Rarity

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Paradise Island and Tanya Stratt
Preparation for the Oaks Stakes

It was rare that Paradise Island was seen on the turf track - away from the stable at least. She had a reputation as a powerful filly on the dirt, but had never really raced that much on the turf. It wasn't because she couldn't however, it was because from the beginning of her career the stable had been leading her toward one series: the Triple Tiara. This year, the filly had been proving just how strong she was, having raced four times for three wins and a second. Of course, the team intended to go against Eternal Phantom, who had beaten them in the Unicorn Horn, again later in the year to prove that Sonja had what it took to take the filly but for now at least they would be focussing on keeping the filly strong and confident.

It was Tanya who had suggested that, for one week, they make a change. While running in the preparation races had been fun she wanted to put the filly against some fresh competition and it just happened that she knew the perfect way to do it. For the first time ever, Green Horse Fields would be hosting the prestigious Oaks Stakes - an eleven furlong turf race for fillies - and Tanya had her eye on it. She had decided that they had lacked any major turf races to their names for long enough and because of that she would try and take the new race in it's first year of running.

The three year old filly was in amazing form and health. She recovered quickly from races, but was generally given time between races just so that she would always be at her best. But they were picking the pace up now, getting Sonja ready for the hard work that was to come when the Tiara finally arrived - three major races which ran close together. Three races around which her whole career had so far been centred. Still, it would be nice to get away from that for a week and so Matthias had allowed it. Paradise Island would do that thing she very rarely did and face a turf field.

Earlier that week, there had been four entrants including Paradise Island and the other three had all been from Star Thoroughbreds but now Georgie's Girl had been scratched because, so they had heard, she could not really handle eleven furlongs. It was fair enough, and while Tanya had been looking forward to go against the top turf filly she was sure that there would be another chance somewhere down the line. Plus, there were still two other entrants for Sonja to test herself against.

The first of those fillies was Whipped Cream, a filly who was out of the mare Perfection and by Whippet. She did not have the best record having raced only six times and placing outside of the top three five times. She had not yet broken her maiden, and seemed to be struggling in most fields. On the track, she ran in the mid pack but was reputed for having quite a bit of power behind her in the stretch. Tanya wondered if a method had been worked out for getting the best out of the filly yet.

The second filly was Stalker's Fury who had recently broken her maiden in the Stable Face Off just the week before, showing off the fact that she really does have talent. As a two year old, the filly had only ever placed third or outside of the top three but seemed to have found her stride this year with three seconds, a win and only one result outside of the top three. Stalker was a front runner, and would be relying on speed to take the win.

In discussions, it had already been decided that Tanya would run Sonja as a preceder in the race, settling in behind Stalker's Fury as the pace maker but ahead of Whipped Cream. Having seen Stalker's Fury's racing style before, she knew exactly what buttons to hit. Come within two lengths and the filly was likely to get aggravated. The problem was, Sonja was never going to drop two lengths behind. At least not unless it looked like the filly was going to tire before the end of the race.

All in all, Sonja had more racing experience than both of the horses put together, although they had both always ran on turf where she had only done so twice which in some ways gave them the advantage. The workout planned was simple. A three furlong gallop on the turf track. Something that the bay filly could handle with ease, something that would leave her with plenty of energy for the long race later that week.

Sonja was looking as good as ever as Lucas led her onto the turf. Her eyes were bright, her pelt shining and her head held high. She walked well beside him in her fluid gate, her toned muscle rippling with each movement. Every time Tanya saw her ride she could not help but admire her - she was both beautiful and successful, had come from unknown lines to spring to the top of her age group. She had power and grace, but most of all she was gentle and friendly.

After watching her for a moment, Tanya walked over and climbed onto the filly's back, hugging her neck from the saddle for a moment before rising in her stirrups to check the balance, which was already perfect. She lowered into the saddle again, looking up the turf while Lucas led them to the gates. The loading process, as always with Sonja, was quick and easy. There was no resistance to the procedure and when the shutters closed the filly remained calm.

Tanya rose in her stirrups again, patted the filly's neck, and prepared for the workout to begin. Seconds passed before the buzzer sounded, the gates snapped open and the filly flew out of the gates. Alone on the track, Tanya did not need to be concious of their position. Tanya did not need to think of anything but the filly and the track. Over a distance this short their was no need to move to the rail and so she kept the filly straight, her eyes on the turf ahead of them.

With such a quick pace set by the filly, it was no surprise that the workout was passing quickly. It seemed to take no time at all for them to reach the two furlong mark at which Tanya urged the filly forwards twice. It was all the instruction she would give for now. She knew Sonja, it was the stretch where the front/preceder really wowed because she was not typical an had a kick to her like a lot of horses who ran further back in a field.

The furlong closed and it was on. Tanya started to drive the filly, cracking harshly with the crop only once and throwing herself into the final stretch. Sonja reacted well, her stride lengthening and speed increasing as they made their way down the final furlong. For such a short distance, it was hard work and as they passed the post Tanya felt victorious. They were ready to take on the Star Thoroughbreds entrants.