Post by Snowflake on Apr 30, 2012 5:07:25 GMT -5
FURIOUS PASSION AND BANK ON GREATNESS WORK FOR INDEPENDENCE CUP
Furious Passion, winner of the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, Y10 Triple Crown Champion, and Dubai World Cup winner. The four year old had achieved a lot already in his career, and there was more to come, Marissa was sure. He hadn't been worked too hard yet this year, but now he would be. Marissa wanted him to win at least 8 races this year. It would be more difficult than his ten last year, because now he was up against horses that were older than him, like Bank On Greatness.
Bank On Greatness was also a Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner. and Breeder's Cup Marathon, and Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile. He'd also won the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic at the beginning of this year, and last weekend claimed his second win of The Natural Memorial Stakes. At five years old, he was in his last year of racing, and had achieved plenty. Sarah just wanted to get a another good year from him, then he could retire happily to stud and make some nice babies.
Both the young stallions had been slightly overshadowed this year by Vindictive Fury. Greatness because he usually ran against her in races, and Passion because he was her younger half brother. The temperamental mare had become super mare, and Marissa had a feeling it would be between her two horses, Vindictive Fury and Sunset Crusade, for the title of Racehorse of the Year this year, if they continued the way they did.
The pair of thoroughbreds were this morning working for the up coming Independence Cup, which they were due to run in this weekend. It was an eleven furlong on dirt race for horses grade three and above. It would certainly be a competitive race, with last year's Breeder's Cup Classic winner Moondance entered, along with this year's winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, Flashy Wings. besides those two, there was also G3 mare Xalbadora and G2 True Enough mare Dark Sunrise.
Both riders were fairly confident of their chances. Sarah especially, because Greatness hadn't come anything but first and second in his nine starts this year. Pushing the thoughts of the race to the back of their minds, both riders cued their thoroughbreds to gallop. Bank On Greatness surged ahead of Furious Passion, who sometimes took his time to get going. It wasn't usually a problem, since he was blessed with crazy speed.
After just over a furlong, Passion started to catch up to his workout mate. Bank On Greatness had moved closer to the rail, so he had to go around. The turn straightened out into the stretch, and then Passion really took off. Marissa urged him on, crouched low over his withers. Sarah glanced back and saw the bay colt roaring up to them, and began to seriously ask Greatness for more. The five year old grey stallion dug deep, and gave it. Passion was still gaining, but Greatness wasn't giving it all just yet.
As they flashed past the finish, they were nose to nose. Both stallion wanted to keep going, determined for the winner to be decided, but their riders slowed them. Passion was very reluctant, and continued to gallop longer than Greatness. He bounced back to the gap, pleased with himself. You didn't win matey. Sarah said with a laugh. Marissa grinned in agreement. Both girls knew there would be a serious re match on race day.
