Post by Millie on Jan 25, 2013 9:53:23 GMT -5
Smarty's Dream ridden by Millie Daveys
Daydream ridden by Indey McCall
Daydream ridden by Indey McCall
It was that time of year again; the week of the running of the magnificent Breeder’s Cup. Horses from all over were coming to compete and the competition this year was fierce. All of the best stables had entries, some even had a horse entered in each race! Oak Hill Farm, however, were only taking a select few horses this year. It was only part way into this year that Oak Hill had a revamp and begun racing again after a mystery hiatus, so to take any horses at all was an achievement. Four horses from Oak Hill would be making the journey to Green Horse Fields to partake in the prestigious Breeder’s Cup; Smarty’s Dream, Daydream, Livin’ The Jazz and Sophie’s Voice.
Smarty’s Dream is a four year old mare. By the fine Smart As Jones and out of grade one champion from the Stables Master track, Livin’ The Dream. Smarty performed time after time as a prospect and two year old, even winning the Prospect of the Year award! However, her career came to an abrupt standstill in the early months of her three year old season after she sustained a leg injury in the paddock. Though, after a bumpy return Smarty is now storming the track again. She has bumped herself up to grade three this year managing to grab two victories, four places and two shows; making the Oak Hill team believe she has what it takes to tackle the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic.
Daydream has always shone for Oak Hill. Though she may have her rough patches, recently has defiantly not been one of them. Rea has shot up to grade four this season and will surely be joining the grade three ranks with Smarty in no time at all! Rea has snatched three wins, one place and three shows, including one in the Louisiana Derby*, so far this year. Rea is a hearty and talented sprinter and for sure has enough left in her to finish the year by going to the Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Livin’ The Jazz, a stunning and talented two year old colt. Jax has recently returned to Oak Hill Farm after a short time at Intrepid Racing where his two year old season really kicked off. Jax is a thriving grade five colt at the moment, and he will surely be climbing the ranks quickly and successfully in his upcoming seasons. Jax has performed excellently this season, running in races such as The Unicorn Horn, Magic Millions and Follow The Hoofprints. Jax is also half-brother to Smarty, related through the dam. The Oak Hill team are confident that taking Jax to the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf is the right decision and that he will perform come race day.
Arlequinn. Arley is proving to be quite the two year old. His record for this season is good, to say the least. Only placing out of the top three twice out of eleven starts and also winning two races. Arley's last race was in November week 3, where he won over at The Wire track, so he is well rested for his shot in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He is well prepared for the Cup, even though he may not be the most raced or well known 2YO out there, Oak Hill still deffinately believe he has what it takes to take everyone by surprise.
Millie and Smarty were first on the track today. They were here early for Smarty to settle, so there may be less chance of her attempting to eat Rea when she arrived. Millie walked the mare up and down part of the straight side, not wandering too far away from the track enterance. A few minutes later Millie heard the sound of hooves and a soft voice nearing the track. She looked up as Indey and Rea appeared on the crest of the hill and begun their descent down to the track enterance. Millie urged Smarty forward towards the enterance to meet Indey and Rea.
The two fillies could not have been more diferent. Rea was a quiet and sweet filly who had really shone out as a sprinter for Oak Hill throughout both her two and three year old seasons. Where as Smarty, well, she was a highly strung, strong minded, tempremental filly. She had shone through marvellously during her two year old season. Despite an abrupt end to her three year old season after sustaining an injury, Smarty is making a more than desirable return to the track and has even managed to claw her way to grade three, even with the immensly tough fields of horses this year!
Hey again! Indey called over to Millie, they had already met this morning, for another Breeder's Cup workout with Oak Hill's other two competitors. Millie and Indey were the only jockeys who would be riding in this year's Breeder's Cup. It was a dissapointment or Jaymee-Leigh and Josh not to be riding but none of their horses were strong enough this year to take on the challenging field. Though, it was especially disapointing for Jaymee-Leigh, she had always planned to take Strictly A Hero to the cup this year, but after she saw the competition she just came to the conclusion that there were no suitable races for him. But with his good record from this year it was planned that he would be entered in more major races next year to lead to the BC at the end of Y13!
Indey and Millie made their way up the track on their mounts. They stayed a relative distance apart, to avoid Smarty taking a chunk out of Rea, she wasn't in the best of moods this morning. She tossed her head anxiously, stamping her hooves on the ground as they made their way along the dirt. She had really come to have a heart for racing since her return and she was always ready to go out and give everything she had. Rea however, well she walked speedily but quietly along the inner rail of the course. Her ears were pricked sharply forwards. She was alert and interested, but remained quiet and calm. She was always a nice horse to ride and always put her all into a work, without even being asked to.
After a brief walk together both horses were ready to kick up a gear. Millie first asked Smarty for the trot. The fiesty mare kicked out sidewards, ducking down with her head. She tossed it around before proceeding forward in a quick but long strided trot. Rea's ears pricked and she leapt forward at Smarty's antics. In some ways Smarty was good for Rea, she wound her up a little and made her a little more fiery. Rea's trot was short and choppy, but very quick. It was very much unlike her gallop, which was still very quick but long strided. Both horses were front runners, so the work out today would very likely be quick paced and a run till the very last second. They were already fighting to keep up to each other and take the lead. Rea was not agressive like Smarty, but still she would not be put off by agression and gave a fight for the lead.
As the pair pulled around on to the turn towards the home straight both riders looked at each other. They would begin their gallop along the home straight and continue for two furlongs. As they took the corner both horses leveled up for their gallop. Immediately after coming off the home straight the horses were pushed forward into a quick gallop. Both horses instantly became concentrated and focused. Rea, being the quicker horse as she was a sprinter, took the lead initially. Smarty was quick on her heels, fighting to get ahead. Though Millie held her back so she didn't waste too much energy fighting, seen as though the big day was quickly approaching, as was the one furlong marker! The marker was in sight and quickly getting closer. It only took Smarty the time it did to pass the furlong marker that it did to draw level with Rea and Indey. Indey urged Rea on a little, as did Millie with Smarty. Both horses were cruizing along at great spead.
Two furlongs wasn't far for the horses when they were travelling at this speed and the final two furlong maker was now approaching quickly. Both riders threw the reins forwards to their horses, crouching low in the saddle and urging them forward. They responded quickly and obediently. The well trained animals were focused, reliable and competetive. Each horse had its turn in the lead, with every stride the lead was exchanged. They swooped past the finish line, quickly and powerfully. It was impossible to tell who eventually grasped the win. But today wasn't about that anyway. Millie and Indey actually prefered that neither horse won anyway, therefore both horses were confident and ready for the upcoming Breeder's Cup and little would get in their way now!