nocturnal miss

[Ripley Marsh]

Nocturnal Miss
featuring: Nocturnal Runaway & Miss Josephine

The moon was a fading orb in the early morning sky by the time Maggie and David stepped out of the barn with Miss Josephine and Nocturnal Runaway in tow. Maggie's eyes glinted as she took in the sight of morning dew on the grass. Winter had been tough on Witch Creek this season. It seemed that there'd been a snow storm every week causing Ripley to ship horses out much earlier than usual to the Breeders' Cup to avoid being stranded at home. Dew was welcome compared to snow. Miss Josephine and Noc skipped at the end of the reins, nostrils flared to take in the small of the fresh air. Their ears pricked as a group of birds took off into the sky, squawking their protestations at the running horses.

David's eyes followed the running pair of thoroughbreds. Reese and Brooks sat still on the galloping pair of Saintly Touch and Sun King. The dark bay and chestnut horses looked sensational as they covered the ground, completely effortless in their running. Two Breeders' Cup winners... David hoped to be a presence in the Breeder's Cup himself. He had a bunch of horses looking to move up the ranks, one of which he was riding today. Noc's silver-gray throat moved with a pulsating call to the galloping pair. Neither horse answered back, but Miss Josephine snorted, prancing sideways.

"Night Stalker has a heavy presence this year," David remarked. Noc, Josey and Saint all were descendants of the prolific sire. Next year, Roussong would represent that family line when he became a two year old. Maggie hummed. "Ripley finds a lot of success with that line. So here we are with a lot of that particular strain. Something not many people will have a claim to down the road. She personally sought out Noc and Josey. Noc's a half-sister to Optimus Unstoppable and Josey brings in a good stallion string through Passionate Class. I think it was just an added benefit to have that Night Stalker in there."

David nodded, completely understanding the idea of success bringing success. "I'm excited to let this filly rip. She's been a handful since her race in December."

"Not a good loser is Noc?"

"Not in the least."

Both riders had a laugh though it tapered off as they neared Ripley. The head trainer was rubbing her belly, but her eyes were as sharp as ever. The green of them glinted in the light and she nodded at David and Maggie. "Good. We've got the turf track to ourselves today. Bella and Para are shipping out after their gallop over the synthetic. These two, Sultan and Queen will be heading out in two days themselves. I'm looking for a solid effort today from both of them. They're still relatively under the radar compared to our other horses, so we'll take our time and see what we've got."

Justin walked down the path, leading a cooled out Hourglass. The mare stopped, head lifted and nostrils flaring as she took in the sight of the others. Ripley stepped up, took a hold of the bay. "Mind giving them a leg up?"

Justin shrugged, helped one rider up and then the next while Ripley rubbed Hourglass' thick neck. The bay soaked in the attention, turning her head to get a good scratch on her white star. "It'll just be a three furlong workout today. They've recovered well enough from their short campaigns last year. I want a solid gallop for a mile before the three furlong flat. I'll meet you there."

Josey tossed her head in irritation as Maggie nudged her into a loose jog. The bay mare was a thick type, tall and coltish. She had big stride to her and an attitude the size of the Great Canyon. However, when she got up to speed, Miss Josephine was among the more talented horses Maggie had ridden. She had a little something extra. She could go from nine furlongs to twelve with relative ease because of her versatility. The big mare pinned her ears when Noc joined her on the run up the first hill.

David barely budged an inch as Noc practically pulled him up the hillside. She bested Miss Josephine at the crest, pausing only briefly before continuing on. He barely moved an inch, had his hands nearly in his lap. She was feeling her oats today. The silver filly had been a flying machine lately. According to Ripley, she looked twice the horse at three as she had at two. Her times had just been quicker. She'd been pulling David out of his seat in her gallops. He'd caught a sparkle in Ripley's eyes that said perhaps this would be a Tiara type filly. She'd have a lot of catching up to do though. Perhaps she'd bloom just in time.

Miss Josephine lingered behind Noc, letting go her frustrations with the younger filly. She never really liked to run for the lead anyway. She simply shrugged off the runaway as though it didn't peeve her to have that one outdo her. Her queenly attitude made Maggie smile as she covered the hills with arrogant distaste. Josey was a down-right princess. She knew she liked to run at the back of the pack and yet she acted insulted when she was passed. Maggie kept her hands light on the reins, allowing movement in the leathers.

Nocturnal Runaway cruised over the course, ears pricked and tail floating out behind her. She'd settled down a little bit, but her movements remained strong and confident. This workout over the turf would be excellent for the long distance races over the dirt. She simply had more muscle in her hind end, more of a kick when called upon at a distance. Her dark eyes gleamed with excitement and eagerness. David crooned to the filly, stroked her neck with a finger. "Settle down, girl."

Maggie niggled the reins as Noc hit the last hill running under full steam. The silver filly was flying and it would be work for Miss Josephine. The bay mare picked it up eagerly, ears pinned to her neck and stride lengthening. Her eyes lit up with fire, tail flying behind her as she charged. Her legs ate up the distance separating herself and Noc, giving her something else to do despite be bored trailing behind Noc. She had plenty of energy to get rid of before her performance in a couple weeks.

Ripley lifted the binoculars to her eyes as Noc appeared over the hill. The gray filly looked absolutely haunting in the early light, a wild thing in a wild setting. The sleek filly did not pause, ears pinning to her head as Miss Josephine appeared suddenly at her side. Ripley was surprised that the bay was so close to Noc, but if she was getting more of workout, the trainer wouldn't complain.

The pair headed downhill, restrained by their riders until they hit the flat. Noc sped off, head cocked and mane whipping. David almost looked lost on the filly's compact back. Miss Josephine kept up under some urging from Maggie to stay in the game. The bay mare would be at a loss if she wasn't urged because Noc was so naturally quick footed. Josey's stride lengthened over the grass and by the second furlong she was going head to head with the ever impressive Noc.

David's breath was caught in his throat at the speed Noc was showing. The gray filly floored him with this innate speed. She flew for fun and to stave off the rising challenge of Miss Josephine. Josey ground into the younger horse's lead, taken out of her element by the slower start up pace. She was still thrilling to watch though. The fact that she could keep running at this pace despite being taken away from her comfort was exciting to Ripley. It meant that the bay mare might actually be a logical favorite in smaller fields. It meant that the bay mare was becoming a horse the competition didn't want to mess with.

The pair floored it through the final furlong, their hoofbeats echoing on the flat. Noc would not give ground and Josey simply could not get ahead of the younger filly. They were at an impasse. Ripley thought it was only fitting that the same bloodlines ran in their genes, that they were so much an equal match despite age and maturity. The trainer was rubbing her hands together in excitement as they galloped out of view. Year Fifteen was going to be pretty damn exciting to say the least.