Post by Snowflake on Feb 10, 2013 6:19:04 GMT -5
HEADSTRONG WORKS FOR THE STORMY NIGHT MAIDEN DIRT
RADIANT SILVER WORKS FOR THE JANUARY JUVENILE DIRT FACEOFF
Ahhhh.. Marissa sighed as she mounted up on Headstrong, one of her two new mounts. The filly, nicknamed Rizz, had come to them a few months ago. Sired by War Admiral, she was of course related to some of the best horses to grace the track today and ever. Admiral's Revenge was her half brother, and he was the sire of Akuma Battlecry who was in turn the sire of Sunset Crusade and Euphoria's Warrior. The filly had been aptly named, because she was indeed headstrong just like her relatives. Marissa's favourite personality.
Stella was next to them on Radiant Silver. The fiery colt was sired by Radiance and out of Silver Stalker. Radiance was a True Enough sired stallion who had won the Dubai Colt Cup twice, and also won two of the biggest races of the year - the Belmont Stakes and the Breeder's Cup Classic, to name a few. Silver Stalker was a Night Stalker mare and out of Palisades Silver. In her day she had won the Mother Goose Stakes and the Unicorn Horn Dirt.
The pair began with a warm up trot, turning through a few circles and figure eights here and there to limber up. The two year olds were both excited; this was only their third workout at the Green Horse Fields track. They'd been living here for nearly a week now, just to get them used to the track to ensure they were as comfortable as possible on their debut race days. Headstrong was due to run her maiden race this weekend, in the Stormy Night Maiden Dirt, which was a long twelve furlongs.
The filly had been preparing for this race for a few months now, even before she'd had a rider on her back. Star Thoroughbreds always started exercising the almost two year olds on the lead line, backing them as late as possible as they were still developing and the risk of injury was at its highest. Rad had the same training behind him. They'd only just started actually riding the two year olds about a month ago, when they'd begun gate training. Both young horses could now break safely and efficiently, and had passed their trials.
On into canter, excitement was still evident in their behaviour. Easy, Rizzy. Marissa soothed the filly, a hand stroking her dark neck. Stella looked over at her, her eyes looking over Headstrong's form. Looks like a tough field she's up against. Stella commented. Of course it was. The quality of horses was getting better every year. Rizz's blood was old, but it was like gold. Expensive, top quality gold. She was rare. Marissa looked up at Stella and smiled. I know. They are all awesomely bred horses.
Not much of a field yet for this guy.. Stella said with a slight laugh. In fact, we're the only entry so far. Radiant Silver wasn't running until next weekend, in the January Juvenile Dirt Faceoff. But I guess people will enter if their horses don't win this week. She added thoughtfully. If that was the case, they'd have the advantage of the other horses potentially being tired, and the disadvantage of the other horses having that first race experience. Headstrong and Marissa were going into a race with four other two year olds that were untried and full of energy.
The time to gallop had drawn close, and the pair of riders prepared to send their thoroughbreds flying. Sensing the anticipation, the two year olds both tugged on the reins, and burst into gallop early. Headstrong was first, already showing a strong preference for leading. Radiant Silver stayed with her though, drawing even with her shoulder. They'd taken off early, but not by much. Only by about five seconds, so the riders just went with it. No point in upsetting them by reprimanding them. They were only babies, after all.
Just four furlongs today. Taking it easy until the straight, where they'd go flat out. They headed quickly for the turn, moving fast although they were being rated. As they reached the turn, their riders slowed them slightly. Unskilled so far in taking turns at speed, it was for safety reasons. Better to slow down than be sorry. Marissa and Headstrong held the rail, and Radiant Silver and Stella began to creep up on their outside. As the stretch straightened out before them, they were neck and neck.
Both riders released their thoroughbreds, jiggling the reins at them and urging them on. Acceleration was immediate, strides became longer and more powerful. Dirt flicked up behind them as they dug deep, further gaining speed. Stella imagined their legs to be a blur as they reached their top velocity, flying over the line. Both riders stood up in the stirrups, grinning as they slowed the two year olds up. They'd been virtually neck and neck the whole way. That had been fast! The pair galloped out, and then gradually dropped back through the paces to warm down. They were certainly ready to race!
