stalker's rising fury

STALKER'S FURY AND MARISSA STAR

Marissa was content as she mounted up on Stalker's Fury. The Night Stalker sired, Rising Fury foaled filly was four years old and on the improve. Rising Fury's offspring tended to mature later in their careers, and often their last season was their best. Vindictive Fury and Silent Fury were perfect examples of this - Vindictive Fury had won ten of fourteen starts in her last season as a five year old, bringing her career record to 71-23-18-19. Silent Fury was running his (probably) last season as a five year old now, and had so far won eleven of fifteen starts, bringing his career record to 58-23-21-20. Furious Passion had peaked suddenly at three years old, but they hadn't realized it at the time. The colt had the least impressive record, numbers wise, but considering the races he had won he was really the most accomplished of Rising Fury's offspring thus far. He was a Triple Crown Champion, after all. Ventura on the other hand seemed to have taken after her sire with a sustained peak.

Going back to Stalker's Fury, the unruly thoroughbred had a record of 38-10-11-10 and was gradually improving her workout times, although her racing performance was not showing it yet. Marissa had no doubts about her though - Stalker's Fury would rise to the challenge well and truly next year, and blow the socks off of every one that thought otherwise. She had been bred for it, and so it was her destiny. The filly bounced beneath Marissa, expressing her high spirits. They set off at a brisk trot, heading between the paddocks and past the track. Once realising they were not going to do the normal workout, Stalker became exciteable and began to tug on the bit, raring to gallop the entire way to the beach.

Marissa smiled but firmly held the filly to fast trotting, barely keeping time with her posting. Just before they reached the trees, Marissa sat in the saddle and allowed Stalker to go on into canter. The filly gave a joyful kick up of her heels, which Marissa sat to expertly, then launched herself straight into the three beat pace. Marissa enjoyed the comfortable saddle, but she stood in the stirrups anyway, absorbing Stalker's movement with her knees. It took about ten minutes to canter quickly to the beach, and Stalker switched to gallop immediately of her own accord as soon as her four feet were on the beach. Marissa allowed it, and together they raced down to the water's edge where the sand was firm under foot. Marissa guided Stalker to run her headlong up the beach, which was about two and a half kilometres long. They would go about halfway.

It was early in the week, and Stalker was due to run in the Provetto Derby this weekend. It was a tough field, and Marissa hoped but did not expect Stalker to win. Top three would be nice, however. The filly dashed joyfully, flicking sand and water up behind her. They reached the point where they would turn and go back, and Marissa turned the filly into the waves. Stalker slowed to canter and crashed into the ocean, holding her tail high and her head higher. She went in until the water came to her belly and then turned and launched herself back out. Marissa laughed, despite being all wet. It was always so much fun to bring a horse down to the beach for a workout rather than the usual track or pool work. Stalker definitely loved a flat out race along the beach, and she seemed to be feeling incredible as she galloped back down the beach in the shallow water.

Finishing the gallop, Marissa slowed Stalker back to canter again and turned the filly back to the trail they'd arrived from. Stalker's breathing was practically back to normal, like she had not even tried as she'd pounded up and down the beach two minutes ago. The filly was obviously very fit, and she would demonstrate that again on race day. All three of the other entrants would be tough to beat, but Marissa didn't worry. Stalker would dominate over them next year, no doubt about it. The Provetto Derby was just another stepping stone on the path to her greatness, and she was completely ready for the challenge.