Post by Deleted on May 31, 2012 8:36:07 GMT -5
The youth challenge was a three-race series for two year olds on the dirt and tended to be a highly competitive series, being the main racing series for young dirt horses. The races were over seven, eight and nine furlongs respectively and there was no doubt that the competition would be tough. Paradise Island, the impressive filly from Silver Stride Stables, was slotted to race in all three legs - something which was perfectly possible for her, as she had already achieved the Grade Four status required to race in the final. There was certainly no doubt that she had the ability, and it would be a tough few weeks with races so closely placed together.
The first leg, over seven furlongs, was known as the Just A Trot Futurity and she was in a good place for it, coming off a second a few weeks previously. With her four wins, four seconds, and five third places she had only placed out of the top three twice in fifteen starts and she was a very strong filly, one of the best on the two year old field, and more than capable of achieving great things. Star Thoroughbreds had named her one to beat for the Triple Tiara in the next season, and she would be a strong contender in the Breeders Cup as well. Certainly, this filly had her path lid out before her and the team which surrounded her would be with her for every step of it.
They had drawn gate three for the race, which so far only had five entrants. It was not a bad position, meaning that they would not be trapped against the rail or too far out on the outside of the group during the race. Tanya and Matthias sat beside each other, a single sheet of paper on the desk before them. On it, were written five names. The names of the five horses entered in the race, including Sonja herself. They would discuss what they knew about each of the horses, and together they would develop a strategy.
Gate One. Forbidden To Fly, owned by Stride Of Perfection Stables, and jockeyed by Henna Turath. Henna Turath, the jockey who seemed to have lost her drive following a spree of bad results. Fly ran six to nine furlongs on the dirt, and had won four of his eleven races, placing in a further two and showing in yet another two. Eight top three places in eleven starts, his consistency lay at just above the seventy percent mark. But he was not one to overlook, as three of his four wins were in major races which just went to show his class.
Gate Two. Another Stride Of Perfection Stables horse, Lynara's Kingdom, jockeyed by Amber Black. A grade five sprinter who had won two and placed in one of her eight starts. Below fifty percent consistency, she was not the biggest threat on the field, although she had won in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt Sprint. She was a nice filly from nice lines, and she had the potential to do well. Her racing style was variable, which made her a little unpredictable on the track.
Gate Three. Paradise Island, Sonja herself. Thirteen top three placings in fifteen starts, giving her a consistency of between eighty-six and eighty-seven percent. Of her four wins, two had been major races. She had also placed in two major races and shown in one. Her class was high, and she was a spirited filly running between seven and eleven furlongs. She could handle both surfaces, but seemed to prefer dirt over turf - something which was reflected in the fact that the majority of her races had been based on the dirt. Tanya was Sonja's jockey, and she was both proud and expectant of the bay filly.
Gate Four. After Dusk of Star Thoroughbreds was a hugely consistent filly with nine top three placings in ten races including four wins. She had won in the Magic Millions and the Eagle Cup and had shown in another two major races. This filly was probably one of the main threats to Sonja in the race, and Tanya had underlined her name in red pen. Not only was she the main competition, but she ran the same position as Sonja tended to, and Tanya definitely felt competitive. This was Sonja's chance to shine, and she didn't want to see it ruined.
The final gate. Gate Five. Dawn Of Silence of Kacey Hill Racing had a fifty percent consistency, with one win and two shows from six starts. The front runner was impressive, despite his lower consistency, and while he was not a real threat in this race he was going to be a great racehorse in time. Tanya had a good feeling about him, and hoped he would perform well for the small stable who had, at one stage, been boarded at the Silver Stride Stables barn.
With the facts out on the table Tanya decided the way to go was to just let Sonja ran as she normally did, behind the front runner but ahead of the majority of the group. To let her move at her own pace until the stretch when she would use her power to surge past the front runners and fight for the post. No doubt it would be tough, but it was the best plan and Tanya had faith in the filly. "Get the team to prepare her. It's time for a work." she told the trainer, raising to her feet and walking out of the office. She, too, needed to prepare for the workout.
The changing room was empty, the other jockeys had not yet arrived for the day, so she had the place to herself. It was a strange thing, she was usually with Jake or at least one of the other jockeys. She changed quickly, tied back her brown hair and stared into the small mirror in the door of her locker for a moment before looking away, pulling on her helmet and closing the locker. She picked the crop up off of the bench and walked out. It was time to do this.
She met Matthias and the team with Sonja down at the track, mounted he filly and grinned at the trainer, who had spoke words of encouragement. She then urged to filly on toward the gates, and the bay powerhouse responded pretty much instantly, surging into quick trot toward the starting gates. The movement was not fluid, but a pronounced two beat, her head held high in the air. Everything about the filly seemed to scream bring it on and Tanya was sure the filly was in high spirits. Very high spirits in fact, even for Sonja the level of energy radiating from her was uncommon; and it was not anger either it was.... Tanya wasn't really sure, but it was definitely good.
As they reached the gates Lucas, one of the handlers, took hold of the filly's nose band on her bridle and pulled her head down, stroking her nose before guiding her to the stall. Tanya grinned at him and encouraged the filly forwards who, with a little push from Lucas, walked into the box with confidence. No fuss, no furious battle or anxiety. Just calm confidence and a desire to impress. Her love of the track had grown, she seemed to enjoy the attention she gained when she experienced victory, and with her jockey desperate to see the filly who came from nowhere become a champion, the chances of success were high.
As the shutters were shut behind the filly Tanya looked over the gates toward the post. Seven furlongs lay ahead, exactly the distance that they would run on race day. A practice for the real thing. Tanya wanted to have the filly as prepared as possible, she wanted the filly to be ready to win, and this was the workout which could make the difference between victory and defeat. The workout which she hoped would make the difference. This win would mean a lot, if it could be achieved and the hope was there. She bit her lip, waited nervously for the gates to open. This was their moment.
Once the gates opened the filly broke quickly and cleanly in what could only have been described as a flying start. She ran with a firm, sure stride and at a pace which was rather quick. Determination ran in her blood, and that determination was powering her on. Ears pressed forwards, she was focussed and prepared. Tanya smiled to herself as she navigated the filly closer to the rail, shifted her weight a little in the saddle. Sonja was ready for this race, her form was high and her movement appeared more sound than ever as they moved down the dirt.
As she moved through the main part of the course, Tanya was thinking. The ground was not firm, but not exactly sloppy, so there were no real issues with that. The field was not as large as some that Sonja had ran in, and so that was not a real worry either. No, the worry was definitely coming from the competition. She was worried that Sonja would fail to win, that their challenge would be over before it had really begun. No, she couldn't afford to think like that. Tanya needed to remain calm, positive. There was no point in getting worked up. She looked to the post, the quickly closing distance and smirked. It was on.
Tightening her grip around the crop in her right hand, she drew up her arm and then dropped it at speed, bringing the crop against the filly's rump. Sonja responded almost instantly, pushing forwards as Tanya began to rive. They were fighting in every stride, Sonja's sheer heart and determination causing their speed to increase. The post drew closer and closer, and soon they had passed it. A good end to a good work, but was it good enough for the race?
The first leg, over seven furlongs, was known as the Just A Trot Futurity and she was in a good place for it, coming off a second a few weeks previously. With her four wins, four seconds, and five third places she had only placed out of the top three twice in fifteen starts and she was a very strong filly, one of the best on the two year old field, and more than capable of achieving great things. Star Thoroughbreds had named her one to beat for the Triple Tiara in the next season, and she would be a strong contender in the Breeders Cup as well. Certainly, this filly had her path lid out before her and the team which surrounded her would be with her for every step of it.
They had drawn gate three for the race, which so far only had five entrants. It was not a bad position, meaning that they would not be trapped against the rail or too far out on the outside of the group during the race. Tanya and Matthias sat beside each other, a single sheet of paper on the desk before them. On it, were written five names. The names of the five horses entered in the race, including Sonja herself. They would discuss what they knew about each of the horses, and together they would develop a strategy.
Gate One. Forbidden To Fly, owned by Stride Of Perfection Stables, and jockeyed by Henna Turath. Henna Turath, the jockey who seemed to have lost her drive following a spree of bad results. Fly ran six to nine furlongs on the dirt, and had won four of his eleven races, placing in a further two and showing in yet another two. Eight top three places in eleven starts, his consistency lay at just above the seventy percent mark. But he was not one to overlook, as three of his four wins were in major races which just went to show his class.
Gate Two. Another Stride Of Perfection Stables horse, Lynara's Kingdom, jockeyed by Amber Black. A grade five sprinter who had won two and placed in one of her eight starts. Below fifty percent consistency, she was not the biggest threat on the field, although she had won in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt Sprint. She was a nice filly from nice lines, and she had the potential to do well. Her racing style was variable, which made her a little unpredictable on the track.
Gate Three. Paradise Island, Sonja herself. Thirteen top three placings in fifteen starts, giving her a consistency of between eighty-six and eighty-seven percent. Of her four wins, two had been major races. She had also placed in two major races and shown in one. Her class was high, and she was a spirited filly running between seven and eleven furlongs. She could handle both surfaces, but seemed to prefer dirt over turf - something which was reflected in the fact that the majority of her races had been based on the dirt. Tanya was Sonja's jockey, and she was both proud and expectant of the bay filly.
Gate Four. After Dusk of Star Thoroughbreds was a hugely consistent filly with nine top three placings in ten races including four wins. She had won in the Magic Millions and the Eagle Cup and had shown in another two major races. This filly was probably one of the main threats to Sonja in the race, and Tanya had underlined her name in red pen. Not only was she the main competition, but she ran the same position as Sonja tended to, and Tanya definitely felt competitive. This was Sonja's chance to shine, and she didn't want to see it ruined.
The final gate. Gate Five. Dawn Of Silence of Kacey Hill Racing had a fifty percent consistency, with one win and two shows from six starts. The front runner was impressive, despite his lower consistency, and while he was not a real threat in this race he was going to be a great racehorse in time. Tanya had a good feeling about him, and hoped he would perform well for the small stable who had, at one stage, been boarded at the Silver Stride Stables barn.
With the facts out on the table Tanya decided the way to go was to just let Sonja ran as she normally did, behind the front runner but ahead of the majority of the group. To let her move at her own pace until the stretch when she would use her power to surge past the front runners and fight for the post. No doubt it would be tough, but it was the best plan and Tanya had faith in the filly. "Get the team to prepare her. It's time for a work." she told the trainer, raising to her feet and walking out of the office. She, too, needed to prepare for the workout.
The changing room was empty, the other jockeys had not yet arrived for the day, so she had the place to herself. It was a strange thing, she was usually with Jake or at least one of the other jockeys. She changed quickly, tied back her brown hair and stared into the small mirror in the door of her locker for a moment before looking away, pulling on her helmet and closing the locker. She picked the crop up off of the bench and walked out. It was time to do this.
She met Matthias and the team with Sonja down at the track, mounted he filly and grinned at the trainer, who had spoke words of encouragement. She then urged to filly on toward the gates, and the bay powerhouse responded pretty much instantly, surging into quick trot toward the starting gates. The movement was not fluid, but a pronounced two beat, her head held high in the air. Everything about the filly seemed to scream bring it on and Tanya was sure the filly was in high spirits. Very high spirits in fact, even for Sonja the level of energy radiating from her was uncommon; and it was not anger either it was.... Tanya wasn't really sure, but it was definitely good.
As they reached the gates Lucas, one of the handlers, took hold of the filly's nose band on her bridle and pulled her head down, stroking her nose before guiding her to the stall. Tanya grinned at him and encouraged the filly forwards who, with a little push from Lucas, walked into the box with confidence. No fuss, no furious battle or anxiety. Just calm confidence and a desire to impress. Her love of the track had grown, she seemed to enjoy the attention she gained when she experienced victory, and with her jockey desperate to see the filly who came from nowhere become a champion, the chances of success were high.
As the shutters were shut behind the filly Tanya looked over the gates toward the post. Seven furlongs lay ahead, exactly the distance that they would run on race day. A practice for the real thing. Tanya wanted to have the filly as prepared as possible, she wanted the filly to be ready to win, and this was the workout which could make the difference between victory and defeat. The workout which she hoped would make the difference. This win would mean a lot, if it could be achieved and the hope was there. She bit her lip, waited nervously for the gates to open. This was their moment.
Once the gates opened the filly broke quickly and cleanly in what could only have been described as a flying start. She ran with a firm, sure stride and at a pace which was rather quick. Determination ran in her blood, and that determination was powering her on. Ears pressed forwards, she was focussed and prepared. Tanya smiled to herself as she navigated the filly closer to the rail, shifted her weight a little in the saddle. Sonja was ready for this race, her form was high and her movement appeared more sound than ever as they moved down the dirt.
As she moved through the main part of the course, Tanya was thinking. The ground was not firm, but not exactly sloppy, so there were no real issues with that. The field was not as large as some that Sonja had ran in, and so that was not a real worry either. No, the worry was definitely coming from the competition. She was worried that Sonja would fail to win, that their challenge would be over before it had really begun. No, she couldn't afford to think like that. Tanya needed to remain calm, positive. There was no point in getting worked up. She looked to the post, the quickly closing distance and smirked. It was on.
Tightening her grip around the crop in her right hand, she drew up her arm and then dropped it at speed, bringing the crop against the filly's rump. Sonja responded almost instantly, pushing forwards as Tanya began to rive. They were fighting in every stride, Sonja's sheer heart and determination causing their speed to increase. The post drew closer and closer, and soon they had passed it. A good end to a good work, but was it good enough for the race?