated on the horse beneath him. He was nervous, more than you'll ever know about Olio but he had to try his best and try not to be too disappointed. This was horse racing, there is only one winner and way too many losers...
MINI MONSTORM & THE UNICORN
Chantal rode onto the turf track just as Thunderstrike and Apollo Bear passed on by. The juvenile chestnut filly that she rode on sprung onto the track willingly and full of anticipation. Chantal shook her head. She just did not understand the filly. She was packed with potential in her tiny little body and perfect conformation yet she always ALWAYS came in third. She had won her maiden race but that was that. Since then she has never won another race and yet her record for landing in the top three was amazing. Chantal felt like the filly was just not giving it her all, that she was holding back for some reason. But why?
She shook her head again. She was frustrated. She had hoped for a better two year old season for the Sand Storm daughter but maybe she will improve next year. There was just the final challenge left for this year - the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. There was so much riding on the Juvenile races this year. Everyone wants to get a win and there are just WAY too many amazing juveniles this year. It was actually frightening how intense the juvenile competition is. In Mouse's race there are seven entries and most of them are really good horses who have won many races. Compared to Mouse's one win the competition was extreme. This would be her chance to show the world what she has to offer, Chantal only hoped it was enough. If not there was always next year...
Melanie dismounted from Striker and gave him a good pat. The stallion rubbed his sweaty neck on her shoulder. Ew. She passed the reins over to his handler and yawned. Alright where was her gorgeous juvenile turfer? There he is. She spied his handler holding on to his lead shank and trying to calm him down. Good luck! The Unicorn could be quite stubborn when he wanted - and right now it seemed as though he just wanted to get out on the track and run. No surprise there. Which racehorse doesn't want to get out on the track and let free.
Melanie bounded over to the Muffin Man son and received a quick leg up. Uni's handler was flushed and obviously agitated. Well, that's the job... can't handle it then quit. Melanie shook her head and patted the tall colt's silky black neck. "Let's go boy." They moved onto the track and started to stretch their legs. These two would be doing a small mock race to get their spirits up for the race. Both horses needed more confidence if they were to have any chance at winning this weekend. The Juvenile Turf was absolutely PACKED with top caliber horses. The more Melanie thought the more she realized that EVERY race this year was packed with top notch racehorses. ESPECIALLY the Juvenile races. The Triple Crown, Turf Triple Crown, Triple Tiara and Canadian Triple Crown are going to be nearly impossible to win. It was insane.
Kirsten looked down at her watch and waved at the girls on the track. It was to get this over with. There was another hand full of horses left to be worked. She flicked her pen nervously on the rail. This is why she needed a break from training - her stress level was just way too high. She had wayyyyy too many responsibilities around the farm. Plus she was really worried about the Breeder's Cup this year.
Melanie and Chantal moved their mounts towards the inside rail and let them go. Young legs stretched out over the turf and ate up the soft ground. They had much work to be done but it will be well worth it in the end. They may not be huge champions but they could definitely pull their own weight in races. Their outcome for the weekend was anyone's guess.