Post by Deleted on May 20, 2012 4:34:26 GMT -5
Sonja was doing well enough, in all honesty. For a filly who had no amazing lineage to back her up, she had shown herself to have class. She was one win away from Grade Four. The bay filly had some good results to her name, and would be a good contestant in the breeders cup, some three (nearly four) months away before moving her focus onto bigger things, such as the Triple Tiara, in her three year old season. The path to the Breeder's Cup was very much set, and the next step was the Red Stakes - a large field of grade five racers. But Sonja could handle them. She had placed in the Autumn Cup against a very similar field, and she would be fighting for a win in this upcoming race.
Her neck was curved, her dark eyes gleaming as she moved across the dirt. On her back, a small woman was sat. A woman with whom the filly was very familiar. That woman was not her owner, or just a rider. In fact, this woman shared perhaps a stronger bond. It was her jockey, and they were a team. They had been together since before her first race and they would continue to ride together, as they were a very strong pair. They took on fields without a shred of fear and between them lay a strong mental tie and a tough, competitive streak.
Determined not to be left behind by the top two year olds, Tanya had planned this work carefully. Shortly, they would be joined by her sister and a very strong filly who might just be able to provide the filly with the sort of experiences she needed to be the best. Afterglow had won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies' in the previous year, and had then taken the first leg of the Triple Crown. She was a formidable, Grade Three dirt racer and Alana had agreed to help her sister out with the up and coming two year old. The filly who would likely be entered to defend the SSS crown in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies' this year.
Of course, Sonja had no idea what her jockey had planned for her. Although Tanya spoke to the filly, few human words meant much to her. Certain things had taken on meaning, but to her most of what the jockey muttered was random babble. Meaningless words, with little to no meaning at all. But the tones of her jockeys voice were both welcome and soothing to her, for they were the tones of a friend and partner. As she was pulled up not far from the gates by the blonde handler, the filly lifted her head slightly and scratched the ground with her front right hoof. Obviously, she was in a good mood today.
Soon enough, Alana arrived on Stormi. The bay filly was looking splendid, as always. Her head held high and audits perked. She was responsive and ready for anything, but more than anything she was a beauty. There was something about the way Stormi held herself that shouted to the world to bring it on. She was a strong filly, and her sheer power seemed to exude from her as Alana urged her over, her handlers walking behind them. "Hey Tanya. You ready for this? You know Sonja isn't going to know what hit her, right?" Tanya laughed, nodded, and then no words were muttered between them. They'd already made their plans, and this was more about the horses than themselves.
Gating was a quick and easy process, both fillies being well behaved and eager to respond. Tanya seemed to be buzzing with energy, where as Alana was much more calm although fiercely competitive. As they waited for the gates to open the sisters locked gazes, grinned. This would be fun. Although Sonja was outclassed she was sure to run well and it would be interesting to see how she matched up to the three year old. Gazes returned to the track ahead, and they were not waiting long for the gates to open.
What made this match-up all the more interesting was how similar the two fillies ran. They could both change between front runners and preceders, and they both ran over the same distance - although Sonja was perfectly capable of running on both surfaces, while Stormi could only run on the dirt. But the sisters had already discussed this. Today, Stormi would lead while Sonja dropped in behind her, enabling the two-year old to witness the older filly's strength and hopefully fire up her competitiveness for the home stretch.
As such, once the gates opened and both fillies had broken from them, Alana urged Stormi a little to hush her ahead of Sonja while Tanya encouraged Sonja to remain a little behind. The dirt was solid, although not as firm as it had been earlier in the year, and the heat was in fact bearable. As Stormi moved ahead, dust did kick up although not as much as it had in the past and Sonja seemed happy enough to settle behind the older filly. It made for good movement. Sonja seemed happy as she moved across the dirt, and Stormi seemed more than at home with her lead. Tanya smiled, pushing her mount forwards a little, happy for the feel of the wind on her face.
The furlongs passed quickly, and soon Tanya was pushing her filly a little in order to catch up with the powerful Stormi, who was looking comfortable in the lead. But the distance closed quickly, and as they came into the corner The fillies locked eyes and it was time for the real battle to begin. Crops played upon rumps as the two fillies fought, the jockeys driving them. At one stage, Stormi looked certain to win but the younger filly fought her and managed to close the distance until the end, where Stormi once again began to pull ahead, taking the post by a neck.
Her neck was curved, her dark eyes gleaming as she moved across the dirt. On her back, a small woman was sat. A woman with whom the filly was very familiar. That woman was not her owner, or just a rider. In fact, this woman shared perhaps a stronger bond. It was her jockey, and they were a team. They had been together since before her first race and they would continue to ride together, as they were a very strong pair. They took on fields without a shred of fear and between them lay a strong mental tie and a tough, competitive streak.
Determined not to be left behind by the top two year olds, Tanya had planned this work carefully. Shortly, they would be joined by her sister and a very strong filly who might just be able to provide the filly with the sort of experiences she needed to be the best. Afterglow had won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies' in the previous year, and had then taken the first leg of the Triple Crown. She was a formidable, Grade Three dirt racer and Alana had agreed to help her sister out with the up and coming two year old. The filly who would likely be entered to defend the SSS crown in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies' this year.
Of course, Sonja had no idea what her jockey had planned for her. Although Tanya spoke to the filly, few human words meant much to her. Certain things had taken on meaning, but to her most of what the jockey muttered was random babble. Meaningless words, with little to no meaning at all. But the tones of her jockeys voice were both welcome and soothing to her, for they were the tones of a friend and partner. As she was pulled up not far from the gates by the blonde handler, the filly lifted her head slightly and scratched the ground with her front right hoof. Obviously, she was in a good mood today.
Soon enough, Alana arrived on Stormi. The bay filly was looking splendid, as always. Her head held high and audits perked. She was responsive and ready for anything, but more than anything she was a beauty. There was something about the way Stormi held herself that shouted to the world to bring it on. She was a strong filly, and her sheer power seemed to exude from her as Alana urged her over, her handlers walking behind them. "Hey Tanya. You ready for this? You know Sonja isn't going to know what hit her, right?" Tanya laughed, nodded, and then no words were muttered between them. They'd already made their plans, and this was more about the horses than themselves.
Gating was a quick and easy process, both fillies being well behaved and eager to respond. Tanya seemed to be buzzing with energy, where as Alana was much more calm although fiercely competitive. As they waited for the gates to open the sisters locked gazes, grinned. This would be fun. Although Sonja was outclassed she was sure to run well and it would be interesting to see how she matched up to the three year old. Gazes returned to the track ahead, and they were not waiting long for the gates to open.
What made this match-up all the more interesting was how similar the two fillies ran. They could both change between front runners and preceders, and they both ran over the same distance - although Sonja was perfectly capable of running on both surfaces, while Stormi could only run on the dirt. But the sisters had already discussed this. Today, Stormi would lead while Sonja dropped in behind her, enabling the two-year old to witness the older filly's strength and hopefully fire up her competitiveness for the home stretch.
As such, once the gates opened and both fillies had broken from them, Alana urged Stormi a little to hush her ahead of Sonja while Tanya encouraged Sonja to remain a little behind. The dirt was solid, although not as firm as it had been earlier in the year, and the heat was in fact bearable. As Stormi moved ahead, dust did kick up although not as much as it had in the past and Sonja seemed happy enough to settle behind the older filly. It made for good movement. Sonja seemed happy as she moved across the dirt, and Stormi seemed more than at home with her lead. Tanya smiled, pushing her mount forwards a little, happy for the feel of the wind on her face.
The furlongs passed quickly, and soon Tanya was pushing her filly a little in order to catch up with the powerful Stormi, who was looking comfortable in the lead. But the distance closed quickly, and as they came into the corner The fillies locked eyes and it was time for the real battle to begin. Crops played upon rumps as the two fillies fought, the jockeys driving them. At one stage, Stormi looked certain to win but the younger filly fought her and managed to close the distance until the end, where Stormi once again began to pull ahead, taking the post by a neck.