Wannabe A Princess

Another week, another batch of races. Another chance for the two year olds to break their maidens and for the older horses to improve their records. For silver stride stables, that meant five horses would be running in total, two of which were turf horses running over similar distances. Wannado Voodoo was one of the two year olds hoped to break their maidens over the next twelve months. Jockeyed by Alexia, the grey filly was soft and gentle which often played against her in races however endeared her to the staff. This week, she would be racing at the lower end of her preference ranges. Flawed Princess was a recent transfer and had placed in her first race for the stable. At four years old she did not have the most imppressive record and was only a grade five, but there was a lot of potential for improvement as had been seen with the likes of Moondance and her sister, Dashing In The Firelight, the previous year. Entering a peak racing season, the bay filly had every chance to become great and do her bloodline proud.

Meeting in the yard with their mounts Jacob and Alexia smiled at each other. Best friends and hugely competetive on the track you would believe they were the greatest of rivals and yet neither ever really got upset if the other outperformed them. It was on the cards, no one could win every race and it was nice to see the stable pulling in wins and places so early in the year. They had done well, that much was for sure. For a stable who had been open for less than a year their horses had been rcognised in the end of year awards and it had led to a huge party at the stable, celebrating how far they had come. But they had to keep it up over the next year, they had to show improvement if they wanted to be ranked among the best. Of course they had a long way to go, what with rivals like Star Thoroughbreds and Stride Of Perfection Stables - both of which had been around for years and had very established bloodlines - but through careful sales and breeding it could be done. They would not back down from, or be intimidated by, the bigger stables. Not a chance.

Amira was awkward as they walked down toward the track. She just didn't want to do what she was told and Jacob pretty much had to drag the reluctant mare - which isn't an easy thing when you are dealing with 16.2hh of racehorse. Something which Jacob could attest to. But it was just typical Amira, she never wanted to do what she was told. Jacob knew what he had signed up for when he took her on and she would brighten up when they finally got her down to the track. Sara, on the other hand, just followed Alexia as was expected of her and caused no issues which was, again, typical. Sara was not a disobedient filly, infact she was by far the easiest of the two year olds to handle.

When they finally reached the track and mounted Amira seemed to be picking up a little, infact she seemed eager to be on the track. Sara was also begining to get energetic and saw the bay as fair challenge - obviously the grey filly did not realise she was seriously under experienced when it came to Amira who had twenty-six races under her belt which, in all honesty, was not that many for a horse her age but compared to Sara, who had yet to be raced, it was a huge amount. Truly there was a class difference to overcome, but Alexia and Jacob wanted to show the filly some real competition in the hope of getting her fired up for the race ahead. After all, it was unlikely to be a highly experienced field she ended up against.

Gating occured quickly and soon the gates opened for the short run. Amiri sped forwards and settled into a relatively quick pace while Sara settled a small distance behind, saving her stamina for the part of the race while really mattered. As they moved down the straight Alexia regulated Sara's ace while Jacob allowed the more experienced Amiri to set her own. The distance between them grew before they reached the corner, when Alexia pushed Sara on slightly. As the gap began to close again the corner seemed to pass quickly and when they reached the straight Sara was starting at the rump of Amiri. Whips cracked. Amiri pushed, Sara moved faster and they battled down the straight. Although unable to take the post, Sara ran well and had impressed both jockeys. How would the workout work for the pair? They would see come race day.