"I know she isn't your usual surface choice, Mags, but she's got the kind of temperament you want." Ripley paused carefully, green eyes shifting from blonde woman to gray filly. Mal and her had made careful decisions about riders and horses, but she'd known this rider would need some persuading. Maggie was a turf specialist who had ridden the likes of Flawed Princess and Paranormal Hunter. Swing Dancer was anything but a turf specialist. However... She had the "IT" factor. Ripley Marsh was counting on that factor to get through this murky water. "You mean, no one else wanted to work with her," Maggie grumped as she watched Malcolm tighten the saddle on the furious filly. Brooks practically was holding the filly to earth every time she attempted to defy gravity. Popcorn Blitz' fleeting personality had definitely passed on to this sassy creature. She saw him in every single move the filly made. Swing Dancer's bright eyes flashed with insult when the men finally had the girth tightened to their satisfaction. "You rode her father, Mags. You know the family well. Don't you want to be on his first daughter?" Maggie bared her teeth at Ripley. It was not a friendly smile, but Ripley called it progress. "There was a reason Popcorn Blitz retired as a grade four," Maggie huffed. She reluctantly followed the group out of the barn, blue eyes muddled with her thoughts. She didn't like Danny one bit. The gray filly had this jealous, spoiled attitude that came from being raised somewhere other than Witch Creek. The horses at Witch Creek were athletic and focused. Danny was athletic, but she definitely wasn't focused on racing. Mal patted the faded white marking on Danny's face, smiling when the horse huffed. "Like rider, like horse." He smirked. "It won't be that bad, girl. You'll see. You'll like having a job and getting away from me. Maggie's much easier to deal with, but I can't say the same for you." The dappled filly had been the toughest nut to crack on the entire yearling roster. Even Awestruck had been easier to break to saddle. For True, it had been fear ruling her head. For Danny, it was pure stubborn childness. Ripley gave Maggie's shoulder one last pat before motioning to Brooks to give the blond a leg up. Swing Dancer looked coquetishly in Maggie's direction, the sparkle in her eyes giving her away. Mal hissed when the filly threatened to bolt sideways, stopping the trouble-making decision all together. He wasn't sorry to toss this one in Ripley's court. "One mile gallop, Maggie. Open her up the last furlong down the stretch." Maggie nudged the filly down the dirt path, grudgingly admitting that the filly had a nice stride. She was big for a filly of this age. Nearly sixteen hands with a big athletic shoulder. She was muscular like Popcorn Blitz with a stout forehand and a lean backend. Swing Dancer was athletic and efficient and she moved like a Queen among Princesses. Her ego apparently was as tall as her frame. Maggie let the filly move into a trot through the gap, impressed with the way she moved into action. She was smooth, a little hot headed, but that was to be expected. Mal nodded after Danny as she trotted along. "Maggie's opinion of her will be changed. She may not have an endearing personality, but she's a great mover. We'll see if she runs as fast as she looks." Ripley agreed with Mal's assessment, having watched the gray grow up over the last year. Damage had been done in the personality area, but her parents had definitely set her up for that weakness. Popcorn Blitz was still notorious for being nefarious. "She's a smooth mover to say the least." Maggie nudged the filly into a gallop, leaning close to her withers despite the filly's head high carriage. Danny cruised over the course, ears pricked and eyes scanning the immensity of the track. Her legs covered the ground impressively and she really skipped over the dirt. It was as though she was floating. Maggie guided the filly to the rail around the turn, impressed when she flicked to the correct lead without much movement. Maggie tightened her hold on the reins, blue eyes sharpening when Danny began to pick up the pace. "She moves like Siri," Reese commented from down the rail. "Quicker with every furlong. That's dangerous." Mal lifted an eyebrow at this, but didn't question it. Reese was an amazing tactician. She had a clock in her head and knew almost down to the second in time. He didn't need her meticulous eye to see the same thing though. Danny was cruising without much effort. Maggie let the filly step out around the far turn, appreciating the extra zing. Danny switched leads back in the stretch, demanded rein and left a whirlwind of dust in her wake. Her legs blurred beneath her as she rallied down the lane, stretching out that elegant neck to gain the most body advantage. Maggie leaned close, not bothering to encourage her for more. This workout had definitely been impressive. Definitely worth the spoiled attitude. Maggie carefully reached down with her left hand, patted the filly's neck as she dashed through the wire. No way was anyone finding out how much she liked this filly. "Good :10 second furlong," Reese called. Her interested had reached a peak. They'd never had a dirt sprinting specialist that was a filly before. Perhaps this one would be that filly.
0 Comments
|
WorkoutsPlease realize that I do add in workouts before they are necessarily due. If you are looking for a specific horse because you are judging a race, click on his/her name below and his/her latest workout will appear at the top or your screen. Categories
All
|