Nerves

Last racer this season! got a few more odds and ends and its ROLLOVER TIME!!! and breedings!


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It seemed the Filly had confidence issues. Frankie had been watching her from affar and after seeing the nervy youngster settled in her new home outside Moonee she went back to the stud.

though even with her new handler working closely with her and a few of the quieter horses they began to get her accostomed to the wild world outside the peacefull bubble she resided in.

However any trip outside the yard left her sweaty and shaking. The grooms lost hope and after 2 months of work Geoff gave in and callled Frankie back up to decide on the issue.

One of the exercise riders had the nerve to snark at her about the filly and with an Icy glare she marched into the head trainers office.

Geoff sat her down and drew the blinds on the curious eyes of the staff, most of whom hadn't spent time with the nutcase that ran the studs breeding program.

"Its Collie, i know your attatched to this one but shes too nervous for this work. We cant even get her onto the gallops any more without her freaking out. She almost caused a serious accident the other day when she bolted from a magpie" Geoff sighed "I really want to giver her a go but unless she shows improvement soon im going to have to sugest we scrap her and send her back to the stud."

Frankie opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Staring she shook her head, flailed her arms and stalked off.

Making her way through the bystanders she walked over to the bay fillies stall.

A curious head poked over the door ears pricked and whinnied at her.

"hey you remember me girl! well i remember you too and we have a lot of catching up to do." she gently breathed in the fillys breath and scratched her behind the ear.

Collie grunted, leaning into the caress and her head lowered and ears flopped as she relaxed under the attention.

"why cant we get you like this all the time huh girl? you just have to be brave for me!" Frankie rubbed the creatures glossy neck.

On impulse she grabbed the halter and rope beside the stall. Still massaging the bay she stepped inside, working the rope and halter all over Collie.

Grunting with pleasure collie stood as docile as a lamb and Frankie haltered the mare before giving her one of the carrots in her pocket.

Breathing in a big sigh she calmly led the mare out of her stall, heading out of the barn and into the warm sunshine.

Collies ears went up, her eye's got wide and she tensed, glancing around her. Several horses were being walked. a few of the eventers in the other barn were being schooled in the arena and a flashy bay colt was being swam in one of the pools.

Frankie nudged the filly on, calling her forwards with her voice and hands, stroking, reasuring and calming her as the filly walked into the sunshine.

Grooms stood staring at the pair as frankie slowly walked Collie down the road and into the orchard gate. Orange trees were full with fruit and the sun bathed the entire world with light. The soft dapples under the trees left a perfect spot to rest and frankie sat under one of these as she let the filly graze around her.

They stayed for a good hour, relaxing untill Collie had completely calmed.

They were walking back to the barn when she spyed Geoff leaning against a fence watching them.

Wondering why he was so still she took the filly to her stall and kissed the velvety muzzle good night.

"you do realise thats the first time we have gotten her out of the barn with less than one person leading her?" Geoff muttered. "Why do you have to walk on in here and shove our collective failings up our behinds?"

Innocent and wide eyed Frankie stood quiet and stared up at the grizzled old alcoholic. Sighing he clomped off to his trailer his old dog at his heels.

"Its because i hope for more" Frankie sighed as she watched him touch several horses before dissapearing around the corner.

~~~

It took several months of Frankie living at the Training stable and VERY early morning trainings with Jess on board before the filly was working well. 4 months after the first walk Collie smashed Logans lates breeze time and came out of it dancing.

Geoff was flabbergasted, but she was fit to race, the issue was how to get her on the track and starting without another freakout.

In the end it was Jess and Betsy who managed to convince frankie to train up the latter to be able to handle the filly. The young apprentice jockey had been grooming Collie for months and vying for more chances to work with Jess and jumped at the chance.

We had a team.

Her first race dawned cloudy, everything seemed dull and even the staff were quieter than usual.

Collie shyed at almost anything you could think of. Leaves, horse poo, Betsy's ponytail you name it and she worried.

With Bets in the mounting yard they managed to get Jess on her and when Frankie turned up on a sooty buckskin mare to lead the pair to the gate the fily calmed.

Resting her head across Gloria's withers and chin on Frankies knee the 4 made their way to the gates. With a kiss and a scratch the Filly loaded well. Jess stroked her twitching hide, singing nonsense songs in her ear and glaring at the roughmouthed jockeys next to her.

The bell rang and they were off, Collie lept out as if burned and soared to the front. Smiling the jockey sat still, letting the filly setlle ahead of the stalkers and soothed her to a ground eating stride.

The Bay filly soared ahead, seeming to fly from the sounds of horses behind her, only losing momentum in the last 100 allowing a deep grey mare to close and take second by a head.

Up next she went to the Super Impose Plate, where she ran well but lost focus and dallied at the end, dropping back to 3rd.

Deciding to give her a break Geoff and Frankie kept her working, lengthening her and increasing the weight on her, and before long the youngster turned into a ball of muscle and energy.

It was later in the year she was finally entered in another race, the press gave her long odds as she was coming from a quiet spell.

It was the Bagot Hcp and though we were running another horse we wanted her to get expirience in a longer race.

However it was not to be, she broke late and when she found herself amoungst the crush of bodies she switched off, running dead untill the wire and only managing to hold to 8th due to Jess's skill as a pilot.

Dissapointed Frankie spent the night with the filly, calming her and working on breaking her out of the shell she sinks into.

Finally bright and sparky again the Filly was entered into the Pinjarra Cup, slightly shorter she broke fast and managed to sit ahead of the others untill the line, snatching victory by a nose.

When she came from the winners circle, drenched in sweat and still nervous Frankie and Geoff decided to end her there for the season. The team would work with her more and fingers crossed we would see her again next season.

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@3
Races in career 4:2/0/1
Money earned $77,500
G1 - 0
G2 - 0
G3 - 0


Brother Derek x Meteor Colony
Name: KhC Cold Shower
Barn name: Collie
Gender: Filly
Colour: Dark bay
Genotype: EE Aa
Height: Projected 16.0hh
Temperament: In two words, high strung. She is the sweetest little thing but get her in a situation she isnt familiar with and she gets twitchy! She jumps, jerks and bolts if she can, however she never means to hurt anyone. Hopefully with work and expirience she will lose her nerves and settle into her lifestyle.
Dosage: 1.67
TrueNick: A
Inbreeding:
Raise a Native 4S x 5S
Northern Dancer 5S x 4D
Analysis: She's got an enormous barrel housing what has to be a fantastic airway, which can only compound her phenomenaldistance dosage. Her legs are slightly on the short side for the rest of her body, but she should be able to run forever.
Expected discipline: 10f+ dirt
Purchased from: *Greatalmightyqueen