Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2012 12:59:05 GMT -5
The Breeder's Cup had been an outstanding success for them, there was no denying it. While they had entered the contest feeling confident there had always been a chance, however small, that something could go wrong. It was the second year in a row that the stable had claimed the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies' race and there was a pride burning within them which they could not deny. With that win, the filly had been able to secure her place as Best Two Year Old Filly and Best Grade Three. It was a great thing, and everyone was proud to have been able to attain both the win and the awards which had followed.
However, following such a good juvenile season, Paradise Island had a lot of expectations to live up to and that would not be easy. A lot of their year had already been planned out for them, and while she had been at rest other three year olds had already been on the track this year. Horses including Instant Success who had now hit Grade Three as well as securing his eighth win. It put him ahead of Sonja, but that did not really matter. Sonja would catch up quickly enough.
For Sonja, her first time on the track as a three year old was quickly approaching with the Unicorn Horn Fillies' Dirt. There, she would face her rival, Eternal Phantom, as well as the filly's twin Midnight Thriller who she had beaten in the Breeder's Cup. It would be an interesting race, although it was likely that the main contest would be between the Stride Of Perfection Stables owned Eternal Phantom and Sonja. Of course, they had come head on head many times as two year olds and it was bound to be an exciting race when they clashed once more.
In order for Sonja to perform at her best it was, of course, important that she had a good workout and Tanya was excited to be working properly again. Over the last few weeks she had been allowed to ride Sonja but not push her beyond a canter. Matthias had wanted her rested from galloping, and rested she had been. Now, Sonja was energetic and ready to start the new year in style. The Unicorn Horn, being a major racing series, had seemed the perfect option for just that.
The bay filly was energetic and more than ready for her return to the track. Her bay pelt was shining brightly, her dark eyes gleaming as she was led down to the track. Matthias was glad to see the filly so ready to go, she was practically bouncing beside him and yet did not pull against the rein. Finally, she had learnt that she wasn't going to get anywhere by being a pain. It was a relief, as struggling with her (especially on those days when she was in a bad mood) was a little problematic at times.
As they reached the track, Tanya walked over to greet them. She had obviously been in conversation with Matthias about their plans for the year and there was something in her eye which suggested that they had great plans. Of course, everyone knew that the stable had their eye on the Triple Tiara, but what else? They had been secretive about it, except that it could be expected that Sonja would be seen in a lot of major races this season. Not that such was any big surprise, really.
After a brief exchange with the filly, in which the filly nuzzled her quite firmly, causing her to have to take a step back, Tanya mounted her regular ride and patted her strong neck. "Come on, Son, let's get this show on the road." she spoke to the filly in gentle tones, and Lucas led them toward the gates. He noticed that Tanya had an air of confidence about her, and it was good to see her so positive without the usual buzz of over-active energy which usually surrounded her.
It was likely that, come race day, Sonja would end up running as a front runner. Eternal Phantom could, of course, run in the position but she usually opted for a closing position and Midnight Thriller rode solely as a closer. That left Sonja out front. Of course, they would need to adapt their style to whatever Stride Of Perfection Stables had in mind for Phantie but for the workout at least they would work on the assumption that they would run her as they usually did, at the back of the field.
This race, to Tanya, was an important one. Not only was it a major race, not only was it Sonja's first three year old start, but it gave them another chance to prove themselves against Eternal Phantom. Their rivalry was a fierce one, and they would fight until the very last to prove themselves. Of course, this race was not the be all and end all, but they would at the very least have bragging rights for a while if they could come out on top. Until the next time they met, anyway.
The buzzer sounded, and the workout began. Sonja broke well, and moved quickly onto the track. Tanya urged her forwards, staring up the short four furlong stretch with a slight smile. It felt good to be able to run Sonja like this, and the filly was clearly glad to be able to gallop once more. Her audits were pressed forwards, her legs moving well beneath her, and there were no signs of any issues between them. In fact, in the time that Tanya had been spending with Sonja off the track during her rest their bond had grown ever stronger.
The four-beat drummed loud as they moved across the hard, compact dirt. Each time the filly's flints hit the dirt the same sound rose to Tanya's ears. It was a pleasing sound, one which would be more like a roar on race day as the three fillies came head on head. Tanya could imagine it in her mind's eye and she smiled. Pushing the filly on a little more she took note than, in a single furlong, they would have entered the final two furlongs. That was where she would really push the filly.
The distance passed quickly, and Tanya prepared herself. She crouched closer to the filly's neck, starting to drive her forwards and as they hit the point where they had only 1.5 furlongs remaining she brought the crop down on the filly's rump. They increased in speed, more than the average front runner or preceder would manage, and they pushed down the straight. Their minds melding into one another they fought for the post and they fought hard. On the race day, Sonja would be fighting to maintain her lead while the closers shortened the gap between them. They passed the post at a good speed. In Tanya's mind, they had won, but the real race was yet to be run.
However, following such a good juvenile season, Paradise Island had a lot of expectations to live up to and that would not be easy. A lot of their year had already been planned out for them, and while she had been at rest other three year olds had already been on the track this year. Horses including Instant Success who had now hit Grade Three as well as securing his eighth win. It put him ahead of Sonja, but that did not really matter. Sonja would catch up quickly enough.
For Sonja, her first time on the track as a three year old was quickly approaching with the Unicorn Horn Fillies' Dirt. There, she would face her rival, Eternal Phantom, as well as the filly's twin Midnight Thriller who she had beaten in the Breeder's Cup. It would be an interesting race, although it was likely that the main contest would be between the Stride Of Perfection Stables owned Eternal Phantom and Sonja. Of course, they had come head on head many times as two year olds and it was bound to be an exciting race when they clashed once more.
In order for Sonja to perform at her best it was, of course, important that she had a good workout and Tanya was excited to be working properly again. Over the last few weeks she had been allowed to ride Sonja but not push her beyond a canter. Matthias had wanted her rested from galloping, and rested she had been. Now, Sonja was energetic and ready to start the new year in style. The Unicorn Horn, being a major racing series, had seemed the perfect option for just that.
The bay filly was energetic and more than ready for her return to the track. Her bay pelt was shining brightly, her dark eyes gleaming as she was led down to the track. Matthias was glad to see the filly so ready to go, she was practically bouncing beside him and yet did not pull against the rein. Finally, she had learnt that she wasn't going to get anywhere by being a pain. It was a relief, as struggling with her (especially on those days when she was in a bad mood) was a little problematic at times.
As they reached the track, Tanya walked over to greet them. She had obviously been in conversation with Matthias about their plans for the year and there was something in her eye which suggested that they had great plans. Of course, everyone knew that the stable had their eye on the Triple Tiara, but what else? They had been secretive about it, except that it could be expected that Sonja would be seen in a lot of major races this season. Not that such was any big surprise, really.
After a brief exchange with the filly, in which the filly nuzzled her quite firmly, causing her to have to take a step back, Tanya mounted her regular ride and patted her strong neck. "Come on, Son, let's get this show on the road." she spoke to the filly in gentle tones, and Lucas led them toward the gates. He noticed that Tanya had an air of confidence about her, and it was good to see her so positive without the usual buzz of over-active energy which usually surrounded her.
It was likely that, come race day, Sonja would end up running as a front runner. Eternal Phantom could, of course, run in the position but she usually opted for a closing position and Midnight Thriller rode solely as a closer. That left Sonja out front. Of course, they would need to adapt their style to whatever Stride Of Perfection Stables had in mind for Phantie but for the workout at least they would work on the assumption that they would run her as they usually did, at the back of the field.
This race, to Tanya, was an important one. Not only was it a major race, not only was it Sonja's first three year old start, but it gave them another chance to prove themselves against Eternal Phantom. Their rivalry was a fierce one, and they would fight until the very last to prove themselves. Of course, this race was not the be all and end all, but they would at the very least have bragging rights for a while if they could come out on top. Until the next time they met, anyway.
The buzzer sounded, and the workout began. Sonja broke well, and moved quickly onto the track. Tanya urged her forwards, staring up the short four furlong stretch with a slight smile. It felt good to be able to run Sonja like this, and the filly was clearly glad to be able to gallop once more. Her audits were pressed forwards, her legs moving well beneath her, and there were no signs of any issues between them. In fact, in the time that Tanya had been spending with Sonja off the track during her rest their bond had grown ever stronger.
The four-beat drummed loud as they moved across the hard, compact dirt. Each time the filly's flints hit the dirt the same sound rose to Tanya's ears. It was a pleasing sound, one which would be more like a roar on race day as the three fillies came head on head. Tanya could imagine it in her mind's eye and she smiled. Pushing the filly on a little more she took note than, in a single furlong, they would have entered the final two furlongs. That was where she would really push the filly.
The distance passed quickly, and Tanya prepared herself. She crouched closer to the filly's neck, starting to drive her forwards and as they hit the point where they had only 1.5 furlongs remaining she brought the crop down on the filly's rump. They increased in speed, more than the average front runner or preceder would manage, and they pushed down the straight. Their minds melding into one another they fought for the post and they fought hard. On the race day, Sonja would be fighting to maintain her lead while the closers shortened the gap between them. They passed the post at a good speed. In Tanya's mind, they had won, but the real race was yet to be run.