At Witch Creek for the first time, Darling threw a tantrum of her sire's proportions, lunging and bucking and rearing at the end of the lead shank. Her eyes wild, but mostly scared. It took a lot of effort to calm the little filly down, but it was a breaking moment in the relationship. A similar moment had occurred with El Sol Del Mar and everyone knows what happened with that one.
The filly seems to float over the track, carrying her short backed body of the dirt as if she had wings. She threatens to go long because when she first gets started she just can't seem to place her hooves exactly where they want to go. A lot of gate breaking will be necessary, but Ripley is determined to make her sole home bred a success.
Since Ripley's recent addition of blinkers to the filly's equipment, the trainer has noticed a vast change. The filly is not as nervous now and more focused. Her last two races have hardened her and she now understands the need for the battle of the race. Ripley is quite stunned at how quickly the bay has come along in such a short time. No longer fearful and filled with fire, Darla is ready to kick some butt on the racing circuit. While she still has tendencies to get hot during the walk over or post parade, Darla stands now with a confidence that can only be learned and developed through experience. She is a sweet natured filly, but has a wild attitude at some points. Sometimes if the lighting is just right, Darla looks almost feral, her eyes lit with a strange fire. Darla is the one horse that Ripley does not always feel confident letting out all the speed on. The bay just has a quality to her stride and character that Ripley has not ever come across before. Pure wildness that is barely tamed. How can such a domesticated horse as Indian Darling have that type of nature? Not even Ripley could explain the answer to that question.
The filly seems to float over the track, carrying her short backed body of the dirt as if she had wings. She threatens to go long because when she first gets started she just can't seem to place her hooves exactly where they want to go. A lot of gate breaking will be necessary, but Ripley is determined to make her sole home bred a success.
Since Ripley's recent addition of blinkers to the filly's equipment, the trainer has noticed a vast change. The filly is not as nervous now and more focused. Her last two races have hardened her and she now understands the need for the battle of the race. Ripley is quite stunned at how quickly the bay has come along in such a short time. No longer fearful and filled with fire, Darla is ready to kick some butt on the racing circuit. While she still has tendencies to get hot during the walk over or post parade, Darla stands now with a confidence that can only be learned and developed through experience. She is a sweet natured filly, but has a wild attitude at some points. Sometimes if the lighting is just right, Darla looks almost feral, her eyes lit with a strange fire. Darla is the one horse that Ripley does not always feel confident letting out all the speed on. The bay just has a quality to her stride and character that Ripley has not ever come across before. Pure wildness that is barely tamed. How can such a domesticated horse as Indian Darling have that type of nature? Not even Ripley could explain the answer to that question.
2YO SEASON [Y12]
1st in TW Maximus Maiden - Feb. Week 4[M] 2nd in TW Noella Derby - Dec. Week 4[G5] 2nd in Concorde Stakes - Mar. Week 2[G5] 2nd in TW Janvier Maiden - Jan. Week 1[M] 2nd in TW Running Hard Maiden - Jan. Week 4[M] 3rd in Magic Millions Fillies Dirt* - Apr. Week 1[Open] 5th in TW Quelfia Derby - Mar. Week 4[G5] 6th in January Maiden Dirt - Jan. Week 2[M] |
3YO SEASON [Y13]
1st in TW Valorizzare Derby* - Sept. Week 2 [G4/G3] 1st in Awesome Stakes - July Week 3 [G4] 1st in Seaspray Cup Grade Four* - July Week 1 [G4] 1st in TW Silverbulletday Stakes* - Apr. Week 3 [O] 1st in TW Zipline Stakes - Mar. Week 2 [G5] 1st in TW Parfair Derby - Feb. Week 4 [G5] 1st in TW Ambivalence Handicap - Feb. Week 1 [G5] 1st in TW Saint Jean Stakes - Dec. Week 3 [G3] 2nd in Winter Cup Grade Three Dirt* - Oct. Week 4 [G3] 2nd in TW Consumato Derby* - Sept. Week 3 [G3/G2] 2nd in TW Red Legend Derby* - Aug. Week 4 [G3] 2nd in TW Davona Dale Stakes* - Mar. Week 4 [O] 2nd in TW Utanali Derby - Jan. Week 1[G5] 3rd in GHF December Dirt Stakes - Dec. Week 2 [G3] 3rd in Black Eyed Susan Handicap* - Nov. Week 1 [O] 3rd in TW Risorgimento Derby* - Oct. Week 1[O] 3rd in Coaching Club American Oaks* - June Week 2 [O] 3rd in Mother Goose Stakes* - May Week 3 [O] 4th in BC Dirt Marathon* - Dec. Week 4 [G4+] |
4YO Season
1st - GHF Y14 Monarch Stakes [G3/2] February Week 3
1st - GHF Y14 Australian Derby [G2/2] May Week 3
1st - GHF Y14 Cairo Stakes [G2/2] July Week 4
1st - GHF Y14 Earth Stakes [G2/2] Aug Week 1
1st - GHF Y14 Rhinestone Cup [G1/3] October Week 1
2nd - TW Y14 Kunniea Derby [G2] March Week 4
2nd - GHF Y14 Cucumber Cup [G2/3] June Week 3
2nd - GHF Y14 September Dirt Stakes [G5+] September Week 2
3rd - GHF Y14 Green Horse Dirt [G4+/4] January Week 3
3rd - GHF Y14 February Dirt Stakes [G5+/4] February Week 2
3rd - TW Y14 Provetto Derby* [G2+/3] September Week 4
3rd - TW Y14 Winter Dawn Treader Cup* [O/3] November Week 2
3rd - TW Y14 Gold Coast Stakes* [G3+/4]
4th - TW Y14 BRITISH COLOMBIA DERBY* [O/5] May Week 1
4th - GHF Y14 Stable Face Off* Grade 3,2,1 Dirt [G3+] Mar Wk 5
4th - TW Y14 Gaining Momentum Derby [G2+/4] July Week 1
4th - TW Y14 Azeri Stakes* [G1] August Week 3
1st - GHF Y14 Monarch Stakes [G3/2] February Week 3
1st - GHF Y14 Australian Derby [G2/2] May Week 3
1st - GHF Y14 Cairo Stakes [G2/2] July Week 4
1st - GHF Y14 Earth Stakes [G2/2] Aug Week 1
1st - GHF Y14 Rhinestone Cup [G1/3] October Week 1
2nd - TW Y14 Kunniea Derby [G2] March Week 4
2nd - GHF Y14 Cucumber Cup [G2/3] June Week 3
2nd - GHF Y14 September Dirt Stakes [G5+] September Week 2
3rd - GHF Y14 Green Horse Dirt [G4+/4] January Week 3
3rd - GHF Y14 February Dirt Stakes [G5+/4] February Week 2
3rd - TW Y14 Provetto Derby* [G2+/3] September Week 4
3rd - TW Y14 Winter Dawn Treader Cup* [O/3] November Week 2
3rd - TW Y14 Gold Coast Stakes* [G3+/4]
4th - TW Y14 BRITISH COLOMBIA DERBY* [O/5] May Week 1
4th - GHF Y14 Stable Face Off* Grade 3,2,1 Dirt [G3+] Mar Wk 5
4th - TW Y14 Gaining Momentum Derby [G2+/4] July Week 1
4th - TW Y14 Azeri Stakes* [G1] August Week 3