Post by Snowflake on Apr 4, 2012 2:04:32 GMT -5
SERAPHIM WORKS OUT FOR STAR FESTIVAL
So far this year, Seraphim wasn't doing all that great. She'd most recently suffered a place out of the three, which was a little concerning, since she'd only won one of six starts this year. The competitive sprinter race the Star Festival loomed, and it would mean everything if she won it, against the field full of contenders. The biggest contender of them all being White Chocolate, along with Seattle Sun, Beltane and Axis Mundae. Then there was Rainy Day and Unbridled Mystery, but they probably wouldn't do much.
Seraphim was Y11 Best 2yo Filly, and the daughter of a HOF stallion, and the sister of a grade one sprinter champion mare. There was no doubt in Stella's mind that the filly could do it; it was going to come down to luck on the day. They began their warmup at a trot, completed a lap, then moved on into canter. Gently rocking with Sera's smooth strides, Stella began to consider their competition in more detail.
The only colt in the field, Seattle Sun, would break from gate one. He was a decent sprinter with an overall record of 21-6-7-5. After his win in the Boy's Festival, he was definitely one to watch out for. Beltane, also from Silver Stride Stables, was to break from gate two. She had only recently started racing this year, leading the racing world to wonder about her absence from the track. There was no doubt she was talented, after all - especially since she'd made a good comeback, winning against older horses in the Purple Rose Stakes. Seraphim had however beaten her in the Debutante Stakes a month ago.
Next, starting from gate three, was White Chocolate. The winner of eight races this year, and the winner of the Girl's Festival, she was the one to beat. Then came Rainy Day and Unbridled Mystery, also from Gelli Aur Stables. They weren't bad fillies, but this field was competitive and Stella personally thought that they didn't really have much of a chance. Finally there was Axis Mundae in gate six. She was in a similar position to Seraphim, with her record of 20-5-5-3. This was going to be a tough race.
It was time to gallop, just three furlongs. Seraphim began the turn at a canter, and Stella gave the cue to gallop halfway through. Sera dug in, stretching her legs with long, powerful strides, until they powered past the finish. Her breathing barely any harder than before, Sera dropped back through her paces on command, her eyes bright and her ears perked alertly. She was ready for this, and she could win it.
