People: Kirsten Jade and Melanie Mackenzie
Place: ARS turf track
Date: February 4 2014 (March Week One)
Stalking a Victory
all for one and one for all
Kirsten ignored the loud whinny coming from behind them and focused on the track between the black ears of her mount. The heavy breathing and running hooves was all that Kirsten could hear. She was focused. Her mount was focused. They were going to do this. She released the reins on her filly. Let the speed come. Kirsten wanted it, needed it and welcomed it. The black filly pulled ahead faster and faster with each stride. A quick shoulder check was all it took to see that they were pulling away from Miss Josephine and Melanie. Kirsten wasn't leaving any horse left for at the finish. If Stalking the Stars wanted to run than Kirsten was going to let her run.
Melanie frowned as she watched the black tail of the horse in front of them take off as though bitten by a lion. What was she doing? The workout had just begun. Kirsten never let her horses run flat out from the start. Oh well, she will just have a tired horse by the last furlong and then Miss Josephine can make her move. Melanie smirked. Miss Josephine was running this weekend and Sassy not for another two weeks. Melanie didn't care if they lost a little workout, she was not going to murder her mount before Josey's big race.
As each furlong passed Stalking the Stars moved further and further ahead. This was her day. She wanted to run. Kirsten crouched and became nothing more than a mere passenger upon the young horse's back. Stride for stride she was increasing her pace. A spectator would assume the filly was on the brink of killing herself but Kirsten knew better. She felt the passion within her horse, the sheer volume of a champion. Sassy wanted her freedom, she wanted to rule the turf.
They rounded the final turn and another shoulder check showed that they were alone. Miss Josephine had dropped out of her sight. Even with her strong closing kick no one would be able to catch the Night Stalker filly today. They kept running, increasing their pace. Sassy's breathing was harder now but she showed no signs of slowing. They passed under the wire in what must be a record time for five furlongs. Kirsten regretted the fact that they had to stop but they must. She stood in the stirrups and encouraged the filly to obedience. Sassy slowed her pace little by little. By the time they were at a jog they were halfway around the track again.
Kirsten finally looked up to see her trainer red in the face and shouting after her, Melanie and Miss Josephine jogging back to the gap with a slight shake of the head. Alright, time to face the music. She turned her filly and they started their long jog back to the gap.
Stalking the Stars was ready for more than just the small races on TW. Although she had been lightly raced and has never been entered in a big race Kirsten was confident the filly had what it took to make it to the Turf Triple Tiara. Her first true test would be in two weeks in the Black Caviar Stakes on TW. If she ran like she did today there was no way anyone would come close to her. If only, If only...