Post by Snowflake on Dec 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT -5
EUPHORIA'S WARRIOR WORKS FOR THE DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Warrior was a stunner, a real sight for sore eyes. With long, slender but muscular legs and a shiny coat, all eyes were drawn to him. His mane fluttered in the gentle breeze of the spring morning, and he held his black silk tail up high behind him. With his neck arched and his steps a dance, he looked every bit the proud racing stallion he was. The stallion barely noticed the surface he trotted on. It was not the first time he had experienced the heaviness of sand. Star Thoroughbreds was a short trail ride from the beach, and they worked the horses there frequently to build up their stamina while giving them a break from the training oval.
Stella heaved a sigh. It was a bittersweet time for her. This would be Warrior's last gallop workout before his last ever race. She hadn't always been his jockey, having taken over in his three year old season when Sarah had fallen pregnant. Warrior had flourished under Stella, and together they had won nineteen races together. How nice it would be if they could take a twentieth win in their last ever race.
The Dubai World Championship was ten furlongs on sand, meant to challenge the toughest of horses from the turf and the dirt. Warrior was a dirt horse, and dirt was not so different from sand. The turf horses would have a harder time adjusting, which would work to the dirt horses' advantage. At ten furlongs, it was mid range for Warrior. He was a versatile racer, able to win from a mile to a marathon. The sand would take its toll on his stamina more quickly than dirt, so the Championship was probably essentially the same as a twelve furlong dirt race.
A tiny tap on the sides and Warrior burst forward into canter. The stallion had always disliked going slow, and especially as a two year old he had been prone to take the bit in his teeth and run when he got bored of walking and trotting. Cantering wasn't fast enough for him either, but he knew it usually meant galloping was just around the corner. Mind sliding back to the race, Stella thought about the competition they were to face. There were a few horses Warrior had never come up against in his life. They were the turf horses, Frozen Motion, Bella Luna and Infinite Warcry. Then there was Nightshade, who Stella couldn't remember racing against on Warrior. It was possible they had, though. Finally there was Flashy Wings, the horse who had beaten them in the Breeder's Cup Classic twice now, after being beaten in his first try by Warrior's older half brother Sunset Crusade.
There was no doubting they were a strong bunch, and it would come down to who was the strongest and the fastest on the day. For now, Stella thought about their race time positions, and how that could affect the race. Frozen Motion, Flashy Wings and Bella Luna were stalkers, and with no front runner that meant at least one would have to lead. Nightshade, Infinite Warcry and Warrior were closers. It was an interesting field, but the closers probably had the upper hand.
Stella smiled to herself as she let Warrior go. The stallion stretched his legs joyfully, putting on a burst of speed as he switched to gallop. The sand didn't slow him down at all, - he may as well be galloping along the beach. The turn came up quickly, and Warrior rounded it with expertise. As the stretch straightened out before them, Stella all but dropped the reins. With the full length of rein, Warrior accelerated to full speed within moments, his legs thrust straight out before him and straight out behind him before coming together again underneath for a moment of flight. As the stallion raced by the finish, Stella knew he was going to go hard in the Dubai World Championship, he'd lost to Flashy Wings one too many times.
Warrior was a stunner, a real sight for sore eyes. With long, slender but muscular legs and a shiny coat, all eyes were drawn to him. His mane fluttered in the gentle breeze of the spring morning, and he held his black silk tail up high behind him. With his neck arched and his steps a dance, he looked every bit the proud racing stallion he was. The stallion barely noticed the surface he trotted on. It was not the first time he had experienced the heaviness of sand. Star Thoroughbreds was a short trail ride from the beach, and they worked the horses there frequently to build up their stamina while giving them a break from the training oval.
Stella heaved a sigh. It was a bittersweet time for her. This would be Warrior's last gallop workout before his last ever race. She hadn't always been his jockey, having taken over in his three year old season when Sarah had fallen pregnant. Warrior had flourished under Stella, and together they had won nineteen races together. How nice it would be if they could take a twentieth win in their last ever race.
The Dubai World Championship was ten furlongs on sand, meant to challenge the toughest of horses from the turf and the dirt. Warrior was a dirt horse, and dirt was not so different from sand. The turf horses would have a harder time adjusting, which would work to the dirt horses' advantage. At ten furlongs, it was mid range for Warrior. He was a versatile racer, able to win from a mile to a marathon. The sand would take its toll on his stamina more quickly than dirt, so the Championship was probably essentially the same as a twelve furlong dirt race.
A tiny tap on the sides and Warrior burst forward into canter. The stallion had always disliked going slow, and especially as a two year old he had been prone to take the bit in his teeth and run when he got bored of walking and trotting. Cantering wasn't fast enough for him either, but he knew it usually meant galloping was just around the corner. Mind sliding back to the race, Stella thought about the competition they were to face. There were a few horses Warrior had never come up against in his life. They were the turf horses, Frozen Motion, Bella Luna and Infinite Warcry. Then there was Nightshade, who Stella couldn't remember racing against on Warrior. It was possible they had, though. Finally there was Flashy Wings, the horse who had beaten them in the Breeder's Cup Classic twice now, after being beaten in his first try by Warrior's older half brother Sunset Crusade.
There was no doubting they were a strong bunch, and it would come down to who was the strongest and the fastest on the day. For now, Stella thought about their race time positions, and how that could affect the race. Frozen Motion, Flashy Wings and Bella Luna were stalkers, and with no front runner that meant at least one would have to lead. Nightshade, Infinite Warcry and Warrior were closers. It was an interesting field, but the closers probably had the upper hand.
Stella smiled to herself as she let Warrior go. The stallion stretched his legs joyfully, putting on a burst of speed as he switched to gallop. The sand didn't slow him down at all, - he may as well be galloping along the beach. The turn came up quickly, and Warrior rounded it with expertise. As the stretch straightened out before them, Stella all but dropped the reins. With the full length of rein, Warrior accelerated to full speed within moments, his legs thrust straight out before him and straight out behind him before coming together again underneath for a moment of flight. As the stallion raced by the finish, Stella knew he was going to go hard in the Dubai World Championship, he'd lost to Flashy Wings one too many times.
