Murder Afire

[+ Spiritedbrumby +]

The colt shuffles underneath me as I move him out and onto the track. It was a little damp from the rain yesterday but overall seemed fine. I would just stay three in off the rail so he didn't get in the muddy and more slippery part. Moving the gorgeous horse out I stroked his wither.
"You gotta beef up some more boy, you can win this you know." I said to my up and coming champ. Moving him through his paces I warm him up just a little as he was very excited. I trot down to the starting gate where Justin my stable master is wiaiting to help with the gate mechanism. He helps me load him up.
"Good luck mate.." he says before running off to open the gates. I sit there perched on top ready for the colts start. The gates open and Fire flys out... or rather he didn't. I let him go for a little then pulled him up before the first turn. His start was not as good as it could have been. Loading him again I make sure everything is alright or wether he;'s just having an off day. As the gates open this time the result is better but still not as good as I would like it.

Coming back again a couple more times with the same result I decide for one last go at it.
"He's not up to pace is he?" Justin said frowning at one of his favourite horses.
"No not really, I'll try showing him the whip in the gate." I said hoping the large colt wouldn't go nuts.
Waiting in the gates just before they were released I bluntly showed him the whip and brushed it lightly across him. The gates opened and he soared through! I let him go the full track then finally pulled him up slowly. Warming the colt down on the track I rubbed his withers thankfully.
"All you needed was some encouragement then Fire." I said approvingly making a note to tell his jockey for the big day.

[+ Spiritedbrumby +]

Taking the colt out again the track was now firm and dry. Fire was ready to go this time and practically tried ot buck me off during the warm up, he wanted to race. Not dilly dally around with all these silly requirements, where was the fun in that? I held him firm and growled at him a couple of times, swearing at him a couple more. At least he would shoot around the track like a lightning bolt today and not lazy about.
"Your so testy some times." I say to the colt now holding his head ridiculously high and prancing like a show pony off the gorund more than he was on it. I finally resigned and took him over to the starting gates. He quietened a little once he realised I was going to let him go. Today I had Justin riding on Oddside, a fair match for Fire, and Nicole on the gates. Nicole pretty much kept everything running at Fail Scene and I was eternally grateful as I as a manager was off with the fairies.

With Oddside in gate three and Fire in gate five we loaded up and got ready. Justin gave me a smirk as though he thought he was going to win, he would be wrong. We were going for 1400m today as I didn't want to tire Fire out too much before the big race, this was all more to get him accustomed to racing against other horses more and get his racing spirit up. It was the pool work outs, hot walker and early morning rides that were building up his muscles.

The gates opened and both horses flew out at the same time. Oddside though not as well muscled was a speed horse and great over short distances, he would give Fire a run for his money. Cascading down the track Fire felt good underneath me, in fact he felt awesome. He was faster than I had initially thought and at the 1000m line he took the inside rail stealing the lead from Oddside. Odi kept his strength though and stayed half a length back, Justin knew how to ride him. As we neared the finish Odi burst out behind us and came along the outside coming up quickly. Neck and neck we raced and passed the finish line...crap! It was most definately a draw. Well that was another thing to work on. Not taking the lead to early and fighting for it at the end... Fire had done it before, perhaps he felt obliged today to let Odi have a go at it. Either way it wuldn't be allowed to happen again though I felt proud that Odi had so much in him.