The New Batch

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There would be eight two year olds running from Silver Stride Stables in the next year. Eight horses, four jockeys. That meant two horses per rider, each competeing to be a champion in their first year on the track. Name The Prince, Candid Silver, Feline Frenzy, Instant Success, Wannabe Hero, Wannado Voodoo, Paradise Island and Desperate Appeal would be the new maidens, but who would ride them in their hopes for success?

Matt had gathered his four jockeys to discuss the current prospects and their future careers with anticipation, and so they all sat in the office over steaming cups of tea and coffee which had been freshly brewed specifically for the meeting. The main bulk of the work had been done for the day and this was the last thing on the agenda.

"So you all know why we are here. The prospects will soon be two year olds and making their maiden races. If we wish for them to be sucessful we must start working them out soon so that they are ready for their debut races. So we're going to discuss them one by one, and who we feel would be well matched to each of them. Each one of you will jockey two of the new two year olds next year. Are we understood?" Matt's speech was met with nodding and positive muttering between the jockeys, who were all excited for the new year.

"So let's start with Prince, who is of course Name The Prince on the track. He's a nice colt, lovable, and a closer on the Turf. We intend to run him between seven and twelve furlongs. Alexia, Tanya, I am unsure which of you are likely to be chosen for him, but it is definitely one of you two." Matt paused, casting his gaze down the list to the next name. "The next horse is Silvi, the stubborn Candid Silver. She runs seven to twleve furlongs on the dirt in the pack. Alana, she's probably going to be coming to you as you're good on the dirt. Feline Frenzy, or Mia, is a bit of a handful and is a turf sprinter. Jake, I want you to take her as you are probably going to need to hold her back so she doesn't dash off too quickly. Isa, Instant Success on the track, is a dirt closer running long distances. Alana, she may be yours."

Matt looked down at his list so far.

Name The Prince - Alexia or Tanya
Candid Silver - Alana
Feline Frenzy - Jacob
Instant Success - Alana
Wannabe Hero
Wannado Voodoo
Paradise Island
Desperate Appeal

So that meant he had assigned two horses to Alana now. The last four would go to Alexia, Jacob and Tanya. The decisions would be made in the next few minutes. Decisions which could make or break the next season. Who would jockey each of the remaining horses? The next choice was to do with Hero. He thought for a moment, cast his gaze around the three remaining jockeys and he made his decision.

"Wannabe Hero, a turf sprinter, will be coming to you Tanya. Alexia already has a turf sprinter who hasn't broken his maiden yet, and I don't really want Jake to have two sprinters as his new rides. I think you'll do well with him. Wannado Voodoo is coming to you, Alexia. Along with Desperate Appeal. Tanya, you'll take Name The Prince, which leaves Paradise Island to you, Jake. I was intending to go into more detail but I think we could all do with our rest. Workouts will start tomorrow. See you tomorrow guys."

So the list had been decided, and it stood as such:
Name The Prince - Tanya
Candid Silver - Alana
Feline Frenzy - Jacob
Instant Success - Alana
Wannabe Hero - Tanya
Wannado Voodoo - Alexia
Paradise Island - Jacob
Desperate Appeal - Alexia

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The following morning the jockeys arrived at the stable early to find that Matt had worked late into the night, matching up horses to work out together.

Name the Prince & Wannado Voodoo - 10F Turf
Candid Silver & Wannabe Hero - 8F Dirt
Feline Frenzy & Desperate Appeal - 8F Turf
Instant Success & Paradise Island - 10F Dirt

The horses were already tacked up and waiting. It would be a long day, but a necessary one. As the jockeys discussed their rides together Matthias walked confidently into the office with a smile. It was clear he had got little sleep, and he'd obviously come to work early that morning. "Tanya, it looks like you'll be taking on a third maiden in the new year. I finally secured the sale, Karnevil is ours. She'll be working out with Instant Success and Paradise Island, OK?" Tanya beamed as Matthias added the filly onto the list. "Well then guys, let's get to work."

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Name The Prince & Tanya Stratt
Wannado Voodoo & Alexia Harshing

The first workout for the new batch of two year olds and first up were Tanya and Alexia with their new rides, Prince and Sara. A colt and a filly, both grey, who would be running ten furlongs on the turf during their first workout with their new jockeys. Running around the middle of their preference ranges, it would enable the horses to bond with their riders and stretch their legs. It was, after all, their careers on the line.

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Candid Silver & Alana Stratt
Wannabe Hero & Tanya Stratt

Following the success of the first workout of the day came the next. Tanya didn't even have time to have a break. After handing Prince over to the handler she'd had to fetch Hero as he was next on the list. Hero would be working out with Silvi, once more a colt and a filly working out together. Tanya would also be against her sister for the first time, and the contrast between them was clear. While they were similar in appearance Tanya was smiling, almost bouncing next to the black colt, while her sister appeared deadly serious as she walked the grey filly toward the track. Eight furlongs on dirt was at the top of Hero's range and toward the lower end of Silvi's. It would be an interesting workout for sure.

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Feline Frenzy & Jacob Donovan
Desperate Appeal & Alexia Harshing

Next up in the line of workouts were Mia and Desi, two fillies who would be running on the turf. Riding them, best friends Jacob and Alexia had been at the stable since the begining and they had an arrangement when it came to these things - they might be best friends off the track, but that didn't mean they would go easy on it. Alexia was convinced that Jacob was the perfect jockey for Mia, and felt confident that she and Desi would do well together as well. Eight furlongs on the turf was all it would take to see how right, or wrong, she was.

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Paradise Island & Jacob Donovan
Instant Success & Alana Stratt
Karnevil & Tanya Stratt

Where the other workouts had been only two horses, the last was to be three thanks to the good news that Karnevil had been secured for the stable and delivered that morning. It had been looking unlikely, her previous owners stubborn about the sale, but eventually they had settled on a price and the black filly brought to her new home. Normally, they would allow time to settle in but it was really important for her and her jockey to get a feel for one another before the new year. Plus, it would do the trio good to have real competition in their workout.