starting again [training]

[flatcreek]

Flyflyfly & Freddy Kranz, Honored Bravery & Austin Smith, Rogue Wind & Sarah Mutain, Always A Challenge & Josh Passit, In The Sky & Sam Foxcrand

Austin settled onto the small roan colt. Brave snorted, shaking his head. When he glanced around, Austin saw that everyone was at a various stage of getting onto the two year olds. Finally, once everyone was on, John nodded, signaling for everyone to come over and listen. Austin cued the colt forward and he replied by lazily walking to John. "We're going to have a mock race for about six furlongs, since some of these guys acted very green in their maidens. Austin nodded. Brave had done fine in his maiden, amazingly, in fact, with a 2 1/2 length win. People were already saying he was the next Treble winner. Some of the others, though, like Rogue, Sarah's filly, had been pretty green, fussing at the start, breaking poorly, and coming out in the lane.

They all nodded after listening to John's instructions, then walked towards the track. Brave pricked his ears and nickered when his hooves touched the different surface. Ahead of them, Josh was fighting with Al, trying to keep him at a mangeable pace. As they approached the gates, the big blue roan colt get even wilder. He had come in second to Brave in their race, but hadn't closed the gap any late.

One by one, the babies loaded into the gates, the morning sun already beating down on them. In the first stall was Brave, the position perfect for his style of running. Next to him was Sam on In The Sky. The daughter of Looking Glass and Blue Skies had been a game second in her maiden race. Next was Sarah with Rogue. The Kings Park bred daughter of Daemon and Windsong had been a good second, too. In the fourth slot was Josh and Always A Challenge. The son of Challenger and Devil's Food was pawing and throwing his head, impatient as always. The fifth horse was Flyflyfly, with Freddy. Fly had won her maiden closely, but it was a win nontheless. Austin wrapped his fingers into Brave's mane, preparing for the colt's fast start.

The gates clanged open, Brave shooting to the lead in the short race, with all the others close behind. As they finished the first quarter mile, the roan colt had pulled away by a length, with Rogue and Al stalking on his heels. Fly and Sis were just behind them, holding their own. After a half mile, with a quarter mile left, Austin cued Brave to really start to run. The colt was surprised, since he was a distance runner, not used to these short distances, but turned on his speed. Rogue and Al stayed right on his heels, starting to move up and challenge for the lead. Brave pinned his ears, sticking his nose out as far as he could at the wire, just getting it over Rogue, with Al a short neck behind, Fly half a length behind him, and Sis a quarter length behind Fly.

Austin pulled up on the colt, easing him to a jog. He nodded at Sarah. "You almost got him, there." He grinned, giving the son of Laugh and Syllable a pat. He had done very well, beating a very talented group of three year olds.