Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2012 8:27:31 GMT -5
Silver Stride Stables had three of their most powerful racers running at The Wire track that week, each in a separate race. When they could help it, they did not like to run horses in the same race as it hurt their own horses' chances. Of course, there were times when they liked to test their horses against one another and would enter them in the same race but usually they did not. Still, just because they did not regularly race them against one another did not mean they could not work them together. Working the horses together gave them a taste of competition, prepared them to give their best come race day. But Matthias was not intending on giving the horses a long, race-type workout. The three would literally be running over a distance of three furlongs and would all be held back until the final furlong and even then they would be kept side by side to cross the line.
The first of the three horses to arrive at the track was Afterglow, known as Stormi is the stable, and her jockey Alana. Stormi had a very impressive record as a two and three year old but was being raced much more lightly this season - she had raced only twice, most recently in February Week Four when she placed second in the Spring Cup. Stormi had two Breeder's Cup wins to her name, had won the first leg of the Triple Tiara the previous year, and had raced mostly in Horse Of The Year type races. The bay filly was a flexible racer, and could run as either a front runner or a preceder. Her jockey was an intense, determined woman and together they had proven themselves to be a powerful team.
Stormi was running in the Cantalium Derby that week, a Grade Three race over seven furlongs on the dirt. She liked distances between seven and ten furlongs, but had always performed better at the seven furlong mark - it was the distance over which she had won both the Acorn Stakes and the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Sprint the previous year. In the race she would be facing the older horse, Biohazard, of Close Racing, and the younger colt, Forbidden To Fly. Alana felt they had a good chance, even though victory certainly wasn't a given.
Jack was glad that Stormi was a generally gentle horse and had not been causing him any issues. Despite their having been no major work with her, the stable had been sure to exercise her regularly and so she had maintained her sweet and loving nature. She had become a bit more of a handful as they had reached the track, and kept trying to move away from where he had pulled her to a halt but was generally behaving well. Alana stood a small distance away, leaning against the fence with her arms crossed while they waited for the other two horses, and their respective jockeys to arrive.
Tanya was the next to arrive at the track and ran over to her sister, excitement clear on her face. She was the jockey of the three year old, Paradise Island, and would soon be making a triple tiara attempt with the filly. Their upcoming race was the final preparation race and their entry status had changed several times with the filly being entered, then scratched and finally re-entered at the request of Tanya. She wanted to get a final taste of the fields that they would be facing, and the Kentucky Oaks was the last time they would be able to do so. Alana looked over her sister for a moment, smirked slightly and looked up the track. "You're even more excitable than usual." she commented and the younger sister nodded. "Why wouldn't I be, I mean, Sonja has been proving herself time and time again. She is entering the tiara in great form, and she has a great chance." Alana rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Just don't get your hopes up, okay? I can't be dealing with a break down when you fail." Tanya was a little taken aback before she remembered her sister's own failure and nodded. Yeah, she would have to be careful of that.
Just as Tanya thought that the conversation was over, Alana spoke up again. "So what's the Kentucky Oaks field looking like?" she asked and Tanya grinned, she knew her sister was interested really! "I think the word is interesting. Winning Touch, obviously, After Dusk from Star Thoroughbreds and Sonja. I have to be honest, I'm a little nervous about it. After Dusk beat us last year, in the Around A Turn Futurity and although we have beat her since she is definitely a strong competitor. Not to mention Winning Touch will be really fighting having lost last time we saw her in the first prep race. Winnie has won four times this year, and After Dusk has won three..." Alana nodded knowingly. "Just give it your best, I am sure you guys will do fine."
Jacob soon joined them, arriving at the same time as Lucas and Mia who were leading Sonja (Paradise Island) and Dark Charmer. Jacob walked over to the other jockeys, an anxious look on his face and clapped his hand on Tanya's shoulder. "Well if it isn't our up and coming top jockey. Hows' it going, Tan?" he asked her and she shrugged, looking over at he bay colt with a smile. "I'm fine, but Dark seems to be doing even better than that. Who's he up against this week?" Jacob sighed. "Euphorion and Silverianna." Alana's jaw visibly tightened. She had a hatred for that filly, who had claimed two legs of the tiara the previous year. "Dark has what it takes to beat them, just stay focussed. I mean, he's a pretty powerful horse when he gets started." Alana, her look almost poisonous.
After a few minutes of discussing various things, the jockeys agreed to get the workout started and moved to their individual mounts. Stormi was still playing up for Jack, fighting against the handler in an attempt to escape and make her way down the track. Jack, who was still relatively new, was handling this well and as Alana drew beside the dark bay equine he took a hold of her girth and was able to keep her still while the jockey pulled herself into the saddle. Alana patted Stormi's neck and looked to the gates while tweaking the stirrups.
Dark was much calmer for Lucas. The bay colt stood well, and other than a little fidgeting was well under control. The colt was a midpack horse, but he had been known to run as a closer from time to time. He was a powerful horse who had made it to Grade Two earlier that year and who had won the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile the previous season. All the signs were that the Queenelmon Derby would be too long for him, but they had decided to take a bit of a risk anyway given the small field. Jacob greeted the colt warmly before climbing into the saddle.
As Dark and Stormi were led toward the gates, Tanya walked up to Sonja. The bay filly was in her prime, her muscle well developed and well toned. Her coat was gleaming, her eyes bright and audits pressed forwards. When the jockey approached the Triple Tiara prospect nickered and nuzzled her and Tanya grinned. "You ready girl? Yeah, I know you are." she laughed a little as she moved to the filly's side and climbed into the saddle.
Gating was quick and easy, all three horses had no issues with the contraption and so entered without a fuss. The shutters closed behind them with Stormi in Gate One, Dark in Gate Two and Sonja is Gate Three. The jockeys glanced at each other over the sides of the stalls before looking forwards. "This could be interesting." It was Jacob, who knew just how competitive the three could get - especially with Stormi and Dark in the same workout as the pair had an ongoing rivalry. Holding them back would be difficult, and making them cross the line together? Well, they could have their work cut out.
The buzzer sounded, the gates opened, and the three horses broke. Stormi broke the quickest, with Sonja a neck behind and Dark lagging by around a length but with Alana pulling Stormi back a little, and Dark being pressed forwards slightly the trio were soon more or less equal. The pace was not quick, the jockeys keeping their mounts from powering off at their own speed, and the differences in how the horses ran was clear. Stormi had the shortest stride, while Dark had the longest and while they were matching pace their strides came at different times. The sound was like thunder as the three horses moved forwards, and their were clearly a few struggles going on.
Stormi kept trying to move forwards, while Dark tried to drop back and their jockeys were having to ensure they maintained the correct pace. Sonja was the easiest to control of the trio, and listened to what her jockey asked of her. It was this that had led to such a fantastic career so far, as Tanya was able to adapt based on the field and Sonja would do as requested. That and her incredible heart when it came to the stretch. The trio moved through the first two furlongs, and were soon entering the third.
Some of the restraints slipped. The three horses were having none of this remaining slow and were pressing forwards despite their jockeys holding them back. The acceleration was impressive and there was a three-way battle to the post. Giving in, the jockeys began to fight alongside their mounts and their was an intensity about the final stretch. They crossed the post, so close to one another it was impossible to tell who had actually won.
The first of the three horses to arrive at the track was Afterglow, known as Stormi is the stable, and her jockey Alana. Stormi had a very impressive record as a two and three year old but was being raced much more lightly this season - she had raced only twice, most recently in February Week Four when she placed second in the Spring Cup. Stormi had two Breeder's Cup wins to her name, had won the first leg of the Triple Tiara the previous year, and had raced mostly in Horse Of The Year type races. The bay filly was a flexible racer, and could run as either a front runner or a preceder. Her jockey was an intense, determined woman and together they had proven themselves to be a powerful team.
Stormi was running in the Cantalium Derby that week, a Grade Three race over seven furlongs on the dirt. She liked distances between seven and ten furlongs, but had always performed better at the seven furlong mark - it was the distance over which she had won both the Acorn Stakes and the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Sprint the previous year. In the race she would be facing the older horse, Biohazard, of Close Racing, and the younger colt, Forbidden To Fly. Alana felt they had a good chance, even though victory certainly wasn't a given.
Jack was glad that Stormi was a generally gentle horse and had not been causing him any issues. Despite their having been no major work with her, the stable had been sure to exercise her regularly and so she had maintained her sweet and loving nature. She had become a bit more of a handful as they had reached the track, and kept trying to move away from where he had pulled her to a halt but was generally behaving well. Alana stood a small distance away, leaning against the fence with her arms crossed while they waited for the other two horses, and their respective jockeys to arrive.
Tanya was the next to arrive at the track and ran over to her sister, excitement clear on her face. She was the jockey of the three year old, Paradise Island, and would soon be making a triple tiara attempt with the filly. Their upcoming race was the final preparation race and their entry status had changed several times with the filly being entered, then scratched and finally re-entered at the request of Tanya. She wanted to get a final taste of the fields that they would be facing, and the Kentucky Oaks was the last time they would be able to do so. Alana looked over her sister for a moment, smirked slightly and looked up the track. "You're even more excitable than usual." she commented and the younger sister nodded. "Why wouldn't I be, I mean, Sonja has been proving herself time and time again. She is entering the tiara in great form, and she has a great chance." Alana rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Just don't get your hopes up, okay? I can't be dealing with a break down when you fail." Tanya was a little taken aback before she remembered her sister's own failure and nodded. Yeah, she would have to be careful of that.
Just as Tanya thought that the conversation was over, Alana spoke up again. "So what's the Kentucky Oaks field looking like?" she asked and Tanya grinned, she knew her sister was interested really! "I think the word is interesting. Winning Touch, obviously, After Dusk from Star Thoroughbreds and Sonja. I have to be honest, I'm a little nervous about it. After Dusk beat us last year, in the Around A Turn Futurity and although we have beat her since she is definitely a strong competitor. Not to mention Winning Touch will be really fighting having lost last time we saw her in the first prep race. Winnie has won four times this year, and After Dusk has won three..." Alana nodded knowingly. "Just give it your best, I am sure you guys will do fine."
Jacob soon joined them, arriving at the same time as Lucas and Mia who were leading Sonja (Paradise Island) and Dark Charmer. Jacob walked over to the other jockeys, an anxious look on his face and clapped his hand on Tanya's shoulder. "Well if it isn't our up and coming top jockey. Hows' it going, Tan?" he asked her and she shrugged, looking over at he bay colt with a smile. "I'm fine, but Dark seems to be doing even better than that. Who's he up against this week?" Jacob sighed. "Euphorion and Silverianna." Alana's jaw visibly tightened. She had a hatred for that filly, who had claimed two legs of the tiara the previous year. "Dark has what it takes to beat them, just stay focussed. I mean, he's a pretty powerful horse when he gets started." Alana, her look almost poisonous.
After a few minutes of discussing various things, the jockeys agreed to get the workout started and moved to their individual mounts. Stormi was still playing up for Jack, fighting against the handler in an attempt to escape and make her way down the track. Jack, who was still relatively new, was handling this well and as Alana drew beside the dark bay equine he took a hold of her girth and was able to keep her still while the jockey pulled herself into the saddle. Alana patted Stormi's neck and looked to the gates while tweaking the stirrups.
Dark was much calmer for Lucas. The bay colt stood well, and other than a little fidgeting was well under control. The colt was a midpack horse, but he had been known to run as a closer from time to time. He was a powerful horse who had made it to Grade Two earlier that year and who had won the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile the previous season. All the signs were that the Queenelmon Derby would be too long for him, but they had decided to take a bit of a risk anyway given the small field. Jacob greeted the colt warmly before climbing into the saddle.
As Dark and Stormi were led toward the gates, Tanya walked up to Sonja. The bay filly was in her prime, her muscle well developed and well toned. Her coat was gleaming, her eyes bright and audits pressed forwards. When the jockey approached the Triple Tiara prospect nickered and nuzzled her and Tanya grinned. "You ready girl? Yeah, I know you are." she laughed a little as she moved to the filly's side and climbed into the saddle.
Gating was quick and easy, all three horses had no issues with the contraption and so entered without a fuss. The shutters closed behind them with Stormi in Gate One, Dark in Gate Two and Sonja is Gate Three. The jockeys glanced at each other over the sides of the stalls before looking forwards. "This could be interesting." It was Jacob, who knew just how competitive the three could get - especially with Stormi and Dark in the same workout as the pair had an ongoing rivalry. Holding them back would be difficult, and making them cross the line together? Well, they could have their work cut out.
The buzzer sounded, the gates opened, and the three horses broke. Stormi broke the quickest, with Sonja a neck behind and Dark lagging by around a length but with Alana pulling Stormi back a little, and Dark being pressed forwards slightly the trio were soon more or less equal. The pace was not quick, the jockeys keeping their mounts from powering off at their own speed, and the differences in how the horses ran was clear. Stormi had the shortest stride, while Dark had the longest and while they were matching pace their strides came at different times. The sound was like thunder as the three horses moved forwards, and their were clearly a few struggles going on.
Stormi kept trying to move forwards, while Dark tried to drop back and their jockeys were having to ensure they maintained the correct pace. Sonja was the easiest to control of the trio, and listened to what her jockey asked of her. It was this that had led to such a fantastic career so far, as Tanya was able to adapt based on the field and Sonja would do as requested. That and her incredible heart when it came to the stretch. The trio moved through the first two furlongs, and were soon entering the third.
Some of the restraints slipped. The three horses were having none of this remaining slow and were pressing forwards despite their jockeys holding them back. The acceleration was impressive and there was a three-way battle to the post. Giving in, the jockeys began to fight alongside their mounts and their was an intensity about the final stretch. They crossed the post, so close to one another it was impossible to tell who had actually won.
