Areto - Breeders Cup Prospect Show

[Millie Daveys]

Millie Daveys with Dare To Impress

Breeder’s Cup Prospect Show

Millie entered the stable. The black filly was turned with her back towards her, drinking out of her water feeder. Her ears pricked instantly as she heard Millie, she turned her head to look at her, spinning around to face her. Areto sauntered over to Millie. Millie held out her hand as the filly approached. She looked magnificent, her coat shone, her head was perfectly sculpted and her muscles were really developing. Areto was quickly rising two years old and would soon have an exciting start to her two year old season. But first, she was to have an exciting end to her prospect season, with the Breeder’s Cup! Areto was chosen as Oak Hill’s entry for the Breeder’s Cup Prospect Show that would be held over at The Wire track this year. She was chosen because of her impeccable bloodlines, fine conformation and her competitive yet focused temperament. Areto knew The Wire track well. She had shown in quite a few prospect shows there this year, coming away from them all with good placing.



The filly nibbled at Millie’s jacket, pulling at the zip. Hey! Cheeky! Millie laughed. Areto was always, lively, cheeky and happy in her stable. But no one should be fooled by this. When out on the track she knows her job. She is fiery, competitive and focused. Millie turned to lift the saddle off the door. Areto was well used to the saddle by now. Millie and Areto had been through this procedure time after time. It was an almost daily ritual. Areto had never really been bothered about the saddle, or the bridle and bit or that matter. She was mature far beyond her years and took everything calmly in her stride. Areto stood, still and nosily watched as Millie approached with the saddle. Millie patted the tall black filly’s neck and raised the saddle up level with her back. Areto stood calm and quiet, ears pricked and looked happy. Millie placed the saddle softly on her back and straightened up the saddle cloth. Areto was a prime example of any fine prospect race horse. She knew her job well. Millie flipped the girth down and as she did so it slapped Areto’s leg. She raised her leg, looking at the girth. She snorted quietly, before placing her leg back on the floor and settling still. Millie pulled the girth up and slackly fastened it.



Areto impatiently spun around, face to face with Millie. Millie raised a hand and stroked her muzzle. Areto stuck out her lips and came closer to Millie. She wasn’t very interested in personal space and tended to get a bit on top of her handlers sometimes. Millie pushed her back a little; it was something she had to learn. Millie leaned over the stall door, picking up the bridle. Areto was perking up, she knew she was going out and was getting a little excited and impatient. She stomped the floor with her front hoof, letting out a whinny. One by one, each other yearling and weanling in the block whinnied after her. Millie shook her head and reached out to put the reins over Areto’s head. You’re just too tall girl! Millie had the reins at arm’s length and still struggled to reach. Areto bobbed her head a little and that was just enough to slide the reins down her neck. Millie stood next to her, holding the bridle and bit, she lifted the bit to the yearling’s mouth. Areto opened her mouth, enough for Millie to slide the bit in and fasten the bridle up. Millie was very lucky with Areto. She had always been a dream horse to handle and always very accepting of the tack.



Today, Millie wanted to take Areto down to the track, one last time before the big show. She would play the noise of crowds through the speakers, whilst walking her up and down the track, to and from the loading gates. Right girl, let’s go. Behave now! Millie flung the stable gate open and led the magnificent filly out. She tossed her head, flinging her mane about, almost stallion like. She jogged excitedly down the barn isle next to Millie. As they made their way down to the track, Areto continued with this behaviour, adding in the occasional whinny and mini rear.



They reached the track entrance. Josh stood at the rail waiting for them; he was only there to take care of the crowd sound. Josh raised his hand, mentioning a few words to Millie, asked her how she was and passed a few comments about how good the filly was looking. Millie smiled, praise about her horses was always widely welcomed, but Areto was her pride and joy, so it just made it even more special. She was out of Millie’s first and only Hall Of Fame inductee, Dare To Dream. So this made her even more determined to make the filly a star! And a star she would be! Areto began pawing at the ground, she was ready to go and he didn’t wait for anyone. Millie led the fiery filly out on to the track, about 100 yards away from the starting gates. She halted her still and stood her square, making her look her best. One part that the horses would be judged on come race day would be conformation, so Millie wanted Areto to practice looking her best. She was well built and held her head nicely, she had a lovely build for a classic distance race horse. Muscular and solid, but agile and as quick as they come. Not to mention a stamina machine!



Millie led the filly on. Immediately the filly perked up, she flicked her feet out, covering the ground quickly and confidently. She began to jog a little, tossing her head. But stayed close to Millie and remained obedient. A little spirit was good in a race horse. It was rare that there were any successful push button plod racers. Now, it wasn’t impossible, but Millie preferred her horses to have spark. Especially as yearlings and youngsters; they should be bursting with energy. And if Millie was able to harness this energy to use on the track, she would have a champion on her hands for sure.



As they grew closer to the loading gates, Areto’s ears pricked up. She was familiar with the gates, though she still looked at them a little oddly. Because Areto was only a yearling, she had never been loaded into the gates before. She didn’t really understand what they were actually for. She was still a little curious about them. Millie paused Areto next to the gates. She looked at them for a moment, before turning her head back to Millie and the track, looking around with her ears pricked forwards. Millie walked her back towards Josh. Millie gave him the thumbs up to turn the speakers on. Suddenly the speakers blared out. Areto jumped sideward, a little shocked. Easy girl. Millie patted the filly’s neck and led her on again. The yearling soon settled after the initial shock of the sudden loud noise. She had experienced the speakers before, as had all of Millie’s other yearlings. She was relatively used to them now, though she always perked up more when they were turned on. Millie led the filly back the 100 yards towards Josh. She jogged, whinnied and tossed her head. She was excited, but obedient. Millie paused her by Josh. Josh smiled and nodded. They both knew the filly was ready. Her training always went well and she had done great today! She was ready for the Breeder’s Cup and was probably in fact one of Oak Hill’s biggest hopes for a win in the cup. Millie patted the filly and led her back to her stall. She would rest up now until the big day, but she was ready and Millie had confidence in her!



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