Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2013 6:23:59 GMT -5
PARADISE ISLAND AND JACEY LEIGH-LANNING
WORKOUT FOR THE UNICORN HORN TURF CLASSIC
Sonja had been raced only on the dirt with the occassional turf race, but she was capable of much more. Until now, they had been hiding her great secret. Jacey had chosen to race the filly over the turf this year. The beautiful bay filly, who had quite an impressive record already, could handle the turf just as well as she could handle the dirt, and she would do so this year. But she was ready to show the world exactly what she was made of, and that was some brilliant stuff. She was entered in the Unicorn Horn Turf Classic, over eleven furlongs on the turf.
So far, the field consisted of some very strong runners. Gate One would hold a Royal Legacy. A lot was expected from the colt, being a son of the champion Hall of Famer, Merry Bay King, but after five wins in twenty five starts, there was a lot of room for improvement, and this colt was well on his way to becoming a champion, back under his old owner Akita Rose Stables. The colt raced as a closer, so he would close with a lot of power. Italian Ice was next, the filly was a huge champion after she swept the Canadian Triple Crown, proving herself over both turf and dirt. The filly was a tremendous daughter of Impressario, and she was really beginning to prove herself. Icee raced as a front runner, the same as Sonja herself. She was a favourite in the race, nothing would stop her.
Sonja seemed to be in a bit of an odd mood. She wasn't exactly in a bad mood... More just troublesome. She was, after all, five years old and a thoroughbred at that. It was natural. So she wasn't behaving as well on the ground for the handlers, but she wasn't putting them through their paces either. For once, she was at a happy medium. Something Jacey had never really seen before - usually she was either perfectly behaved or an actual nightmare. She had to wander how she would run in this mood, and what mood she would be in in several days when race day came.
Infinite Warcry started in Gate Three. He didn't exactly have the best four year old season, unlike his twin sister, Dazzling Dame. He had taken the Eddie Read Stakes in December, then took an impressive chance in the Dubai World Championship on the sand. It was a difference for the horse but nothing would stop him from taking the win today, back on his favourite surface over the turf. He raced as a closer, so the field seemed a bit varied for the moment.
Next came the visibly huge bay colt who could be spotted from a mile away. This boys name was Hokum, owned by Witch Creek Stables. He also raced as a front runner/stalker, so Jacey was in a bit of a situation with where she would race. She couldn't race at the front with the amount of front runners, so Jacey decided she would race as a mid-pack. She'd done it before, she would do it again. Nothing was going to stop her. She was going to surprise the opposition. Break fast, and drop back. Hokum was a Grade One and he'd had an amazing three year old season to get there.
As Jacey pulled herself onto the filly's back she smiled slightly at how she shifted beneath him, how her audits flicked toward her when she heard her voice. She ran her hand down her muscular neck and stared up the turf. "It's going to be a good run for you, Son. Think you can handle them like you do with the crowd on the dirt? Yeah. I think you can. Come on, time to prove them all wrong." The handlers led the filly to the gates, her head held high and audits perked. As they tried to load her the first time she suddenly veered to the right and forced them to circle her. This time, she walked in as expected and the gates were closed behind her.
Gate Five held Blue Me Away. This colt really began to come into his own after winning the Fourstardave Stakes, after becoming a serious contender in the Turf Triple Crown, in which Bella Luna won all three races. Blue ALSO raced as a front runner/preceder, so she would definitely be racing as a mid-packer on race day, to give her an edge over the pace runners and the closers. Blue was an amazing colt who used to be stable mates with Sonja himself. It would be good to face him out as he beat her last time out, but that wasn't going to stop Sonja winning here today.
The gates opened and they were out onto the turf. Their pace was relatively fast, though not as fast as when Sonja was in a bad mood, and they swiftly moved over the the rail. Come race day they would tuck themselves in behind Blue Me Away, Italian Ice and Hokum as they were all fast paced runners. She'd be ahead of Infinite Warcry and A Royal Legacy, and they would be under the influence of the decisions that the front runners made. Their pace would be set by them, and so their race plan would also be modified by her. What Jacey knew, however, was that she would not be taking it easy. Her and Sonja had the talent to take the race, and they would take it. It really was that simple.
Each stride carried them forwards, powerful limbs carrying them across the turf. The turf was hard, dry. There was little dust compared to the dirt track, and the atmosphere was a lot different. Jacey loved both surfaces, and it was for that reason that her and Sonja were so well suited. They could love both tracks together, and with their strong bond things were sure to go well for them. Especially when their minds melded into one, when all that mattered was that race. Resisting the urge to smile Jacey kept her gaze on the track, counting down the furlongs. Soon, they would pick up the pace. Soon, it would feel like they were flying.
All in all it was a smooth ride. They moved forwards and things felt fine. The movement in the filly's muscle was fluid and well-formed. She had been trained for this, the track was her show ground. The track was where her talents really shone through. Three furlongs left and the crop flicked, cracking against the bay filly's rump with a little force. She reacted by picking up her speed, her head lowering as each stride became elongated. She was fighting for the post, each stride carrying her forwards until they had passed it. Slowly, Jacey began to slow her down. Race day was sure to be interesting.