Post by symphony on Nov 6, 2012 17:26:15 GMT -5
King's Park and Indigo Fall
The final races of the year were nothing special. Held in the dead of winter, they marked only the end of a season of very few feature races, the season where champions were raced lightly or spelled and where the lesser horses usually had their chance to win a few.
King's Park were out for most of the day, working with most of the stable, with many horses running their first-up after a short spell in preparation for the spring. Sola had experienced success in the GII Hindridge Stakes earlier in the day, narrowly beating off Here In London by a head. As Tally had observed, if the race was any longer, Sola may not have been able to hold onto her narrow lead. Dreamtime had had a good day as well, placing behind two year old Skyward in the only feature of the day, the Trevail Memorial.
Only two races remained for the day; the Open Victor Street Stakes, where the decision would be made as to whether Indigo Fall would be retired or continue on for another season, and the GII Ollivine Plate for stable star Looking Glass.
Selena was given the task of leading Indy in the post parade, with Tally standing by to give their jockey Jamie Blinn a leg-up and some final advice as to how to ride the race. She clearly told Jamie to keep Indy along the rail and not to push her if she didn't feel like running; the jockey agreed, but Selena - who had taken a dislike in him since he refused the offer to ride a few of the horses he would be racing on in trackwork the day before - didn't trust him. Only a few races before, he had taken Volition out wide in a risky move that had only just brought the colt home into second place, barely beating off By the Book and French Empire. The winning margins had been short all day, she mused as she let Indy go off onto the track, Jamie holding her tight to keep her from running off. The mare looked just a little uncomfortable in his grip, Selena thought as she made her way back to where Tally was standing to watch the warm-up, though all she did was toss her head a little. Still, Indy was known for her low tolerance levels.
The trainer was frowning a little as the groom joined her at the rail, eyes fixed on the blue roan mare they had just sent out. "I'm beginning to regret giving him this ride," she muttered, glancing at Selena. "See how he's got her all held in tight when I told him there was no need for that?" Selena nodded. "Don't do that when you start riding unless the trainer tells you to. With some horses it can only end in disaster."
The warm-up went well, though Indy was still edgy as horses were loaded in the gates. The mare was the last one in, being the most difficult in the field to load, though today she loaded quickly and with little argument. Sola and Storm were out there too; Storm close to the inside rail, Indy right next to him and Sola out in one of the wide barriers. That would be a bit of a disadvantage for her, as the chestnut didn't like breaking out wide, but she had dealt with it before and hopefully would again.
With a loud 'clang', the gates sprang open to admit the field of six out onto the track. Spellbreaker took an immediate lead, with Sola, Here In London and Brilliant Mind close behind. Storm and Indy trailed the field by a length, though Storm was beginning to accelerate under the urging of his jockey. Jamie was urging Indy to speed up as well, but as they passed the first furlong marker, she was no closer to the leaders than she had been before. At the two furlong marker - halfway through the race - she gave one gallant effort to draw up next to Storm and run there for a few seconds, before Jamie began to ease her off the pace. All eyes from King's Park were on the blue roan as she dropped back four lengths to trail in last, at a speed that was much slower than she would usually finish at. She pulled up quicker than ever before and before long Darren was out on the track, running a hand down one leg that the mare was now favoring.
"Selena, go and tell Amy she's in charge of bringing Storm in," Tally instructed, eyes on Indy. "You're in charge of cooling out Sola; walk her out good then give her a quick bath." Selena nodded and the trainer headed over to where Indy was finally leaving the track.
Selena didn't see Indy again until her second round of the saddling yards walking Sola, who had run third behind Spellbreaker and Brilliant Mind. The vet was there, examining the blue roan's leg; everyone looked much less worried than they had been at first though, and so she assumed it wasn't too bad.
Beside her, Sola danced impatiently, still hot from her run. Selena would have to find out what was happening later; the chestnut needed another two rounds of the stalls at least to properly calm her down.