Mackenzie Stakes

*edit* 


Soooo I started this last night & tried to challenge myself again, but it didn't come out quite as nice as I'd have liked. It was pretty rushed, and I made a fatal error with gremlin's legs which set me back. And the composition was a bit askew. So, wasted some cool perspective but it was a challenge. Once I realised it wasn't gonna be a neat entry I just went with it, so I think Gremlin turned out alright. Poor pirate not so much, he's not as scared looking as I would've liked (damn the godmoding!) but they make a nice pair, don't they?  

It's not as nice as clean as some of my other pieces but one of my more ambitious projects. 


You can kind of see his red leg but it's not totally clear. 


So some info: 


Featuring: The Gremlin
Jockey: Sam McLean
Featuring: 


For: Mackenzie Stakes (GIII) at HA-Racing-Database 



Story:

The team had returned from their world exursion exhausted but in good spirits. The time away had been great experience for Gremlin, who although had not kept up the wins since his debut, had managed to secure a first and second on their time away (as well as their third in the Haskell Invitational) which had caused great celebration back home. 

Connachan of course had won her debut down in England, and the filly gained popularity because of it. Nilla had said she'd expected more enquiries about the Gremlin, but they had mostly been about the big nosed red filly, with her big splashy run. She'd have several offers of interest, but of course they'd all been turned down. Connachan would be their homegrown superstar. Gremlin their international. 

But the Gremlin was an exhausting animal. The Japan Cup was the only race where he'd seemed relaxed, and Sam was feeling the brunt of it. As soon as they came home, he slept for nearly eighteen hours. It was strange that it was the jockey that prevented the horse from running, not overwork or ensuring breaks between races. The Japan Cup was less than three weeks after the Melbourne, and despite his not so fantastic performance against the big league, older horses, he was perfectly sound. The Gremlin didn't need rest days. He physically bounced back in a night. It was his ornery attitude that kept him from getting more under his belt. 

Rob was happy to return to his beloved farm, and despite his enjoyment of the months long trip, it had been hard to keep up with business. He would not leave the farm for such a long time again. The Gremlin had had enough experience with such a whirlwind schedule, and had his regular team, he would not need to go just to babysit. Nilla or perhaps even Frank could go, with Sam and eventually Willa. That's if Sam's career didn't take off and he was booked elsewhere. He'd had interest since his win in the Gran Premio Nacional - Gremlin's stellar win. 

Rob too had had to take several days off after the trip, even though he'd tried to insist otherwise. But Nilla and the grooms had stolen his phone, so he too slept for close to eighteen hours, though in his passive state he'd contracted a cold. Although not severe, it kept him in the house and not on the farm. it'll only make everywan else sick. stay at hame. 

But even though everyone else was enjoying the rest, after a week or so the Gremlin became antsy. He was turned out almost constantly, since for some reason he'd developed box walking which unnerved everyone. Even though he'd had a great deal of time in one of the smaller paddocks, everyone could tell it didn't seem enough. There was chat of whether gelding him would be kinder, since then he could spend so much time on the open range, with the yearling band and the broodmares, but it was financially dangerous since he was maturing.

So, although the Gremlin could not go out properly, after a fortnight Nilla suggested sending him back down to England for a grade 3 in England to blow off some steam. Still a good race, a different field from the regular lot. It'll be a change, less flashy, maybe he'll get out of his starfunk. Sam was reluctant since he'd been with the animal for so long, but agreed once he'd seen the extent of the box walking, and what it was making him do to the grooms. 

Why isn't he glad to be home?

*******
 
It was much milder in England than in Scotland, though the air was cool, with a bite. Nilla had gone down instead of Rob, along with Sam, who for once was the one not on form. he grumped the whole way and on the day of the race seemed in no better a mood. Maybe it would've been better to get Willa. It would've been a good starter race for her debut with the the grimace. 

Willa didn't recognise many in the field, but then she hadn't been to many of Gremlin's races anyway. The colt was in a positive mood, though antagonistic (but seemed to constitute a good mood for his racing). He'd went for a couple of stable hands (no blood yet) and she'd noticed even even gone for Sam when he wasn't paying attention before mount up. Luckily the other groom had been. 

 The race began in a merry clatter with a decent crowd. The pace was easy, and Nilla was confident Gremlin would do well. He settled in a couple behind the leaders, and watching the screens Nilla watched him tail the leader - a striking bloody shouldered grey. She remembered him from the paddock. Beautiful, with a pleasant personality she wished Gremlin could have. She noticed that Gremlin was running at a half past, just behind the other colt, seemingly not progressing though she knew he definitely could. He was stalking this horse. Ears pinned, she noticed him slink out. And Sam wasn't paying attention. And then in a blink she saw the colt whip out his teeth and attempt to bite.

And god damn just in time it seemed that Sam woke up and pulled so hard on the outside rein they could hear the scream from the owners box. The final stretch spread out before the leaders and it seemed like it would be a sprint, with Gremlin's harpy wails ringing in their ears.

Get your head together Sam, she thought, and press the demon into the dirt.