Post by Deleted on May 20, 2012 6:41:40 GMT -5
With two wins this year, it seemed that Amira was finally finding something inside herself. She was grade four, and she was performing well enough. She'd had some bad results, but she had also had some good results as well. In fact, if Amira kept improving it was not beyond hope that she might make it to Grade Three this year. It would be nice to see, although the team could not pin their hopes on it. At least they could say that they had achieved SOMETHING with the bay filly this year, even though she had struggled as a three year old. It appeared that a change of location and team had done her well. Jacob was certainly glad that the Star Thoroughbreds team had decided to sell her, and he had been trying his best to help the filly on the track.
The other newcomer to the stable had been struggling. One With Gold was grade four, but she only had one win this year and other than that she had not been performing well at all. Tanya had been doing her best with the palomino, but she was unsure that they would be able to improve her much before the end of the year. It was quite clear to Tanya, in fact, that the mare would likely be sent to brood in the new year.
The next race for the pair was the Yellow Cup. A race where they would face only those of their own grade over a distance of ten furlongs. The field consisted of seven, and they would be starting in gates three and four. Central field was not a bad thing.They wouldn't get trapped against the rail, nor would they have to work as hard as those in the outside gates. In fact, it was a very good position for Amira, who as a preceder wanted to be up near the front runners. She should have an easy enough run to get on the outside of the front runners, meaning she would not need to navigate around them in the home stretch. Goldie would easily drop to the back of the pack and be able to stay a little to the outside, also, which should mean a decent home stretch run for her if things went well. Something Tanya was hoping for.
Following a difficult race with disappointing results in the Autumn Cup, the jockeys were determined to do something in the race. Something impressive, to make up for their defeat. To do well, they knew the horses needed to be at the top of their game, and a workout was a good solution to getting the mares in shape. Which was why the two four-year olds had been brought down to the track, and why the two jockeys were now mounted, handlers leading them toward the gates. It was a chance to get some good results, even though the field was likely to be highly competitive.
Gating was easy, with both the bay and the palomino seeming eager to be out on the track, and there was no messing about with getting the workout started. The gates were opened quickly, and the workout was off to a good start. Amira broke a lot more quickly than Goldie, throwing herself ahead while Goldie hung back, their paces reflecting the positions that they liked to run in a race. Jacob, riding Amira, felt confident. She was a strong enough mare, and it seemed that with the work he had been putting in she had a chance of improving.
Tanya was a little less confident, but she was determined. Goldie had shown that she was capable of running well, and that in itself was enough to spur her on. As she perched atop the mare, who seemed to be dropping further and further back, she was thinking. Forming a game plan, knowing that the golden mare was responsive enough to commands. Maybe they could give Amira a run for her money in this workout, and then go on to run well in the race.
As Amira built her lead, Jacob was also thinking, although his mind also kept wandering to other things. While he was trying to focus on the workout, he was infatuated with the female jockey riding the other horse. He had known he had feelings for her for quite a while, and she seemed to be showing signs of the same. He also knew that, as a man, he should find the courage to ask her... But he was struggling.
As he fought to bring his mind back to the workout, Tanya was highly focussed and she was on the move, pushing up the golden mare in preparation for their final move. Amira was still going strong, her dark eyes gleaming as they moved forwards and her powerful stride propelling her forwards at a good pace. She looked fabulous, and behind her Goldie was also looking good. As they rounded the corner there were only a few furlongs remaining and the real fun was beginning. Tanya pushed the filly on, cracking the crop hard against her rump as she drove her forwards. Goldie bolted forwards, speeding up almost instantly, and ahead of them Jacob was also pushing Amira, urging her forwards toward the post.
The distance was closing quickly and the fillies were both fighting. The post was looming and as the fillies came head on head the battle heated up. Amira managed to maintain a slight lead as they passed the post, but it had been a close thing.
The other newcomer to the stable had been struggling. One With Gold was grade four, but she only had one win this year and other than that she had not been performing well at all. Tanya had been doing her best with the palomino, but she was unsure that they would be able to improve her much before the end of the year. It was quite clear to Tanya, in fact, that the mare would likely be sent to brood in the new year.
The next race for the pair was the Yellow Cup. A race where they would face only those of their own grade over a distance of ten furlongs. The field consisted of seven, and they would be starting in gates three and four. Central field was not a bad thing.They wouldn't get trapped against the rail, nor would they have to work as hard as those in the outside gates. In fact, it was a very good position for Amira, who as a preceder wanted to be up near the front runners. She should have an easy enough run to get on the outside of the front runners, meaning she would not need to navigate around them in the home stretch. Goldie would easily drop to the back of the pack and be able to stay a little to the outside, also, which should mean a decent home stretch run for her if things went well. Something Tanya was hoping for.
Following a difficult race with disappointing results in the Autumn Cup, the jockeys were determined to do something in the race. Something impressive, to make up for their defeat. To do well, they knew the horses needed to be at the top of their game, and a workout was a good solution to getting the mares in shape. Which was why the two four-year olds had been brought down to the track, and why the two jockeys were now mounted, handlers leading them toward the gates. It was a chance to get some good results, even though the field was likely to be highly competitive.
Gating was easy, with both the bay and the palomino seeming eager to be out on the track, and there was no messing about with getting the workout started. The gates were opened quickly, and the workout was off to a good start. Amira broke a lot more quickly than Goldie, throwing herself ahead while Goldie hung back, their paces reflecting the positions that they liked to run in a race. Jacob, riding Amira, felt confident. She was a strong enough mare, and it seemed that with the work he had been putting in she had a chance of improving.
Tanya was a little less confident, but she was determined. Goldie had shown that she was capable of running well, and that in itself was enough to spur her on. As she perched atop the mare, who seemed to be dropping further and further back, she was thinking. Forming a game plan, knowing that the golden mare was responsive enough to commands. Maybe they could give Amira a run for her money in this workout, and then go on to run well in the race.
As Amira built her lead, Jacob was also thinking, although his mind also kept wandering to other things. While he was trying to focus on the workout, he was infatuated with the female jockey riding the other horse. He had known he had feelings for her for quite a while, and she seemed to be showing signs of the same. He also knew that, as a man, he should find the courage to ask her... But he was struggling.
As he fought to bring his mind back to the workout, Tanya was highly focussed and she was on the move, pushing up the golden mare in preparation for their final move. Amira was still going strong, her dark eyes gleaming as they moved forwards and her powerful stride propelling her forwards at a good pace. She looked fabulous, and behind her Goldie was also looking good. As they rounded the corner there were only a few furlongs remaining and the real fun was beginning. Tanya pushed the filly on, cracking the crop hard against her rump as she drove her forwards. Goldie bolted forwards, speeding up almost instantly, and ahead of them Jacob was also pushing Amira, urging her forwards toward the post.
The distance was closing quickly and the fillies were both fighting. The post was looming and as the fillies came head on head the battle heated up. Amira managed to maintain a slight lead as they passed the post, but it had been a close thing.