Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2012 3:07:05 GMT -5
Emma and Grace work for the February Maiden Turf
[/blockquote][/blockquote]As the day finally drew nearer, the month seemed like it had gone forever. The moonlit winter sky had the slight hint of haze within it. The stars shone brightly, reflecting the sunlight. The lake in the centre of the track reflected the moonlight perfectly, the rippling making it seem like it was out of some romance film. With a sudden spark of electricity, the humming of the barns light lit up, the mass rustle of straw unsurprising yet common first thing in the morning, but never usually at this hour. A dark figure appeared, complete with hood – each step was intimidating for the horses. Stopping outside one of the stalls, the figure turned, and placed a black bag on the floor by their feet. The winter had settled in, and the bitterness of the spiteful cold stung the faces of many. Lowering the hood, the ginger hair instantly revealed who it was. Turning sharply on her heels, the looked at the stall she had stopped at. Looking up, the bold maximum sabino pelted filly looked down her. It was only Grace… Emma stepped forward, snorting and nudging the girl with her muzzle. She spoke to her quietly, stroking her cheekbone, before entering the stall, deep with straw. The small leather saddle was placed on her back, which had just been taken off the saddle rack, outside the door, quickly followed by the bridle. After a few checks, they were ready.
Through the fog, the white filly, complete with rider stepped quietly on to the track. Everything was silent, and the bright white lights turned on using a motion sensor, flickering , though shining eerily down onto the track. The bright pelted filly halted, and looked around, listening for the first cheep of the morning birds as they rustled from their nests. The black sky gradually began to get a lighter blue, before the first hint of orange intruded the horizon. And with that, Emma made her first step into the wilderness of the lightly moonlight track. Emma began to slowly side step, before rapidly circling – her urge to go was completely unbearable for him, though Grace was not to let him. Emma loved the dawn. Her coat would shine under the early morning sun, making her glisten and stand out from the rest of the track. Grace tried to keep him calm, whilst checking to see if Jacey had text her. The moment arrived a couple of seconds later, and she felt in her pocket. Reading the text, she sighed. Jacey would no longer be coming, but Serendipity Hill’s new co-owner, Meghan, would be. Meghan was also Grace’s cousin, so it would be a nice surprise for both relatives. Grace smiled and the phone slipped back into her pocket. As she looked back up, Megs walked out of the entrance, stop watch in hand, gripping it from the red thin shoelace round her neck which it had been tied to.
This would be a second start of the season for Emma. She raced and placed a gain second in the Sweeping Maiden, and now it was time for Emma to shine. The filly came from Riverwood Acres, but when they closed down, Akita Rose reclaimed the Blanchette filly and put her up for sale. Kacey Hill Racing bought the filly, but when they were put out of business, Jacey kept the barn and started her own racing business, Serendipity Hills, and bought the filly back. The entrants for this maiden race weren’t tough, but they weren’t easy either. Witch Creek racing filly, Bella Luna (formerly Sweet Melody) was in gate one. The filly was yet to break her maiden, achieving a third, a fourth, and a fifth. She is a stalker, so would be up close to the leader, tracking them all the way round and make her move in the stretch. The other entrant was Dreamvalley Stables entry, Loud And Clear. The filly had been raced three weeks in a row with a one week break, which would mean she’d be exceedingly tired after this and would need a break. She was also a stalker, which meant that Bella Luna or Loud And Clear will need to go for the lead.
Emma breaks from the gate pretty quietly, and doesn't like being in the front or in the middle. She prefers to be near the back of the pack. She doesn't waste her energy fighting to gain the lead towards the beginning of the race, and saves all of it to close very strongly and run away with a win. Emma would like to take after her parents, and be very successful. Blanchette knew how to handle everything about the turf, and was good at running her best. She won the Universal Cup, Winter Cup, Merry Bay King Memorial Stakes, Summer Cup, Autumn Cup, and placed in the Breeder's Cup Turf. Memorial’s Blaze ran his best as a four year old. He won big races like the Boy's and Star Festival, and placed or showed in many other big turf races such as the Breeder's Cup Turf, Dream Cup, Full Moon Derby, Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, and the Little Miss Innocent Memorial Stakes, which makes Emma a very special filly.
She began to walk energetically, her hooves hitting the turf and flicking turf behind her. Grace asked her for a steady trot and she flew forward, breaking into a stride on canter before coming back to a lively trot. She brought her head to her chest and Grace let her break into an energetic lope. Smiling, Grace pushed her on a bit more, and she kept at a relaxed canter, almost a gallop. Graces ginger hair fell in her face as they entered the back stretch. She pushed her forward again, and she crouched down, sticking her bum out and standing in the stirrups, resting her hands at Emma’s withers. When they came to the five furlong pole, She began to push Emma on quite hard. Grace made herself as small as she could as she stretched her arms out, pushing the filly on. The energetic white filly began to sprint, her long stride extended as far as it would go. The furlongs flew by and Grace’s crop rose and fell on the filly’s rump as they entered the lane. Grace drove her forward and with each stride, she got quicker and quicker. In the final furlong, she reached her terminal speed, and flew under the wire. Grace relaxed and stroked her neck. We’re ready Emma. Grace said. Meghan looked at her stopwatch, they just went the final two furlongs in twenty seconds. Good girl!
