Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2013 0:38:40 GMT -5
SILVER SERENDIPITY & TEARS NO MORE
Jockeyed by Eve Stringer & Ivana Babicová
The two year olds were really beginning to make a spectacle out on the tracks - with Majestic Hero being the first two year old to reach five wins, closely followed by the son of News Flash, Mighty News, half to Sophie's Voice. Eve and Ivana had saddled up their mounts and they were ready to take to the track - they were up against some quite tough competition in the coming weeks, but that wasn't going to stop them from aiming high. Tears No More seemed to be in a bit of 'trouble.' That was a pun - he was up against the three year old colt, Attractive Flight in his grade four sprint start in the Seaspray Cup.
He was older, more experienced and looked likely to take the win - but if this time two years ago, Instant Success could beat out a whole bunch of three year olds alongside Paradise Island, surely Trouble could give it his best shot? Attractive Flight, known as Matty round the barn was a bay colt by the hall of fame sprinter, Flying Colours. He had two wins under his belt this year - but was yet to place out of the top three - keeping his consistency perfect.
He was a dirt sprinter and a closer - which put Ivana in the perfect position. Trouble would go for the lead, but would keep the pace steady. Even though as a two year old you'd expect him to charge off in a large field, Trouble, as naughty as he is wouldn't do such a thing. He doesn't like taking hold of the bit and running especially with such a sensitive mouth. He was hoping that in the final two furlongs, he would give enough to sprint on, rather than letting Matty nab him on the wire. Trouble was looking good and strong with five wins under his belt.
Silver Serendipity was entered in the grade five sprint contest at the event - against her nemesis, Crowned Queen. She had beaten Demi a couple of times, but Demi had grown stronger - she was ready to take on her rival now, and this time, nothing would stop her. Demi would be ran as a front runner on the day as Crowned Queen was a preceder.
Jockeys rode both horses onto the track. Under little discussion, they decided that five furlongs would be a perfect distance to go over the dirt surface. They set off on the decent, Trouble took the lead and rocked into a canter under Ivana Babicová, then Demi broke into canter just behind with Eve on board. It was a perfect start and as they rounded the bend and towards the start post of the workout. As the post approached, both horses shot forward and into a rapid gallop Both jockeys crouched down and let the mounts go. Trouble took the lead but kept it at a steady pace, with Demi right in behind him. They rounded the home turn and still Trouble had that lead by just under a length, Demi was hot on his heels.
Coming into the stretch, the jockeys let there horses go and began to push them on a bit more, asking them bit by bit with each and every stride. Demi crept up alongside Trouble and they were neck and neck as they came into the final furlong. Ivana bit her lip until it bled and urged her colt on more and more. The filly wouldn't back down - she was getting stronger and stronger with each and every race and workout she did - as they crossed the line, there was nothing to separate them. They had worked incredibly well and they were both ready for the race.TEARS OF BLOOD & BELTANE
Jockeyed by Beth Harvey & Jacey Leigh Lanning
It was the turn of the older sprinters to make there decent now - Boys Festival winner, Tears Of Blood and his favourite workout partner and sprinter grade one, Beltane. It was an incredibly big race for both of them today, and both of them were going to have to work there backsides off if they had any chance of winning their races today. Beltane, the incredible black filly who had worked so hard this year to get where she is now - her deep intense stare - the one that would just lock your eyes as she saw her walking round the parade ring. She was magnificent, and visibly huge... you need to be careful with her though. A slight turn of events and she could go. Bella does not like people who try to push her around, in fact she despises them. As such it is wise to let her think that she is the one making the decisions. She is a very dominant and demanding creature, and intends to stay on top in every aspect of her life. Whether it is racing or in the yard you can guarantee that she thinks she is the boss.
She was against Forbidden To Fly in her next start in the Seaspray Cup Grade One Sprint - the colt seemed likely to win the event, but Jacey wasn't finished yet. The filly was older and more experienced than the colt, even though he had more wins under his belt. Jacey didn't want to seem negative but the colt had won The Wire's Finish Cup Dirt race in March - he looked seriously insane and with twenty wins in fourty three starts, he had won almost half his races. He had only placed out of the top three, three times. In his two year old season where he beat out Instant Success to win the Juvenile. It had absolutely gutted Jacey but she picked herself back up and got him going again to win the Breeders Cup Marathon a year later.
Forbidden To Fly was a mid-pack runner. Perfect... As soon as the gates open, Bella is out of them, just about as fast as any horse could break, and she takes the lead for herself. Up here, she is not surrounded by other horses and feels that she is in control of the race. For a front runner, however, she has quite a lot of self control. She doesn't go tearing off at stupid speeds from the get go but sets a comfortable pace that will allow her to have something to give at the end of the race, which she knows is where the real competition begins. Completely focused, she very rarely makes a mistake and if she does she does not make the same mistake again. Due to not tearing off, you can guarantee this feisty little front runner is not going to burn out in the stretch.
Tears Of Blood was against his rival, Mastermind. He had beaten him out last time, then went on to win the Boys Festival whilst Mastermind took the Boys Party - the same race on the opposite surface. Sanguis is a colt with whom you must walk on egg shells. While he is perfectly capable of being gentle, he is just as capable of being a violent little thing and he is not afraid to get aggressive. His moods are unpredictable and so he should be evaluated before being approached. He is easily read through his body language.
Sometimes on the track, Sanguis can become quite headstrong and will try to move up the field too early, which can be troublesome given the fact that he is not too easy to handle. However, it is possible for an experienced jockey to hold him back until they decide that it is time to make a move. In the stretch, Sanguis is a true power-house. Being quite a large and muscular colt he has a long stride and a great deal of speed at his disposal. He will close heavily, usually going wide of the pack and a good jockey will use the competition he passes to fuel his competitive nature.
Both horses walked out onto the track, ears flicking back and forth. The jockeys discussed about the workout and decided six furlongs over the dirt track would be best. Both horses were sent on their way. Bella went for the lead early on and broke into a canter with Beth on Sanguis in behind. San gave Bella two lengths or so before going into a canter. Along the far side, they approached the six furlong pole and they let the horses run, just gently over the dirt surface. They began to round the turn and Bella's long stride kept her in the lead. Sanguis' smaller stride kept in a few lengths back
As they came into the home stretch, both jockeys let there mounts run. San began to close on Bella with his power horse speed and he charged effortlessly to alongside Bella - in the final furlong both jockeys went hammer and tongues. They were all out and they pushed them on more and more and more until they dived under the wire with nothing at all to separate them. Both horses had done very well and they were both ready for their races - even though it seemed unlikely...PARADISE ISLAND & IMMORTAL FLIGHT
Jockeyed by Jacey Leigh Lanning & Ivana Babicová
The sun began to rise over the barn on that particular morning. The mist had cleared and the light beamed down onto the track. It was the perfect day. Stood in the yard, Jacey Leigh-Lanning held the two bay mounts. The first was the Triple Tiara winning filly, Paradise Island - the other, a Grade Three colt who managed to beat out Born To Impress a few months back - Jacey thought to herself, 'thank god that wasn't said out loud. I don't want to brag.' She giggled. One of the stable hands proceeded to mucking out the stables. The shuffling noise and the scraping of the fork stopped suddenly. She poked her head round from the stable door. "Where's Ivana? She's never late." Jacey smirked, "Don't worry Amy. She'll be here soon." Suddenly a loud bang startled the horses. "Oh you idiot!" was soon proceeded with the huff and puff of Ivana. She put her bag down and wisked her hat and crop out of it. She walked into the yard. Jacey was trying so hard to hold the laughter in but she couldn't.
Jacey thought over the entrants to Sonja's race in her head. It was a big race. Gate One would've held Ashes To Ashes, but Witch Creek scratched him late on. It was a sad scratch but Witch Creek thought it was a wise decision to make. In Gate Two was the filly, Afterglow. She was a five year old with 16 wins to her name in 47 starts. She had been a serious contender two years ago for the Triple Tiara, before Silverianna came back to beat her in the other two legs after she took the first. She had raced six times this year, taking three wins, two places and a show. It was a big jump for her today in this ten furlong contest but there was nothing stopping her from trying. She could run as a front runner or a preceder.
In Gate Three there was Fire Dancer, Instant Success' old big rival as a two and three year old. She was the most experienced of the field with 60 starts to her name and 20 wins. She has had a good year so far taking six wins, all of which were at The Wire. Her only start at Green Horse Fields had left her trailing behind in fourth place. She was a very good mare who liked to race in the middle of the pack - a good position for her. We would start in Gate Four. In Gate Five was the warrior himself, Euphoria's Warrior. The colt was big. The colt was bad. And the colt was ready to dominate. This year in nine starts, he had taken five wins and four places - Sonja was SICK of him beating her, and this time she was ready to bite back. She was annoyed after the Summer Cup gave her a third place - and so was Jacey. Euphoria's Warrior was a closer, he would linger behind and close nicely in the centre of the track.
In Gate Six was the least experienced filly of them all - War Cry. She was a fantastic filly, and this was definitely the biggest challenge against older competitors that she would ever have to face. She had taken two legs of the Triple Tiara, and won many Triple Crown preparation races before placing third in the Kentucky Derby. After that, the decision was made to stop her from racing in The Crown, and to race her in the Triple Tiara. She had dominated and beaten Ventura in both races, proving she was the better filly. She was a front runner - so she would lead.
So the stage was set for the Grade One contest. War Cry would lead - we were going to let Afterglow go behind her, then we'd settle nicely about half a length or a length behind Stormi - Fire Dancer would be behind us, then at the back, the favoured colt, Euphoria's Warrior would be lingering and ready to make his move. Then there was Immortal Flights race. The three year old colt was up against alot and it seemed that experience may take it's toll considering he only started racing late in his two year old season. The Canadian Triple Crown was an option for him but that doesn't seem likely anymore.
Midnight Thriller was starting in Gate One of the Grade Three contest. She hadn't raced for a long time and she was stepping back out onto the dirt now for this contest. She placed third in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic at the start of the year but she hadn't been seen on the track since. She looked good though, with her new home at Witch Creek Racing. She was a stalker, which meant she would be behind the leaders. In Gate Three there was Mercurial Magic, the entrant from Stride of Perfection Stables. The colt was having a good year - with three wins, six places and two shows. He was looking very strong and a good contender today. He raced as a front runner or a stalker, so it looked likely that he would lead the race today.
In Gate Four there was us, then in Gate Five, there was Lusitania's Soldier. The colt had an amazing year this year - taking six wins. He was one win away from breaking the Grade Two barrier. The colt raced as a closer, so then the stage was set - Mercurial Magic would lead. Midnight thriller would linger behind him. Ivana would race behind him in third, then Lusitania's Soldier would linger at the back. Both jockeys mounted the horses and walked them out onto the track. They were going to breeze six furlongs just as a preparation, nothing really set in place. They didn't want to work them too hard, she wanted to make sure that they stayed calm and preserved the energy for there big races.
After warming their mounts up, they broke into a trot side by side. Nico played with his bit and Sonja stayed at a steady trot - behaving as she always does. She pricked her ears and looked at the colt, who looked out the corner of his eye to look back. These two were a perfect pair after befriending eachother in the paddock. On the far side, they broke into a canter at exactly the same time and stayed side by side. Nico's stride slightly longer than the smaller but more experienced filly. There was only a couple of inches difference in it but nothing really to it. Every horse was different.
They cantered together and as they got to the six furlong pole, they quickened the pace a tiny bit. Both horses stayed side by side, but now they were matching strides. The jockeys looked ahead and stayed focused as they rounded the far turn. Sonja who was on the outside quickened up to stay level with Nico as he was on the inside rail. They came into the stretch and both jockeys let the horses go a bit more. They were together and they pushed them on bit by bit. They stayed together and didn't move apart as they crossed the wire. The jockeys patted there mounts and cooled them off. They were ready for the challenges ahead.