Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2012 3:35:41 GMT -5
The brisk morning breeze of spring blew effortlessly down the dirt track. The sun dived in and out of the clouds with clarity. The bay three year old moved quickly to the side, yet under an expert hand, she began to calm. She wasn’t nervous, she was just excited, excited that she was finally back in racing. Her first race back on the track since the start of last year was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The filly placed second with ease, behind Star Thoroughbred’s Filly, Georgie’s Girl. Her first race back on the dirt would be the Utanali Stakes, over nine furlongs on the dirt. There were some good fillies in there, including Juvenile Fillies runners, Midnight Thriller, and Fiery Touch. We were in Gate One. From our two year old season, we’d got one win, three seconds, and two thirds, with perfect consistency. We were ready for the start of the new year. The filly had grown to sixteen two hands high. Her legs were long, and her body was streamline – she now looked like a racehorse, and not a beady yearling. Though she was now three, she would definitely produce something this year. We were ready to take on the field.
In Gate Two, there was the Stride Of Perfection Filly, Juvenile Fillies placed, Fiery Touch. Fie was a lovely filly – she stood at 16.2hh and she was a picture. She was a half sister to Winnie, and they were practically twins. Winnie was also half sister to The Devil’s Touch. Fie currently had one win and two places. She raced over to seven to ten furlongs, the same distances as Winnie raced – the only thing that was different about the two fillies – Fie likes to close with tremendous speed – Winnie likes to stalk the leaders. In Gate Three, there was the Night Stalker filly, Midnight Thriller. Midtee is currently owned by Akita Rose Stables. She is the twin sister to Eternal Phantom, the only filly to race in this years Juvenile, placing a very good third. She placed third in the Juvenile Fillies, and currently had one win under her belt.
The filly walked forward with a bounce in her step. I had a brief feeling that he was going to sprint his heart out down this home stretch. We were alone, no one else in sight, other than Allice of course. She was sat on the grand stand, her little stop watch in her hand, ready for us to start our workout at the three furlong pole. I squeezed the filly forward into a bouncy trot and she responded instantly. I rise and fell gently in the saddle, keeping the filly collected. She chomped at his metallic snaffle bit and I continued to think about the filly’s future as a three year old. The upcoming races... she'd be against some tough opposition. I was hoping that we could enter her in the Triple Tiara this year. It's for any horse who is Grade 5 and up who can race over seven to ten furlongs. I was dreaming again. By the time I'd already snapped out of my vision, we were already cantering, and I was stood, beginning to let the rein slip, imagining I was in the race. We began to canter round the far turn, and as we came to the three pole, I drove.
The filly perked up immediately, and her long stride covered the dirt tremendously. I could imagine me on board this almighty bay filly flying past Fie and Midtee... we came into the come stretch and the filly changed his leads, flying effortlessly down the stretch, ears pricked. I drove her along and the more I asked, the more she gave. I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt the air rush through me. It was almost like I was flying... I love that word. Flying. Defying gravity on a half-ton filly. I smiled and as we came under the wire, I punched the air before standing in my stirrups and slowing the filly right down. I brought her back to a trot, and turned the filly. She extended her trot energetically, and I stood in my stirrups again. She bounced happily along, pricking his ears and stopping by Alice. She knew the drill. She looked at me, and I looked at her. She didn't look happy. I sighed. She looked at me, stood up and leaned against the fence. She shook her head and handed me the stopwatch, trying not to smirk. I picked it up and looked. I looked at it. “Thirty five and four fifths?” I gasped. She nodded. “We've got a star in the making... oh my gosh.” I said, patting her. She responded with a nicker. Alice looked at me. “I want a go on her sometime.” I laughed. “You can if you like,” I replied.
