silent dream

SILENT FURY WORKS FOR THE DREAM CUP

With a win in the Twilight Stakes inked into his record, Silent Fury had well and truly established himself as a top turf horse. He had been named in The Gallop last week as a top pick for the Turf Horse Of The Year award, beating Bella Luna, Sugar Jayde and Flawed Princess. His main competitors, Infinite War Cry and Frozen Motion, were considered the second and third picks for the Best Turf Horse award, which Silence had also been named the top pick for. Marissa smiled as she rode the five year old stallion onto the turf track. Rising Fury's offspring seemed to race better with more maturity, which meant Silence could be even better in the near future than he was now.

The Dream Cup was the next race on the stallion's schedule, and it was a race that had eluded him last year. To win it would actually be a dream come true, seeing as Marissa had not managed to win the race since Y7. Silence was actually the only offspring from Rising Fury who had taken her turf side. All the others were sired by dirt stallions and therefore took after her dirt side. Marissa's heels gently tapped the stallion's sides and he didn't need to be told twice. He immediately began to trot, grudgingly turning through the exercises she wanted him to do.

Their competition for the race was a field of three other horses. They included Infinite Warcry of Stride Of Perfection Stables, Wild Kiss of Cold Creek Inc, and Flawed Princess of Witch Creek Stables. Marissa honestly considered Flawed Princess to be their main competition. The six year old mare had been almost impossible to ride and handle when she had been owned by Star Thoroughbreds, and after being unsuccessful with the filly in her three year old season, Marissa had made the difficult decision to sell her on. The mare was now grade one with a record of 54-18-14-8, and had dead heated with Silence for their win in the Seashell Cup.

Infinite Warcry was their next biggest contender. The colt was consistent and had been right on Silence's heels throughout the year. At the end of July he'd finally beaten them, winning the Dare To Dream Memorial Stakes. With a record of 34-18-9-6, Infinite Warcry was definitely one to watch, despite his quiet season so far. Finally there was Wild Kiss. She was a five year old grade one mare with a record of 61-15-24-11. Her most recent start had resulted in second place, and, having not won in some time, she would be out to win. All in all, the field was a good one, and as for positions, Silent Fury would as usual lead the race wire to wire. Flawed Princess would run right behind him and the other two would hang back in closer position.

Marissa transferred the reins to one hand momentarily while she caught a hunk of shiny black mane in her free hand. She then handed the rein back to the hand with the horse hair in it, and sent the stallion flying into gallop. He accelerated fast, digging into the turf as he threw himself forward. They hugged the rail as they moved quickly around the turn into the homestretch. Marissa let go of the mane now that the initial acceleration was done, and began to drive the horse on. The bay stallion responded enthusiastically, truly beginning his freight train charge to the finish now. Marissa gave him all the rein he needed, and the stallion used the full length of it as he stretched his body to cover more ground. Within moments he reached his full speed, and then he held it all the way to the finish, and further still. Marissa stood in the stirrups and firmly slowed Silence back down through the paces. Silence was ready for the Dream Cup.