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Post by Ripley Marsh on Dec 9, 2012 19:15:27 GMT -5
Courtesy of Event of The Year Photos.
Ripley Marsh had to admit that she was going to be a little sorry to see Winning Touch go at the end of the season. Reese had worked wonders with the blaze faced Touch Up daughter and was easing the horse out of a little bit of a seconditis slump she had hit. Winning Touch was not as intense as Fie was at the current moment. Most of the fillies weren't. Fie was at a different level, a different high and she was not enjoying her break that only had only just begun. Ripley shook her head as she leaned against the trailer door. Fie was a pain in the rear end when she was not racing. God help them when her career was over for good. Ripley heard the hoofs shuffle within the steel gray horse trailer with the Witch Creek emblem lining the outside. Fie's half sister was going to get her turn to take on the competition over Intrepid's race track.
Fie had rolled and now it was her older-sister-by-a-month's turn. Reese lead the stockier bay filly to the end of the trailer. Winning Touch's darker body gleamed where the sun managed to hit. She was a hearty animal and maturity was looking good on her. Reese was excited to ride her at this track. It wasn't as big and fancy as Green Horse Fields, but it screamed of a presence the rivaled the world known track. Reese patted Winnie's strong shoulder. The filly was eyeing her surroundings, taking in everything with a cocky attitude.
She'd rolled in the Autumn Grade Three Dirt and in the Garnet Stakes. She was looking to continue her recent success and make her new gal proud. Reese signaled for the filly to jump from the trailer and made sure to move with her when she did so. Winnie was notorious for her wide jumps at the end of the trailer. The bay tossed her head and ripped a buck, pulling the lead tight. She pinned her ears and stood tall, making her grand entrance. Reese grinned and looked over at Ripley. How about that for an entrance?
Not too bad Reese. Not bad at all. Ripley stepped forward and began to attack Winnie with the grooming and saddling supplies. Winnie grumbled and played with Reese's caramel hands. She kept an alert eye on everything, cocking a hoof in warning at Ripley, but maintained a kindness with Reese. Reese appreciated the pretty thing. Winnie was a classy lady. Not rough and tumble like half-sister The Devil, not intense and overboard like Fie. She was perfect. And Reese was excited for this next ride in the Consumato Derby.
They would only be facing Knight Rousseau. After the first race, entries for the remaining races had been lacking. It was strange, but expected. The number of races at Green Horse Fields was increasing as well and champions were heading for that big place. The horses that headed to is Risorgimento were the underated horses the possibility of a future explosion. Fie and Winnie were both in that particular category. Reese grinned at the muscled bay when Ripley stepped away.
Winnie looked like a pouting child, standing with her head level to her chest, her tail waving her rump. Her hoof was still cocked in warning at Ripley. But the best part was the look in her eyes. She looked absolutely like the disgruntled child who had not gotten her way. Reese stroked the filly's bold facial markings and teased Ripley, She is not happy with you at all. Ripley snorted. Well she can be unhappy until she gets to the track. Then she better perk right up. We have a mission to accomplish today.
Reese stuck her tongue out at Ripley's back when she turned away. And what kind of mission is that? Reese called as Ripley boosted her into the light racing saddle. To get her ready for a race over a track she has never run on. The head trainer stalked toward the race track, not even checking to see if they would follow. Reese glared after her per usual. Ripley could be so prickly towards her sometimes. She petted Winnie's neck and asked her to step out after the trainer. Winnie strode along, neck bowed and proud. She was a fun filly. She did everything so nicely, so kindly and so enthusiastically.
Her dislike toward grooming and saddling faded to the background in her ADD mind. She moved into a trot to catch up with the trainer. Winning Touch didn't catch as many looks as Fie had just two weeks ago. She was known, but Fie was becoming the horse to watch. Winnie had been consistent in every start and she had yet to run out of the top three. However, her consistency made her a bit of a plain Jane compared to her more fired up half-sister. Reese was out to change that fact in the Consumato Derby.
Ripley waved off a few reporters looking to time the workout. They buzzed off a little slower than usual. Ripley's dominance at The Wire last week had caused a slew of activity at Witch Creek over the last three days. Both Ripley and Reese were content with their modest escape away from home. Winning Touch snorted and crow hopped, scaring them away more than Ripley had. Reporters may like horses, or betting them, but they were still city people at heart.
Reese swayed cockily in the saddle. Her 16 hand mount drew a little more attention as she stepped hoof on the dirt track. Winnie instantly picked herself up and took notice of her surroundings. She had the stout formation of her father Touch Up and all of the muscle that came with it. She shone in the lighting, bright dapples glinting over her rump. Ripley patted the filly's neck, looked up at Reese and then out over the track. A mile and a quarter gallop will be all that's necessary today.
Reese raised an eyebrow, but nodded after some thought. Ripley had flashed a ton of speed from Fie before the Nozisio Derby. The filly had been on her toes and had been race time favorite off of her one workout at Intrepid. Winnie was coming off of two victories at Green Horse Fields and she was as on her toes as she was going to get. Winnie was a solid horse mentally. She didn't need quick bursts of speed to make a statement. If Ripley only wanted a gallop over the surface. The woman would sure get a gallop.
Winning Touch picked up a confident jog down the center of the track. She lowered her head, touching her chin to her thick chest. Her dark eyes flashed over the horses making the loop already. Winnie sped up a little, flashing her natural cruising speed even at the simple jog. Reese posted to movement, keeping her hands light and her weight in the center of her feet. She was balanced and eager, happy to ride such an obvious ball of class. Reese kept up a constant chatter as they circled the track. Winnie tossed her head, flicked her tail, snorted. She was trying to keep the commentary going. Winnie was a very open horse, willing, excitable. She did not stirred up easily.
Birds flew across the dark bay filly's path. Winnie squealed and let out a heart warming buck. A smirk faded from Reese's lips as she passed by Ripley on the railing. The woman was surrounded by press, but she was dead silent. Her form leaned against the rail, far from them. Next time, she noted, I'm bringing another horse along. Reese took happiness in her head trainer's plight, laughing at Winnie. The dark bay took up an easy gallop in that moment. A bubble fluttered around this filly. A bubble of happiness. She was smooth and easy going. She did things effortlessly. Reese lost herself in the moment, letting the filly out a little more, guiding her inward, but staying off the rail a few paths.
Winning Touch stretch out her body, shoulders rounding into running form. She lowered her head, evened herself out. Her legs swept over the loamy soil. She felt as if she was taking to the track. Taking to it in a way that Fie had. Reese took it as a good sign. She leaned closer, flicking a pair of goggles down around her neck. She played with the filly's black mane, counting off the time in her head. Winnie was cruising and she wasn't even trying. She maintained perfect form for the first quarter. Not whipping along at detrimental clicks or stuttering over the track. She was a house of energy today, but so easily managed.
There was the difference between Winnie and her sisters. Winnie was controllable. She was dangerous. She did what it took to win and worked with her rider to accomplish the goals. Reese whispered in the filly's black tipped ears, flicking more rein in her direction. Winnie gobbled it up, sweeping forward fluidly. Her mane and tail now whipped backward in the wind of her own making. She was moving at a solid rate. She swept by some Intrepid horses on the track, some pulling up from their gallops, and didn't turn a hair. More evidence of the bubble.
Her ears were pinned as they rolled into the far turn. She was as focused as possible. She wanted to get the job done and done well. She motored over the track, cutting the turn off nicely. Her hooves dug deep into the track, pushing her forward emphatically. Reese timed her precisely the way she wanted her. Winnie was an easy ride, perfect. The woman shook her hands at the filly to get just a bit more and Winnie bounded forward. Her muscles separated and collided beneath her winter darkened hide. She was pumping like a train now, cruising alongside the rail and back into the clubhouse turn.
Reese stopped her hand motions the second they reached the turn. Winnie wasn't desperate for signals. The gallop had just been a maintenance move. Winning Touch finished out the mile and a quarter gallop with a strong kick and before Reese knew it she was pulling the three year old up. Ever the accomplice, Winnie settled right in, tossing her head, fluttering that gorgeous black mane of hers. She broke into her canter and moved heavily in Ripley's direction. She wasn't sweated or tired. She knew the drill. Ripley felt the filly's chest the moment they reached her. The head trainer smiled and nodded. She'll be perfect for the Consumato just off of these gallops. Good job rating her down Reese. She looked incredible.
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