Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2012 11:14:07 GMT -5
The first month of the year had almost come to a close and the time had come to really kick things into gear. Where many horses had been at rest after the Breeder's Cup it was time for them to make their return. For some, that would come next week - the Unicorn Horn - while others would start their year in February. But it meant that the stable would suddenly become a more active place. Among those returning to the track in January Week Four for the Unicorn Horn were two Breeder's Cup winners. Stormi, who was known as Afterglow on the track and Dark, otherwise known as Dark Charmer. At the end of Year 11 they had won the Filly And Mare Sprint and the Dirt Mile respectively. Now, they would face one another in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile.
It was always great to see powerful horses facing one another on the track, and the Unicorn Horn promised to see the best of the best facing one another. It would be a tough series and as ever none of the results were certain. Still, the stable had confidence in themselves. So far, there were five entrants in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile, including the two four year olds from Silver Stride Stables who would be racing from gates one and two. Their competition, as it stood, consisted of the three year oldd Lynara's Kingdom and Forbidden to Fly as well as the older Dark Sunrise. Certainly, it would not be an easy race but the stable had eyes to get both of their horses in the top three - Lynara's Kingdom and Forbidden To Fly, of course, had their lack of physical maturity compared to the older horses to deal with as well as a lower level of experience. But they could not be counted out, no one could.
The two bays were ready for a new year. The month of rest had allowed them to recover well from the previous year and they were in good health and spirits. They had been eager as they had been led down to the track, the competitive spirit sparking between them and it was clear that their rivalry had never really stopped despite being raced against one another less the previous year. They had been loaded with ease, their jockeys probing one another with insults, and then all had fallen silent. The atmosphere was thick as they waited and soon the buzzer sounded. The gates opened and the race was on.
Stormi, being a preceder, naturally moved into the lead. She had a confident air, and her jockey Alana guided her to the rail as they moved powerfully forwards. Behind them, Dark had taken up a slightly slower pace and allowed the mare to pull ahead. Jacob held him back, preventing him from moving up too early as they moved up the dirt. The mare kicked the dirt up behind her, but the mud which splattered the young stallion did not seem to deter him. Instead, his ears pressed forwards as they moved onwards.
As they moved through the main body of their mock race things remained very much the same. Dark ran behind the mare, slowly closing the distance which had grown behind them and Stormi pressed onwards at a quick but constant pace. Alana glanced behind her, flashed a grin at Jacob and then turned back to the track, during the mare forwards a little. The response was instantaneous and it was clear that Alana was preparing to make her move. Jacob urged the stallion on and as they moved into the final four furlongs began to truly drive, spurring the colt onwards.
Ahead of them, Alana was making her move on Stormi. The mare did not gain speed the same way that Dark was able to, but she did kick it up a notch. Dark was quickly closing in, and soon drew up to the side of the mare. Her ears pinned against her skull and, head on head, the pair battled. They were fighting with one another for supremacy, neither seeming willing to give way to the other as they moved down the final few furlongs. They were neck and neck. Every time one seemed to gain the upper hand the other would pull back. The battle was ferocious, the competitive spirit clear within the two equines as they soared past the post. It was not clear who had won, but it was clear that they were ready to give the Unicorn Horn a real shot.
It was always great to see powerful horses facing one another on the track, and the Unicorn Horn promised to see the best of the best facing one another. It would be a tough series and as ever none of the results were certain. Still, the stable had confidence in themselves. So far, there were five entrants in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile, including the two four year olds from Silver Stride Stables who would be racing from gates one and two. Their competition, as it stood, consisted of the three year oldd Lynara's Kingdom and Forbidden to Fly as well as the older Dark Sunrise. Certainly, it would not be an easy race but the stable had eyes to get both of their horses in the top three - Lynara's Kingdom and Forbidden To Fly, of course, had their lack of physical maturity compared to the older horses to deal with as well as a lower level of experience. But they could not be counted out, no one could.
The two bays were ready for a new year. The month of rest had allowed them to recover well from the previous year and they were in good health and spirits. They had been eager as they had been led down to the track, the competitive spirit sparking between them and it was clear that their rivalry had never really stopped despite being raced against one another less the previous year. They had been loaded with ease, their jockeys probing one another with insults, and then all had fallen silent. The atmosphere was thick as they waited and soon the buzzer sounded. The gates opened and the race was on.
Stormi, being a preceder, naturally moved into the lead. She had a confident air, and her jockey Alana guided her to the rail as they moved powerfully forwards. Behind them, Dark had taken up a slightly slower pace and allowed the mare to pull ahead. Jacob held him back, preventing him from moving up too early as they moved up the dirt. The mare kicked the dirt up behind her, but the mud which splattered the young stallion did not seem to deter him. Instead, his ears pressed forwards as they moved onwards.
As they moved through the main body of their mock race things remained very much the same. Dark ran behind the mare, slowly closing the distance which had grown behind them and Stormi pressed onwards at a quick but constant pace. Alana glanced behind her, flashed a grin at Jacob and then turned back to the track, during the mare forwards a little. The response was instantaneous and it was clear that Alana was preparing to make her move. Jacob urged the stallion on and as they moved into the final four furlongs began to truly drive, spurring the colt onwards.
Ahead of them, Alana was making her move on Stormi. The mare did not gain speed the same way that Dark was able to, but she did kick it up a notch. Dark was quickly closing in, and soon drew up to the side of the mare. Her ears pinned against her skull and, head on head, the pair battled. They were fighting with one another for supremacy, neither seeming willing to give way to the other as they moved down the final few furlongs. They were neck and neck. Every time one seemed to gain the upper hand the other would pull back. The battle was ferocious, the competitive spirit clear within the two equines as they soared past the post. It was not clear who had won, but it was clear that they were ready to give the Unicorn Horn a real shot.