Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Nov 23, 2014 19:52:24 GMT -5
There are a lot of VERY interesting things going on at Stride Of Perfection Stables in Year Fifteen. Least among them are the horses on the racing side of things. We also have a lot of different things going on in the breeding shed, including what promises to be a foal crop sale record-breaking in its quality. And not to mention the latest rendition of the famous SOPS Best Bred Tournament. Oh yes, there are lots of things going on next season.
To start off, several very famous names are making their returns to racing...but not in the way that you may expect. Just last week, Amber Black revealed that her Impressario duo - Ventura and Italian Ice - will still be in training next season. But when questioned about how to manage both them and the racing schedules of her upcoming horses, Amber revealed the very unique racing arrangements she is making for these two very special horses. "These schedules are ones I have no tried before," she was quoted as saying, "but I think that it will suit these two mares nicely."
Ventura is already a big name on the track. She is the winner of twenty-seven races to date. Originally campaigned as a distance mare, Ventura has transformed into mare more oriented to distances from six to eight furlongs. "We first felt she was more suited for this after the Starshine Sprint last season," Amber commented. "She just seemed to excel at the sprinting distance. When she won the Wire Red Mile, we felt that she was best served in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. And when she won that in impressive fashion, well, the deal was sealed." Despite these impressive accomplishments, Ventura has been having a quiet season. She's been overshadowed in the dirt sprints by stablemate Forbidden To Fly and his arch-nemesis Mastermind. "That's kind of why I want to race her next season. She's never really had a shot at the distances she prefers," Amber said.
However, we were informed that there is a catch. Ventura will only race once every month, for a total of only twelve races by the end of the season. "This mare has nothing to prove, and at the same time we want to leave some options open for rising dirt sprinters in the barn," Amber said. She expanded on just what races we will see this lightning fast mare in - "The Unicorn Horn Dirt Sprint, the Test Stakes, the King's Bishop and the Breeders Cup Sprint, just to name a few." But for now, Ventura will continue to race seemingly in Forbidden To Fly's shadow. She is expected to defend her title in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to conclude the season before moving on to this very unique racing schedule. We are eager to see if Ventura can hit the magical number of win thirty before the conclusion of Year Fifteen and wish her and Amber the best of luck.
On the subject of Italian Ice, the first Canadian Triple Crown winner in history, we managed to snag jockey Valencia Andrews for a talk. Italian Ice, the winner of seven Horse of the Year selection races this season including the Wire Finish Cup Dirt and Autumn Dawn Treader Cup, is well known as the classic dirt queen at the Wire racetrack. "There's really no other track Icee loves more," Valencia commented with her trademark smirk. "And I'm not willing to run her anywhere but where she wants to be." Italian Ice is embarking on what could be the most risky season yet. "This season is all my idea - Amber just gave me the go-ahead," commented Valencia. "I didn't want to take my mare off the track just yet, not when she's so full of run. But we didn't want her clashing with Battle Wings or even Impressionable...so, here is what I came up with."
Italian Ice will only be racing in key dirt races at the Wire next season. She will run in al four Dawn Treader Cups, attempt to go for a repeat in the Wire Finish Cup Dirt and then also hit the Risorgimento Derby series. "And after the Winter Dawn Treader Cup, she's done," confirmed Valencia. Though it is risky to race the mare so few times next season, Valencia was confident in the mare's ability. "My mare is a veteran. She doesn't need to race so often in order to maintain her form. She will do just fine with this schedule. The only question is, will others be able to keep up with my mare over her favorite track next season?" And after throwing down the gauntlet, Valencia declined to further comment. We are certainly eager to see what will come of this.
Wish Upon A Star will also be returning, becoming SOPS's main turf marathoner. Krystal did not comment beyond shrugging and telling the racing world to watch out. Everyday Hero mares get better and better as they age - Vindictive Fury is a prime example of this. "So watch out," Krystal said, smiling. "Because my mare will be on the warpath."
Amber was surprisingly open about her plans for her upcoming three year old division. "Empress is going to the Triple Crown, no questions asked. And she might be joined by one other horse - negotiations are still under way," Amber commented with a twinkle in her eye. "Silent Snap is going to the Triple Sprinter Crown, Palisades Pirate to the Red Mile series and Athena's Desires will take on the boys in the Turf Triple Sprinter Crown." Amber also surprised the world by announcing that Trinity will be hitting the turf next season. "Trinity has always shown a capacity to run on both surfaces. It's very advantageous to run her over the turf next season. She'll hit both the Turf Triple Tiara and the Green Mile series. Watch out - the juvenile division's most surprising long shot is not done yet."
The only two horses Amber is unsure of are Pandora and Devil's Flair. "They will both go to the Kentucky Open, but beyond that...we are not sure. Whoever does better will stay in the Turf Triple Crown, while the other will go to the Canadian Triple Crown." The difficulty lies in that both Pandora and Devil's Flair are very talented, and both are related to the only two Canadian Triple Crown winners in history. "So you see, I can't decide this based on pedigree. Both Kylie and Valencia feel their mounts will do best wherever I send them, though. So performances next season will have to be the deciding factor."
On the juvenile side, SOPS is welcoming one of its largest incoming crops in history to their ranks. "Nine new juveniles, to be precise," Amber informed this reporter wryly. "While I won't tell you much, I will say that this crop is one of the fastest and fiercest I have trained in a while." When asked about how their training was going, Amber confirmed that eight out of the nine juveniles will be hitting the track on time next season. "However, one of our yearlings will just not be ready in time. Physically, she's perfectly fine. But mentally, it would be better to train her up for starting later in the season or as a more mature three year old. It might set her back slightly compared to her stablemates, but I've seen the talent of this filly, and let me tell you not to underestimate her." Amber revealed that the horse in question is Animatia, daughter of TDI Live This Lie and Flash At Dawn. While the sire is unproven, Flash At Dawn is the dam of grade one winners Fiery Touch and Sizzling Dawn as well as sprinter-miler Flashpoint. Her dam's foals do tend to get better with age, so perhaps Amber is right in keeping Animatia off the track for a bit while she matures.
In the breeding shed, Amber confirmed that six foals will be offered in her foal crop sale. "The pairings are quality paired with quality. There is no doubt about the potential of these foals. You're going to want to come look at them for sure." Dirt and turf, sprinting and distance, lines of all sorts will be reflected in this sale. "There will be something for everyone, I promise you. And all I'm looking for are the best homes for these horses, nothing less. I don't want riches. I want quality management."
Amber is breeding some real quality horses next season as well. "We are using a reserve we have to Mystical Melody, winner of the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, with our own Forbidden To Fly. Eternal Phantom will be seeing grade one Breeders Cup Classic winner Sunset Crusade. But perhaps most excitingly, Intrepid's own legendary broodmare Rosalind will be seeing our own Merry Bay King. And let me tell you, that's a pairing that has been in the books for ages. I'm so happy to finally see it happening!" Amber's excitement was palpable as she talked about next season's crop. She remarked that it would probably be one of her finest crops ever. From the looks of it, she could very well be correct.
It's clear that there's a lot going on at SOPS next season, and this isn't even the start of the excitement. I for one am even more excited about Year Fifteen after learning about what SOPS is up to. I can only imagine that the excitement will continue to rise as the end of Year Fourteen draws closer!
