SPRING CUP WORKOUTS

Beltane & Jacey Leigh-Lanning
Tears Of An Angel & Ivana Babicová

Beltane was entered in the Grade One Turf Sprint for the Spring Cup. She wasn't going to do well, as she was against her sister Axis Mundae who had nineteen wins, whereas Bella had thirteen wins. She had beaten After Dusk in her pre-race preparation, taking the Athens sprint. The filly had been downgraded just a little bit, and though she used to beat now retired stud and Hall of Famer, Pegasus Wings, it seemed she wasn't recognised for that anymore. She was going to work alongside Tears Of An Angel who had taken a win and three seconds so far this year, her first proper year on the GHF surface.

Bella had taken three wins and a show, the show being in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Sprint. She was beaten out by Gamble On Peace and Forbidden To Fly, who won the race. This year would be Bella's time to shine, and there would be no stopping her, though it seemed her sister would be today. Now an accomplished Grade One sprinter, Bella was going to be racing in some major races throughout the year, and attempting to win it with spoilers over the favourites. Jacey was putting a lot of work into her this year and Jacey was going to try her hardest to succeed with Bella, she was sure of it. Bella was sired by the stallion Warlock, known as a ferocious racer who always gave his best and never backed down from a challenge. He was also known for his strong temperament which one could easily learn from spending just a few minutes with him.

Her dam is the renowned Hall Of Famer, Little Miss Innocent - a strong turf flat racer with some amazing accomplicements to her name including being named Best Turf Horse and Best Older Mare in year end awards as well as taking wins in major races such as the Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the Breeder's Cup Turf. Bella is the younger sister of The Innocent Skier, a grade four racer on the turf who is now six years old, and the twin sister of Axis Mundae, who is also a grade one racer who runs redominantly on the turf. Her younger sister, Innocent Passion, is beginning to make her mark on the track, recently winning the Coronation Stakes over Lucy, which gutted Ivana, who would be riding her in the workout today.

The reason why Jacey rides Bella and none of the other jockeys do is because she can be an aggressive filly, tricky to handle, which is why Jacey volunteered herself after her miscarriage. She is somewhat unpredictable, and although relaxed most of the time she has this habit of becoming rather aggressive, a trait which both of her parents carried. As such, it is wise to stay on her good side and if you get on her bad side you should probably watch your back, or try to keep away from her, as she has this fondness for biting, and biting hard. If she draws blood it is really all the more fun.

The good thing about Jacey is that she does not push Bella around, she just makes sure she is calm. Bella does not like people who try to push her around, in fact she despises them. As such it is wise to let her think that she is the one making the decisions. She is a very dominant and demanding creature, and intends to stay on top in every aspect of her life. Whether it is racing or in the yard you can guarantee that she thinks she is the boss. But the truth is she really doesn't like other horses, and does her best to stay away from them. If any approach her in the pasture she will kick at them and bite them until they leave her alone. Her dislike of other horses can be interesting when it comes to racing. She will throw a real fit at the track due to the fact there are just too many other horses, but tends to calm down once she is in the gate.

Jacey knows exactly what to do with Bella. The filly uses her intelligence wisely at the races, and that is a good thing about her. This shows when she leaps from the gate. As soon as the gates open she is out of them, just about as fast as any horse could break, and she takes the lead for herself. Up here, she is not surrounded by other horses and feels that she is in control of the race. For a front runner, however, she has quite a lot of self control. She doesn't go tearing off at stupid speeds from the get go but sets a comfortable pace that will allow her to have something to give at the end of the race, which she knows is where the real competition begins.

Completely focused, she very rarely makes a mistake and if she does she does not make the same mistake again. Due to not tearing off, you can guarantee this feisty little front runner is not going to burn out in the stretch. In fact, she often speeds up, showing off a deal of power. Should she come head to head with another she has the heart, fighting spirit and a high level of competetiveness to push her forwards like a champion and she never gives in to a challenge.

Once the riders were ready and tacked up, Ivana mounted onto Lucy and Jacey mounted onto Bella. She was a bit fresh today, but Jacey knew what she needed to do. Bella wasn’t stupid though; she wouldn’t buck at anything or go charging off uncontrollably, as mentioned already; she controls the pace nicely for a front runner. Both fillies were walked on to the track. Ears flickered; eyes looked around, and noses warmth into the cold air. Lucy was quiet, and didn’t make a noise. Her loss in her previous two races had made her seem a bit drained, but she wasn’t going to be stopped today. Sighing, Ivana asked the filly for a trot as they came back alongside Bella, who was throwing her head and swishing her tail, jogging energetically on the stop. The fillies trotted round the bend in unison… well, Lucy trotted, quite stiffly which worried Ivana, Bella pranced. ”Jacey, she doesn’t seem her usual self today. I’m going to get Alicia to have a look at her when we’re back. Jacey nodded. ”She hasn’t got her usual spark and she feels a bit stiff.” Bella was on it today, so Jacey rode Bella in front, and they leaped into a canter. They were going to breeze for half a mile then work for the final two furlongs... if that would be possible for Bella on that day. As they came to the six furlong mark, both fillies breezed lightly over the turf surface.

Bella didn’t fight, she just threw her head up and pranced. She was being held back slightly, as she began to power over the surface, her back legs pushing her forward, her front legs covering the ground. Lucy, in behind, plugged along. She hadn’t lost her spark, she just needed a bit of a rest before coming back fresh in her next start. They rounded the bend and came into the lane, where both fillies kicked it up a gear. Jacey drove Bella forward and Ivana shook the reins on Lucy. They came alongside each other and heads were bobbing, but Lucy then stumbled on her back leg and gathered herself back up, trying to catch up with Bella. Bella’s energy took hold and she began to sprint infront of the three year old who began to give up a little bit. The jockeys pushed on, they were all out, well Lucy was, Bella could’ve ran for England. She took the victory over the three year old by about five lengths. Lucy wasn’t right and Ivana knew it… she pulled her up before the furlong pole and breezed the last couple of furlongs.

Jacey washed Bella down after her workout and Ivana dismounted on the track, walking her in and unsaddling her. The barn vet, Alicia came after a call from Ivana. She walked her away from Alicia and back towards. ”Okay, trot her for me.” Ivana pushed the filly into a trot and sighed. She was slightly lame on one of her kind legs, but it meant she wouldn’t be racing for some time, in Ivana’s judgement. ”Walk her back and turn her in a tight circle on the right rein, please.” Turning Lucy in a tight circle, Ivana bit her lip and sighed. She wouldn’t cross her right hind leg over. After a check, it was determined. ”I’m going to have to take some x-rays. It’s too early to say but it could be a back problem, or even a hairline fracture.”

Bella was ready for her race. Jacey blanketed her back up and put her bandages on her black legs. She smiled and patted the fillies’ neck. ”Love you Bella.” She said, walking out the stall. She saw Ivana blinking away her tears, whilst Alicia did some x-rays. After they had printed, it was determined. ”She’s got a fracture to the cannon bone and won’t be able to race until she’s sound again. She’ll need a cast for a couple of days.” Jacey sighed. ”Great.” There best three year old was out, but their five year old wasn’t! Bella was fighting fit and ready to rumble against Axia.

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