OUT WITH A BANG

[Snowflake]

OUT WITH A BANG

Well, the end to a crappy year was finally near. Most of the year hadn’t been too bad, but the horrific night they’d suffered several weeks ago was still fresh in everyone’s minds. They’d lost a few horses to severe burns that night, a few others to serious injuries and smoke inhalation. Many other horses were lucky in that they only received minor burns or injuries. The guilt that plagued the thoughts of Star Thoroughbreds staff was something that would probably never leave them. The fire was deemed to have been caused by lightning from the late storm that night, but each and every staff member felt responsible for not getting the horses out in time. Then, before the fire brigade arrived, the fire had spread to the house and workers accommodation, badly burning everything in its path.

But the stables were rebuilt, this time in brick. The hay would now be kept in a completely separate building where if it caught fire again, it would not burn through the loft and rain down on horses backs. The training tracks were the only part of the property not affected. Virtually every fence had burned in some part and were not safe to contain horses. So the horses had been moved to emergency agistment, and some to equine hospitals to be treated for their burns and injuries.

With the Breeder’s Cup quickly approaching, the property was rebuilt quickly and better than before. The stables were bigger and safer. The paddock fencing was taller and made from hardwood post and rail. The healed horses returned to training as soon as possible, and began urgent preparations for the BC. With only a few weeks to prepare, all other races were forgotten about. The Breeder’s Cup was their one shot to get back on top of their finances, and hopefully regain their title as one of the best racing stables there was in Green Horse Fields.

WILD DAISY RIDDEN BY JASON GRANT
FANTASY ISLAND RIDDEN BY STELLA MCKENZIE

It was days now to post time. The two fillies were unraced since October, when they had both run second in the last starts. A lot could change in that time, and a lot had changed. With time off training, both had filled out some. When they were put back in training again, It hadn’t taken long to bring their fitness back up and beyond their original levels. Wild Daisy’s behaviour was less, for want of a better word, wild. And Fantasy Island had also calmed down some, making her easier to work with. The pair were entered in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the first race on the card.

Jason had been a positive influence on Wild Daisy, and she seemed relaxed as she trotted down the turf track. Sarah watched from the rail, binoculars in hand, ready for when the workout moved around the far side. The filly hadn’t worked well under Sarah, and it was a relief to see such a talented young horse flourishing under another rider. Fantasy Island was also travelling well for Stella, and the grey stunner looked to be as much a hot contender for the filly turf next year as her higher profile stablemate.

But first, there was the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Sarah was careful not to draw comparisons between the Star Thoroughbreds entrants and the rest of the field in all the races. Because in the last two months when Star Thoroughbreds had been absent from all races, all the other horses they had to compete with had had their chance to shine with less competition. That wasn’t to say their competitors weren’t going to be hard to beat, of course. The field for the Juvy Fillies Turf looked tougher than ever. Literally. The nine furlong turf race was for two year old fillies only, and had attracted some strong contenders. Lissome would go in the favourite, but they were also up against Taboo, Impress The Moonlight and Pandora.

The two thoroughbreds switched to canter, and it was now that their favourite race positions became apparent to the experienced eye. While Fantasy Island hung back slightly, a typical closer, Wild Daisy flung herself forward, asserting herself as the leader. Sarah’s attention strayed to the riders, watching how they communicated with their mounts. Jason had a more aggressive style, which suited the highly strung Wild Daisy well. Sarah watched through the binoculars as Jason thwarted an attempt to break into gallop. Stella was more of a passive rider and was generally best suited to horses who didn’t try to assert themselves over her. Fantasy Island tested her though, and Stella always rose to the occasion.

When the moment came both thoroughbreds knuckled down and dug deep. Fantasy Island drifted to the outside and began to roar up behind Daisy, who pinned her ears in warning. Fanta moved further away on Stella’s insistence and put on a burst of speed, drawing level with her stablemate. Daisy wasn’t done yet, though. It was only a three furlong breeze after all, she still had plenty left in the tank. With a countering spurt, the black filly nosed her way ahead again. With metres left, both thoroughbreds responded to the last moment urging from their riders, crossing the line simultaneously. The result was a tie – the battle was not yet won. They would settle this on race day.

[Snowflake]

GREAT REVENGE RIDDEN BY MARISSA STAR

The gorgeous grey colt was a horse who had struck fear into the hearts of others. He’d been the first two year old of the season to reach grade three, winning race after race, especially in the first half of the year. He’d bombed a few times in the second half, mostly because he hated to be challenged on the lead and ran to dizzying speeds to hold off any challenger, causing him to tire out before the race was over. But they’d been working on that. Rev would now grudgingly allow another horse to run near him in a race. Not in front of him – never in front of him – but close to the lead.

Marissa guided the colt through a few warm up exercises to ensure she had his attention, then nudged him into canter. The colt made the transition quietly, but there was a ton of power stored within that would break free the moment he was released. The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile was the race they has been working towards all year, the race that would probably make or break how the world saw him as a contender for the Triple Crown or the new Triple Mile next year. Furious Flyer was also being considered for both, but unfortunately the pair couldn’t both run in this race. Both being front runners, they’d burn each other out and they’d done it before.

The challengers for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile were all horses Rev had faced and beaten before, and they’d beaten him before too. All in all, it was a pretty well matched field. They were all talented, well bred horses. And the lone filly in the field just happened to be one of Rev’s half sisters. But they weren’t out here this morning to study the competition. They were here to work. Work hard and bring home the gold. The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile was a matter of days away and every bit of training counted.

Cameras flashed here and there. This early In the morning there were few reporters about, thank fully. Rev didn’t need the distraction, he needed to focus. The Juvenile was the one race Star Thoroughbreds really felt they had a chance at winning this year. Rev had been their strongest racehorse, and so he was the biggest hope. They needed him to raise the morale, and the colt was up to the challenge.

A slight release in pressure was all Rev needed to tell him to go. The grey colt sprang into action right on cue, his long legs stretching to cover more ground as he accelerated. With increasing power evident in each stride, Rev took the turn quickly and thundered into the stretch. Ears pinned against the wind, muscles rippling, coat shining, Rev was every bit what a racehorse should look like, and a champion one at that. The Bank On Silver descendant was the image of her, now that his coat began to dapple. And he would honour his sire, a three time Breeder's Cup winner, who was also the splitting image of his dam. In a matter of days, Rev would cross this line again. Hopefully, on his way to the winner's circle.