HOME | DD

Description
Woot! My first racing season, and I'm excited Happy with how the pic came out too, I was clever at avoiding drawing the jockey. Raven shown here on one of her very early morning works before one of her big races... read if you want to find out which one it is. Story subject to change: I don't like it but am going to bed now so changes will have to wait till morning.

_____________________________

Since purchasing Raven in the maiden claiming race for a modest $25 000, her training had been rather… slow.

Raven had gotten herself settled in with her new buddy Muffin, which was always the plan. Despite towering over the little liver chestnut, Raven was put swiftly in her place and then everything was peachy. Her passive attitude was a little concerning to the staff of Willowglen’s racing stables; however they reasoned that they had no real indication of how she ran on the track.

Since she was already broken in, she was taken out for a work so that they could see what she could do. With several of the stable hands along the rail, Nina and Stacey looked on with anxious expressions as the filly raced around the track. The result as she came down the stretch was discouraging – there was no real fire to her running style at all. Although she produced a respectable time of 1:03.60 for 5 furlongs, there was no indication that the filly wanted to give any further speed. In fact, she hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Training times did not improve greatly in the coming weeks, although she did shave a second off, even two when she was feeling in the mood. It was frustrating, since the staff was convinced she could go so much faster, and yet she just didn’t feel like it. Her long loping steps ate up the track, but never did they quicken.

Despite this unpromising outlook, it was decided that Raven would be held back until later in the year and entered in one of the bigger races in attempt to get her to run with some real competition. We were discouraged however, since all evidence was to the contrary about her having a competitive streak at all.

It was decided that she would be entered in the Spinaway Stakes, thrown into the deep end as it were to see how she could cope. The morning of the grade I event was clear, but nerves were high for the team who were waiting anxiously down in the stables. The big filly did draw a few heads in the paddock, towering over all her competitors like an older horse. She broke well on the rail and settled down well behind the leaders at the back of the pack, looking like she was going for a stroll more than a race. Powering on through the turn she swung around the pack on the turn for home and the team from Willowglen thought she was finally showing some fire.

The leader throughout the race was tiring and Raven moved to pick the exhausted bay off. All at once the big brown filly seemed to slacken off, her strides still covering the same distance but without the intensity that had possessed her while overtaking the leader. There were cries from the crowd as another filly; a loudly coloured chestnut, moved up beside them, then rocketed off towards the post with just meters to go. Raven pinned her ears for the first time in the race and attempted to catch up, but came second by a length.

Unsure of how to read the filly’s performance, it was decided to enter her in the Alcibiades Stakes, since she had come second against GI company hadn’t she? The distance was longer, and we were sure this would suit the big filly better, let the other horses get more tired before she tried to outrun them. If she didn’t succeed here, she would be retired for the season and entered in less competitive company next year, if she didn’t improve considerably.

The Stakes were a qualifier for the Breeder’s Cup Fillies, and the competition was really beginning to heat up. Raven was entered as a long shot against more experienced rivals who had already won a number of races and were producing fast workout times. There was something about the filly after entering the paddock that day, especially after she eyeballed the chestnut who had outrun her in her last meet in September. The usually cool, calm and collected bay was really on her toes and a bit of a handful to say the least, arching her neck and parading around like a colt who had lost his way. From the grandstands, Willowglen’s owner smiled to herself; there was spirit if ever she saw it.

The pace was fast, and it seemed like the filly was in no real hurry, but she wasn’t trailing either. More like biding her time, or a hunter patiently stalking its prey. She began to move earlier today, as though she was almost eager to come sprinting down that stretch. Coming into the turn for home she was stalking the leaders, maneuvering her huge body to the outside. Once again, the lead horses were tiring after a fierce speed duel early on and Raven passed them with ease. But the battle was not over yet.

She had a two length lead on the rest of the field but down came a pair of closers; the flashy chestnut and a big black filly, bearing down like two freight trains. Raven’s jockey urged her gently, not going for the whip as he was instructed. The filly responded, picking up her stride rate. The black was falling back, but the chestnut was catching, slowly but surely. It was neck and neck, not quite stride for stride as Raven’s long powerful strides matched almost two of the smaller chestnut’s. But the other filly had such burning speed, and it came down to the wire. The team from Willowglen held their breath while the result was being determined, but they didn’t have to wait long. Ravenhawk had won by a whisker, managing to hold off the chestnut until the end.

This led to a problem – whether or not to enter the filly in the Breeders Cup. She had qualified, so hadn’t she earned the right to run? The main concern was her size – resting her until next season would help prevent soundness issues, as with such a large animal, the forces being exerted on her young bones would be extreme.

In the end, it was decided she would be shipped to Churchill Downs, and if she did a good workout for once, she would run in the Cup. In the week leading up to the big race, everyone was under strict instructions to keep her out of the press as much as possible, and workouts were to be as early as possible. The mornings were getting colder, and the last work before the day was a real cracker despite the thick fog. The boss was satisfied, and the filly would run with for the Juvenile.

The crowd was an unprecedented spectacle for the big filly, but she took it all in stride like was expected. So far all that had rattled her was losing, and this was never a bad thing. Her recent form had left the team feeling good, almost hopeful for a spectacular race that day. Right from the word go however, things were not looking so promising.

Raven broke badly, leaving her way behind early. It looked like another fast race, with a speed duel between three frontrunners raging like full blown war. She wasn’t even with the pack this time, but knuckled down and just went. Catching up in the backstretch, Raven’s ears were pricked and she was moving like a finely tuned machine. She did not move early this time, but her jockey noticeably felt the filly coil herself, preparing to spring. At the top of the stretch, she went off like a rocket. No closers would be taking this from her, as she swept towards the post with commanding speed. Crossing the line in a time of 1:42.10 to the roars of the crowd, Ravenhawk provided a massive upset with six lengths to spare.
____________________________

Name: Ravenhawk
Nickname: Raven
Gender: Filly
Breed: Thoroughbred
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: Dark bay
Markings: None
Genetics: Ee/Aa
Bloodline: Rum N Gun x Alyssum
Temperament: Raven is has a very laid back attitude, whether she is approaching races or life in general. This giant of a filly lopes along at her own pace and is pretty unconcerned with whatever the world can throw at her. She's hard to push around, and will push back hard if you try. Definitely has a mind of her own.
Discipline: Flat racing
Talent Roll: 72
Running Style: Late closer
Preferred Distance: 9-12f

Racing Season: 2 Year Old
Starts: 3 - 2:1:0
Earnings: $1,550,000
GI Starts: 3
Important Wins: GI Alcibiades Stakes, GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies

Next:

Description
Woot! My first racing season, and I'm excited Happy with how the pic came out too, I was clever at avoiding drawing the jockey. Raven shown here on one of her very early morning works before one of her big races... read if you want to find out which one it is. Story subject to change: I don't like it but am going to bed now so changes will have to wait till morning.

_____________________________

Since purchasing Raven in the maiden claiming race for a modest $25 000, her training had been rather… slow.

Raven had gotten herself settled in with her new buddy Muffin, which was always the plan. Despite towering over the little liver chestnut, Raven was put swiftly in her place and then everything was peachy. Her passive attitude was a little concerning to the staff of Willowglen’s racing stables; however they reasoned that they had no real indication of how she ran on the track.

Since she was already broken in, she was taken out for a work so that they could see what she could do. With several of the stable hands along the rail, Nina and Stacey looked on with anxious expressions as the filly raced around the track. The result as she came down the stretch was discouraging – there was no real fire to her running style at all. Although she produced a respectable time of 1:03.60 for 5 furlongs, there was no indication that the filly wanted to give any further speed. In fact, she hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Training times did not improve greatly in the coming weeks, although she did shave a second off, even two when she was feeling in the mood. It was frustrating, since the staff was convinced she could go so much faster, and yet she just didn’t feel like it. Her long loping steps ate up the track, but never did they quicken.

Despite this unpromising outlook, it was decided that Raven would be held back until later in the year and entered in one of the bigger races in attempt to get her to run with some real competition. We were discouraged however, since all evidence was to the contrary about her having a competitive streak at all.

It was decided that she would be entered in the Spinaway Stakes, thrown into the deep end as it were to see how she could cope. The morning of the grade I event was clear, but nerves were high for the team who were waiting anxiously down in the stables. The big filly did draw a few heads in the paddock, towering over all her competitors like an older horse. She broke well on the rail and settled down well behind the leaders at the back of the pack, looking like she was going for a stroll more than a race. Powering on through the turn she swung around the pack on the turn for home and the team from Willowglen thought she was finally showing some fire.

The leader throughout the race was tiring and Raven moved to pick the exhausted bay off. All at once the big brown filly seemed to slacken off, her strides still covering the same distance but without the intensity that had possessed her while overtaking the leader. There were cries from the crowd as another filly; a loudly coloured chestnut, moved up beside them, then rocketed off towards the post with just meters to go. Raven pinned her ears for the first time in the race and attempted to catch up, but came second by a length.

Unsure of how to read the filly’s performance, it was decided to enter her in the Alcibiades Stakes, since she had come second against GI company hadn’t she? The distance was longer, and we were sure this would suit the big filly better, let the other horses get more tired before she tried to outrun them. If she didn’t succeed here, she would be retired for the season and entered in less competitive company next year, if she didn’t improve considerably.

The Stakes were a qualifier for the Breeder’s Cup Fillies, and the competition was really beginning to heat up. Raven was entered as a long shot against more experienced rivals who had already won a number of races and were producing fast workout times. There was something about the filly after entering the paddock that day, especially after she eyeballed the chestnut who had outrun her in her last meet in September. The usually cool, calm and collected bay was really on her toes and a bit of a handful to say the least, arching her neck and parading around like a colt who had lost his way. From the grandstands, Willowglen’s owner smiled to herself; there was spirit if ever she saw it.

The pace was fast, and it seemed like the filly was in no real hurry, but she wasn’t trailing either. More like biding her time, or a hunter patiently stalking its prey. She began to move earlier today, as though she was almost eager to come sprinting down that stretch. Coming into the turn for home she was stalking the leaders, maneuvering her huge body to the outside. Once again, the lead horses were tiring after a fierce speed duel early on and Raven passed them with ease. But the battle was not over yet.

She had a two length lead on the rest of the field but down came a pair of closers; the flashy chestnut and a big black filly, bearing down like two freight trains. Raven’s jockey urged her gently, not going for the whip as he was instructed. The filly responded, picking up her stride rate. The black was falling back, but the chestnut was catching, slowly but surely. It was neck and neck, not quite stride for stride as Raven’s long powerful strides matched almost two of the smaller chestnut’s. But the other filly had such burning speed, and it came down to the wire. The team from Willowglen held their breath while the result was being determined, but they didn’t have to wait long. Ravenhawk had won by a whisker, managing to hold off the chestnut until the end.

This led to a problem – whether or not to enter the filly in the Breeders Cup. She had qualified, so hadn’t she earned the right to run? The main concern was her size – resting her until next season would help prevent soundness issues, as with such a large animal, the forces being exerted on her young bones would be extreme.

In the end, it was decided she would be shipped to Churchill Downs, and if she did a good workout for once, she would run in the Cup. In the week leading up to the big race, everyone was under strict instructions to keep her out of the press as much as possible, and workouts were to be as early as possible. The mornings were getting colder, and the last work before the day was a real cracker despite the thick fog. The boss was satisfied, and the filly would run with for the Juvenile.

The crowd was an unprecedented spectacle for the big filly, but she took it all in stride like was expected. So far all that had rattled her was losing, and this was never a bad thing. Her recent form had left the team feeling good, almost hopeful for a spectacular race that day. Right from the word go however, things were not looking so promising.

Raven broke badly, leaving her way behind early. It looked like another fast race, with a speed duel between three frontrunners raging like full blown war. She wasn’t even with the pack this time, but knuckled down and just went. Catching up in the backstretch, Raven’s ears were pricked and she was moving like a finely tuned machine. She did not move early this time, but her jockey noticeably felt the filly coil herself, preparing to spring. At the top of the stretch, she went off like a rocket. No closers would be taking this from her, as she swept towards the post with commanding speed. Crossing the line in a time of 1:42.10 to the roars of the crowd, Ravenhawk provided a massive upset with six lengths to spare.
____________________________

Name: Ravenhawk
Nickname: Raven
Gender: Filly
Breed: Thoroughbred
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: Dark bay
Markings: None
Genetics: Ee/Aa
Bloodline: Rum N Gun x Alyssum
Temperament: Raven is has a very laid back attitude, whether she is approaching races or life in general. This giant of a filly lopes along at her own pace and is pretty unconcerned with whatever the world can throw at her. She's hard to push around, and will push back hard if you try. Definitely has a mind of her own.
Discipline: Flat racing
Talent Roll: 72
Running Style: Late closer
Preferred Distance: 9-12f

Racing Season: 2 Year Old
Starts: 3 - 2:1:0
Earnings: $1,550,000
GI Starts: 3
Important Wins: GI Alcibiades Stakes, GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies

Next: