After the long week end in Uzes, all the impressions and the emotions come through in my mind.
The race started with a lot of wishes and also, unfortunately with a big fearfulness: at the 13th Km Alta Gracia fell down on the wet street…really scared, ghosts of Anghiari 2009 come back in my mind! While all other riders run away fast and fast from us, we tried to clean the injuries and tried to stop bleeding Alta Gracia legs.. Minutes went on and on, behind nobody else, but finally the blood seems to stop; always really afraid we decided to trot Alta Gracia on the street, she seems to look good, so we decided to continue the race. At all the next assistence points AG seems always well, and finally Cristina arrived at the first loop finish-line: Alta Gracia was really teased by the injuries and Cristina still shocked, but apart for this, all the rest seems good..
We went directly to the vet-gate, and the visit was perfect! During the first stop we had started to have a boost in confidence and all the race was on the rise and we were so proud to arrive 23rd!!
My first thanks goes to Cri, able to win against the misfortune, the hard and incessant rain, and the shock of the fall down! Able to think at first to the health and to the respect of Alta Gracia.
Thanks to Frenk, our assistant, for the hard job done, and for giving us in high spirits during the panic moments!
At both I send my excuses for my caprices, my mania and my obsessions before, during and after the race ( who knows me, know well of what I'm talking about)…
Last, but not least I send a hug and a cares to Alta Gracia, a classy horse, that everytime astonished me for its heart, for its seriousness and competence that grow up race after race.
Thanks again to all.
Gianluca