Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2013 3:33:52 GMT -5
Tears No More jockeyed by Ivana Babicová
Beltane jockeyed by Jacey Leigh-Lanning.
Beltane jockeyed by Jacey Leigh-Lanning.
Darkness surrounded the track during the early hours of the brisk foggy Sunday morning. The flood lights flickered as they lit up the raindrops that fell onto the soft dirt surface. It was simply pristine – perfectly forgiving underfoot – not sloppy, but then again not too arid. It was flawless. Daybreak came around soon enough and press gathered outside the barn like a flock of birds fighting for the last slice of bread. Jacey’s heart thudded lightly against her chest rapidly as she tacked up her beautiful black mare, Bella. Her stare was intense – full of willpower and strength, and the desire to run… she had been insanely impressive during her five year old campaign, taking six impressive victories, and only placing out of the top two once, in the Unicorn Horn Sprint where she took a third place.
It wasn’t the mares fault – she had an off day but trotted up lame the next day. After three weeks off, she came back fighting to win the Athens Sprint, since then she’s been clocking up the wins, but lately she’s been on a ‘place’ streak – taking second in the Summer Cup Sprint, Spring Cup Sprint, The Pegasus Wings Memorial – but if she was going to get anywhere, she was going to have to fight and try her hardest to win. She was up against some good horses, one of which was a black filly that we used to own by the name of Midnight Sun. Night was Bella’s best friend when she was here, they were inseparable – but since being sold, Bella has found a soul mate in two-year-old colt, Tears No More.
Both of them were renown for being snotty, obnoxious and slightly stuck up, their personalities were perfect for each other, and in the next four or five years, Jacey was hoping to breed them. Imagine that, Beltane and Tears No More – Cryin’ Out Loud and Foxtrot from one end, Warlock and Little Miss Innocent from the other. Insane sprinters, insane power, insane skills – if Trouble carried on the way he was going, it seemed that he would end up being a serious contender for the Triple Sprinter Series – the foal would be related to Tears Of Blood, Tears Of An Angel, Axis Mundae, and many more big name sprinters out on the tracks at the moment.
Tears No More was entered in a seven furlong turf contest alongside turf two-year-old sensation of the stables, Majestic Hero. These two had never been against each other before, and they seemed practically inseparable. Jester wasn’t having a workout as he had raced in previous weeks – whereas Trouble was having one to kickstart him. It wasn’t definite who would win – they were both FTH winners, and both looked likely to take end of year awards if they carried on the way they were going. For Beltane’s race, she would be starting in Gate Two. She was entered in the Flying Colours Memorial Stakes against Lynara’s Kingdom and a couple of others.
Lynara’s Kingdom would start in Gate One. She had beaten Bella on a couple of occasions this year, and Bella was holding grudge on her big time. She hated the filly. With a passion. She was younger and less experienced but it wasn’t stopping her from beating Bella. She had six wins to her name this season too – and she was making a real spectacle. Lynara and Sugar Jayde were Bella’s two main mare rivals right now. They were going hammer and tongues in each race, and all the races had different outcomes. It was insanity. She hadn’t finished out of the top two this year and her consistency had been perfect for the past two years. She looked as if she was going to carry on racing next year but it seemed unlikely that Bella would. She looked to be the current favourite going into the race, and she seemed strong, but would Bella let her get away with it this time round? Lynara was a variable runner, so she could run anywhere in the field.
Starting in Gate Three was the big chestnut colt himself, Gamble on Peace. Since Bowen Acres had owned the colt, he had made a spectacle and he really shone – even beating Bella once this year, even though she was lame on that day which wasn’t spotted early enough to scratch her. He hadn’t yet taken a win this year, but he had two strong places and two shows to his name, three of the four were major races. Out of his four starts this season, he is still perfectly consistent which makes him stand out. He was racing well this year and seemed strong. Gambler was a closer, he would be at the back of the pack whilst Bella will be taking the lead.
The next racer was also a Bowen Acres racer. Midnight Sun had taken two wins and place this year – she was a grade four runner so the lowest grade out of all of these, but she was a strong and mad wild front runner. Bella and Night were good pals but when it came to racing each other, which had never occurred before, Bella seemed likely to linger behind her and press the pace insanely. She wasn’t a born and bred front runner, but she was a strong mare – Night was also a strong filly. She had won the Summer Cup Grade Five Sprint – and she was ready to rumble.
So the stage was set. Midnight Sun would take the lead with Beltane hot on her heels. Gamble on Peace would be right at the back, with Lynara’s Kingdom somewhere in between, or so it seemed. Bella and Trouble were walked out onto the dirt, ears flickering from side to side, back and forth – colt and filly nuzzled each other, and both jockeys smiled. The press ran to the side of the track, shouting questions.
”How do you feel about not working Majestic Hero?”
”Do you think it will make Tears No More the stronger competitor?”
”What are your plans for Beltane? Is she retiring next year or this year?”
Jacey bit her lip and Ivana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. They continued to shout questions and the flash on one of the cameras spooked Trouble. He shot forward and began to gallop off, ears flat back and bucking. ”Spin him Iva!” Jacey shouted. Ivana spinned him round in a circle to slow him down and walked him back. He stopped dead when he saw the cameras and refused to walk forward. ”Oi, idiots. Next time you decide to come and annoy us, maybe think about the consequences it can have! Grow up, fools!” Jacey looked shocked at Ivana. ”Calm down hun.” She looked back towards the cameras. ”Please leave. I don’t want you here. Go harass another barn, because you annoy us enough and we don’t want our plans and ideas being leaked out to others. Thank you very much.”
They finally left after Jacey’s pep talk. Trouble was a bit shaky but he returned to normal as Jacey trotted Bella round the track. He turned sharply and reared slightly before fly bucking and cantering to beside Bella. He shook his head playfully. ”He’s a rascal, isn’t he? He should’ve been called Rascal rather than Trouble, haha.” Jacey laughed as they trotted along the surface. He flicked his ears again and whinnied. Both strided energetically along the dirt surface and they broke into a nice canter. Jacey signalled five furlongs and as they got there, they let both front runners loose. They were side by side, each long stride hitting the dirt and sending them on their way.
They rounded the bend as Trouble lost his footing slightly and slipped but got it back. He was on the outside of Bella – Jacey pushed Bella on as they came into the stretch, and Ivana pushed Trouble – he was flat out, stretching as much as he could, perfectly in sync with the older five year old mare – as they came down to the wire, experience played its part and Bella got her nose in front. She looked out the corner of her eye as to say ”Haha, I beat you,” Jacey patted Bella’s neck and Ivana stroked Troubles mane. That was a brilliant workout for both, and they would both try their hardest to succeed in there races.