Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2012 12:16:12 GMT -5
Silver Stride Stables were always looking for new horses, and when they found a horse they felt had talent they were brought into their stock. A lot of their horses came from Ireland, Great Britain and Japan but in the end it didn't really matter where they started their lives as they all made their way into training under the same stable. By being brought to the stable, they all then received some top quality training to become powerful competitors on the track. Not all of their hopefuls worked out, of course, and some only performed at around average throughout their careers, but they were all given the chance.
Many of the two year olds had already started their racing careers. In fact, only three remained unraced - Engraved In Blood, City Of Darkness and Chuck Norris. They all came from unknown lines, and would all be given their chance on the track. This week, two of those horses were debuting. Engraved In Blood and City Of Darkness ran 5-8 Furlongs and 6-9 Furlongs respectively. The race, on The Wire track, was over six furlongs on the turf and only the two horses had been entered.
Matthias wanted to see how the two were doing before the race. While he was confident that they were ready to debut, he always liked to keep an eye on the horses in his care and was regularly in attendance for training sessions. It was more difficult lately, with the birth of his daughter, but he would not give up. He enjoyed the racing scene, the excitement of it, and so did his beautiful fiancee. It might have been difficult, but it would be fine.
Alexia and Alana had been selected to ride the pair - Alexia would take the filly Engraved In Blood who was affectionately called Enna while Alana would be riding the colt, City Of Darkness, who he had dubbed Cinna. The reason for the nickname he did not deny - he loved the Hunger Games series, and had felt Cinna's death close to his heart. He hoped Cinna would be able to do his name-sake proud.
Alana was as serious as ever as she walked beside Alexia to the track, a frown burrowing at her brow as she thought about how to get the best of her young mount. They had been bonding for a few months and knew him quite well but knew that it would not be easy to better the other jockey when she put her mind to it. They both had a reputation, however, and they would fight to prove their mount to be the better. Alexia, on the other hand, was smiling. She looked forward to workouts, and felt Enna would give her best and could do no more. This race would give them some experience, at least, even if they could not take the victory. They would give their all though, and she expected no less of Alana.
The two-year-olds were relatively easy to handle. Whoever had raised them had taught them to behave well in-hand and they had excellent manners. Enna nuzzled at Mia's pocket as they moved down the dirt path to the track, aware of the sugar cubes in the handler's pocket while Cinna seemed almost aloft, walking behind the filly with his hear high and eyes bright. He was watching the smaller creature, and his tassel flicked lightly at his rump as they continued to the track.
The handlers brought the horses on to the track, closing the gate behind them and stood them side by side. Their differences were more than apparent; Enna prancing a little beside Mia and tossing her head - she was full of energy and a little impatient to start - while Cinna stood still, calm and watchful. But it wasn't their behaviours that really set them apart - it was their size and build. Cinna was a huge, 17hh powerhouse with thick muscle. He looked solid, and was somewhat imposing. Enna on the other hand was much smaller - standing at only 15.2hh - and appeared almost dainty beside the giant. She had nice muscle structure and was well in proportion for her size.
Alana and Alexia exchanged a few words before walking over to their mounts and their approaches could not have been more different. Alana was all business, walking over and climbing onto the bay colt's back and setting the stirrups. Alexia, however, took a moment to say hello to the grey filly. She spoke gentle words, stroked her head before moving and climbing into the saddle. Matthias, who stood at the other side of the fence, grinned.
"Four furlongs over the turf. It should be pretty interesting, and give us an idea of what to expect come race day seems as this is the complete field. Just a reminder, as they're quite new to you guys still, Enna runs midpack and Cinna is a closer. Enna will have to take the lead here and I'm expecting a pretty slow run. Still, give it a go and we'll see." he smiled as the jockeys nodded, and the handlers led them to the starting contraption.
Gating was easy enough. The two year olds entered the stalls with no issues and the shutters were closed behind them. Enna fidgeted in her stall, becoming impatient while she waited for the gates to open but Cinna was the picture of calm and patience. Alexia spoke softly to the filly, whose agitation was clearly growing, but it didn't matter when the buzzer sounded, the gates opening to release the horses.
Enna broke a little more quickly by Cinna, but it was not by much and the pair started to move out on to the track. Cinna moved more slowly, falling behind the grey filly while Enna moved on at an average pace. Things were calm. The jockeys gave signals to their mounts, and the horses listened well. It was a quiet work with little action, the two horses moving well beneath their jockeys and showing their clear form off.
As they moved into the second half of the workout, Alana pulled Cinna wide while Alexia started to drive Enna toward the line. Enna was making a good speed, and her long stride was sure. But Alana waited a moment - although not long - to make her own move on Cinna. As the crop cracked, the bay colt started to power forwards at a good pace.
Enna had a good lead, but Cinna was closing well. He had some real acceleration behind him, but Enna had the advantage of the distance between them. The jockeys worked hard to bring the best out of their horses and Cinna drew equal to Enna. They fought in the last few strides of the work, a battle of wills, and crossed the finish line together. There was no way to know who would do better come race-day.
Many of the two year olds had already started their racing careers. In fact, only three remained unraced - Engraved In Blood, City Of Darkness and Chuck Norris. They all came from unknown lines, and would all be given their chance on the track. This week, two of those horses were debuting. Engraved In Blood and City Of Darkness ran 5-8 Furlongs and 6-9 Furlongs respectively. The race, on The Wire track, was over six furlongs on the turf and only the two horses had been entered.
Matthias wanted to see how the two were doing before the race. While he was confident that they were ready to debut, he always liked to keep an eye on the horses in his care and was regularly in attendance for training sessions. It was more difficult lately, with the birth of his daughter, but he would not give up. He enjoyed the racing scene, the excitement of it, and so did his beautiful fiancee. It might have been difficult, but it would be fine.
Alexia and Alana had been selected to ride the pair - Alexia would take the filly Engraved In Blood who was affectionately called Enna while Alana would be riding the colt, City Of Darkness, who he had dubbed Cinna. The reason for the nickname he did not deny - he loved the Hunger Games series, and had felt Cinna's death close to his heart. He hoped Cinna would be able to do his name-sake proud.
Alana was as serious as ever as she walked beside Alexia to the track, a frown burrowing at her brow as she thought about how to get the best of her young mount. They had been bonding for a few months and knew him quite well but knew that it would not be easy to better the other jockey when she put her mind to it. They both had a reputation, however, and they would fight to prove their mount to be the better. Alexia, on the other hand, was smiling. She looked forward to workouts, and felt Enna would give her best and could do no more. This race would give them some experience, at least, even if they could not take the victory. They would give their all though, and she expected no less of Alana.
The two-year-olds were relatively easy to handle. Whoever had raised them had taught them to behave well in-hand and they had excellent manners. Enna nuzzled at Mia's pocket as they moved down the dirt path to the track, aware of the sugar cubes in the handler's pocket while Cinna seemed almost aloft, walking behind the filly with his hear high and eyes bright. He was watching the smaller creature, and his tassel flicked lightly at his rump as they continued to the track.
The handlers brought the horses on to the track, closing the gate behind them and stood them side by side. Their differences were more than apparent; Enna prancing a little beside Mia and tossing her head - she was full of energy and a little impatient to start - while Cinna stood still, calm and watchful. But it wasn't their behaviours that really set them apart - it was their size and build. Cinna was a huge, 17hh powerhouse with thick muscle. He looked solid, and was somewhat imposing. Enna on the other hand was much smaller - standing at only 15.2hh - and appeared almost dainty beside the giant. She had nice muscle structure and was well in proportion for her size.
Alana and Alexia exchanged a few words before walking over to their mounts and their approaches could not have been more different. Alana was all business, walking over and climbing onto the bay colt's back and setting the stirrups. Alexia, however, took a moment to say hello to the grey filly. She spoke gentle words, stroked her head before moving and climbing into the saddle. Matthias, who stood at the other side of the fence, grinned.
"Four furlongs over the turf. It should be pretty interesting, and give us an idea of what to expect come race day seems as this is the complete field. Just a reminder, as they're quite new to you guys still, Enna runs midpack and Cinna is a closer. Enna will have to take the lead here and I'm expecting a pretty slow run. Still, give it a go and we'll see." he smiled as the jockeys nodded, and the handlers led them to the starting contraption.
Gating was easy enough. The two year olds entered the stalls with no issues and the shutters were closed behind them. Enna fidgeted in her stall, becoming impatient while she waited for the gates to open but Cinna was the picture of calm and patience. Alexia spoke softly to the filly, whose agitation was clearly growing, but it didn't matter when the buzzer sounded, the gates opening to release the horses.
Enna broke a little more quickly by Cinna, but it was not by much and the pair started to move out on to the track. Cinna moved more slowly, falling behind the grey filly while Enna moved on at an average pace. Things were calm. The jockeys gave signals to their mounts, and the horses listened well. It was a quiet work with little action, the two horses moving well beneath their jockeys and showing their clear form off.
As they moved into the second half of the workout, Alana pulled Cinna wide while Alexia started to drive Enna toward the line. Enna was making a good speed, and her long stride was sure. But Alana waited a moment - although not long - to make her own move on Cinna. As the crop cracked, the bay colt started to power forwards at a good pace.
Enna had a good lead, but Cinna was closing well. He had some real acceleration behind him, but Enna had the advantage of the distance between them. The jockeys worked hard to bring the best out of their horses and Cinna drew equal to Enna. They fought in the last few strides of the work, a battle of wills, and crossed the finish line together. There was no way to know who would do better come race-day.
