Post by Snowflake on Oct 4, 2013 20:05:23 GMT -5
WAR CRY WORKS FOR THE DUBAI FILLY CUP
Since her wins in the last two legs of the Triple Tiara, the plan had been to give War Cry a break and to concentrate on bringing Born To Impress on following his win in the Kentucky Derby. Xena had then been raced less, and somehow hadn't won any of the five starts since the Coaching Club American Oaks. Xena was long due for a comeback win, to reclaim her rightful throne. The Dubai Filly Cup would be the perfect race to do this, and it ran in just a matter of days.
The colt Red Herring was partly to blame for Xena's less than satisfactory results in recent months. The red thoroughbred had thwarted her attempts in the Kentucky Derby, the Climax Cup, and the Bank On Silver Stakes. Born To Impress had taken the Derby, the Handsome Mile and the Winter Cup. The Seaspray Cup had just been an unfortunate loss against older horses. But Red Herring was like Xena's kryptonite. He pushed and pushed and pushed, and she just went faster and faster and faster. They had destroyed each other in the Kentucky Derby and the Climax Cup, dead heating for third place in both races. Marissa grinned to herself as she thought about a cross between the two. The foal would be truly unstoppable. \
Red Herring would of course not be running in the Dubai Filly Cup. War Cry would be up against a collection of other fine fillies, who included Nightshade, Eternal Phantom, Sizzling Dawn and Fiery Touch. All were strong racehorses, and any one of them could win it. Marissa was determined for this to be War Cry's comeback win though. The chestnut filly moved with strength evident in each stride. The whites of her eyes showed, giving her the crazy look she was somewhat known for. Marissa's heels tapped her sides and the thoroughbred pounced into canter, her powerful hind quarters launching her body into the rocking horse pace.
Marissa's thoughts turned to the field makeup of the race. War Cry wasn't the sole front runner, which could cause problems. Both fillies from Stride Of Perfection Stables liked to lead, although Eternal Phantom also liked to close. It looked like Sizzling Dawn would be right with them the whole way. The versatile Fiery Touch would be somewhere in between, with Nightshade and Eternal Phantom probably bringing up the rear. Marissa knew she would have to time Xena's break from the pack perfectly in order to win - possibly even wait until the last moment when everyone else was breaking even. Yes, that would really ignite War Cry's internal flame. That fire in her belly would burn even hotter if the other fillies were nose to nose with her.
Marissa leaned forward, grasping a chunk of mane before letting an inch of rein slip. Go! She whispered, and the thoroughbred responded. The stretch was straight before them and all eyes seemed to be on them, too. It had been a while since War Cry had last impressed the crowd, and this was just her warm up. The filly dug in, throwing her front legs before her while thrusting strongly with her hind legs. Her body stretched to cover more ground as she accelerated, her ears pinned against her skull. Marissa drove her on, but only slightly. Xena didn't try so hard when she wasn't racing anyone, but she still liked to show off when she ran.
Hooves pounded the dirt, flicking chunks up behind her. Her mane and tail flowed freely, looking like flames in the early morning sunlight. Her breath came out in huffs, leaving little clouds behind them in the frosty weather. They crossed the finish, and slowed up gradually. Marissa heard a few claps and grinned to herself. That wasn't even War Cry at her best. She'd put in twice the effort on race day, and show the other fillies just who was queen.
Since her wins in the last two legs of the Triple Tiara, the plan had been to give War Cry a break and to concentrate on bringing Born To Impress on following his win in the Kentucky Derby. Xena had then been raced less, and somehow hadn't won any of the five starts since the Coaching Club American Oaks. Xena was long due for a comeback win, to reclaim her rightful throne. The Dubai Filly Cup would be the perfect race to do this, and it ran in just a matter of days.
The colt Red Herring was partly to blame for Xena's less than satisfactory results in recent months. The red thoroughbred had thwarted her attempts in the Kentucky Derby, the Climax Cup, and the Bank On Silver Stakes. Born To Impress had taken the Derby, the Handsome Mile and the Winter Cup. The Seaspray Cup had just been an unfortunate loss against older horses. But Red Herring was like Xena's kryptonite. He pushed and pushed and pushed, and she just went faster and faster and faster. They had destroyed each other in the Kentucky Derby and the Climax Cup, dead heating for third place in both races. Marissa grinned to herself as she thought about a cross between the two. The foal would be truly unstoppable. \
Red Herring would of course not be running in the Dubai Filly Cup. War Cry would be up against a collection of other fine fillies, who included Nightshade, Eternal Phantom, Sizzling Dawn and Fiery Touch. All were strong racehorses, and any one of them could win it. Marissa was determined for this to be War Cry's comeback win though. The chestnut filly moved with strength evident in each stride. The whites of her eyes showed, giving her the crazy look she was somewhat known for. Marissa's heels tapped her sides and the thoroughbred pounced into canter, her powerful hind quarters launching her body into the rocking horse pace.
Marissa's thoughts turned to the field makeup of the race. War Cry wasn't the sole front runner, which could cause problems. Both fillies from Stride Of Perfection Stables liked to lead, although Eternal Phantom also liked to close. It looked like Sizzling Dawn would be right with them the whole way. The versatile Fiery Touch would be somewhere in between, with Nightshade and Eternal Phantom probably bringing up the rear. Marissa knew she would have to time Xena's break from the pack perfectly in order to win - possibly even wait until the last moment when everyone else was breaking even. Yes, that would really ignite War Cry's internal flame. That fire in her belly would burn even hotter if the other fillies were nose to nose with her.
Marissa leaned forward, grasping a chunk of mane before letting an inch of rein slip. Go! She whispered, and the thoroughbred responded. The stretch was straight before them and all eyes seemed to be on them, too. It had been a while since War Cry had last impressed the crowd, and this was just her warm up. The filly dug in, throwing her front legs before her while thrusting strongly with her hind legs. Her body stretched to cover more ground as she accelerated, her ears pinned against her skull. Marissa drove her on, but only slightly. Xena didn't try so hard when she wasn't racing anyone, but she still liked to show off when she ran.
Hooves pounded the dirt, flicking chunks up behind her. Her mane and tail flowed freely, looking like flames in the early morning sunlight. Her breath came out in huffs, leaving little clouds behind them in the frosty weather. They crossed the finish, and slowed up gradually. Marissa heard a few claps and grinned to herself. That wasn't even War Cry at her best. She'd put in twice the effort on race day, and show the other fillies just who was queen.
