Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Jul 19, 2012 11:21:58 GMT -5
ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
SWEET INFERNO AND HENNA TURATH
SWEETIE'S WORKOUT FOR THE RUNNING MAD MAIDEN
It was dusk. The sun was just setting over the horizon. Into this darkening world stepped two fillies, both black as the encroaching night. They were both special. They carried the blood of the night runner, Night Stalker, and due to this they had no fear of the night. In fact, they enjoyed the track more when it was dark outside, and they were hidden from the view of their competitors. They were both talented fillies, both filled with promise, both ready to go and rise. They were distantly related too. One was a direct descendant of the night runner, while the other was a grandchild on her dam's side to him. Interestingly enough, both were fillies, and both were massively talented. Eternal Phantom was the first, and she was three years old. The impressive black had filled out and was making her first start of the season this week on the Green Horse Fields track in the Unicorn Horn Fillies Dirt. Sweet Inferno, however, was racing in a maiden race here, bypassing the Unicorn Horn series. She had come second in the Legacy Dirt Stakes last week and then had been shipped here for this. But she needed a workout partner. Henna had suspected that her last workout had been a blow to her confidence.
Thus, another horse had been picked up for the competitive filly to work against. Phantie was by no means on the same level as Sweetie. She was older and a proven juvenile. However, Ventura, Sweetie's prime workout partner, could not be shipped from the Green Horse Fields racetrack. Ven was prepping for a Unicorn Horn race and Amber didn't want to risk the filly's stability. But Phantie could be shipped and be fine about it. She was cool in this situation. So Phantie had come over for today and was set to return later and work for her race two days after this. They would be going light today, just a bit of light competition, a workout partner to get the competitive juices blazing. Nothing fast. They would let Ripley Marsh's horses get the spectators excited for the races with their latest workouts. They were SOPS. People already knew what their horses were capable of, and if they didn't they would soon.
The sun slipped completely beneath the horizon, shrouding the dirt track in blackness. The fillies continued moving forward confidently even if their riders weren't feeling so good about the darkness. Soon, however, some track lights came on. They were thankfully a bit dim, just illuminating the track enough to be reasonable. With good visibility at last, and the night completely fallen, it was time to warm up. Krystal let Phantie set the pace. The black filly was coolly using her freedom to trot just ahead of Sweetie. Sweetie was letting the filly go, though every stride bragged raw power. Her eyes were burning already as she no doubt fantasized about running her "aunt" to the ground. It was funny to think of it like that. Phantie was three and already an aunt to the two year old Sweetie.
After about two furlongs of trotted they began to canter. Sweetie ghosted alongside Phantie now, matching the three year old stride for stride. When Henna asked the filly to slow a bit, though, she obeyed. Sweetie was being sweet. This was her way of being competitive. It was different from any racehorse out there. She was a ruthless fireball off the track, not on it, but sweet as stevia on the track. Henna had managed to come up with only one explanation for this strange behavior - Sweetie was more at home on the open spaces of the track and therefore behaved better there. As for Phantie, she typified the fired up racehorse in a quieter way. Much like a phantom, she was always quiet and not overly expressive. However, if you messed with her and denied her something that she wanted, she became a hellion. And when faced with great competition, she could also become a hellion. Especially if that competition was her twin sister, Paradise Island or one of the main competitor colts. Sweetie had yet to form such rivalries, and probably would not unless the other horse truly asked for it.
They cantered for another six furlongs, bringing their workout amount to one mile. Now they were ready to go! Krystal was letting Henna set the workout parameters. Amber was busy elsewhere so they were alone here today. Henna turned to Krystal and mused over what she wanted to do. I was thinking of just galloping them side by side for about a mile. Let them run together and see what happens. Neither of these fillies needs the extra work, anyway. We just want Sweetie to get her confidence back. If possible, let us pass you a little bit at the end. She just needs the confidence boost. Krystal nodded in agreement. It was a good plan, and there would be benefits for a nice mile long gallop for the fillies. It would work out their muscles and get them primed. So the workout began. With some slight urging, the two fillies eagerly began to gallop. For Phantie, it was more like a smooth transition from an already quick canter to a quick gallop. For Sweetie, it was more like an eager leap forward. The two year old was eager to race and wanted to go.
Phantie's stride carried confidence and sureness. This was her place in the world. The dirt track was hers. Though she had not yet raced this year, she was still feeling competitive and sure of herself. Finishing third in the Juvenile against top class colts was no small feat. She had proven herself and was going to the Triple Crown. The Triple Tiara held no promise for her. Krystal wanted her to face the colts and defeat them as her dam did. She wanted Phantie to do what El Sol Del Mar nearly had - win the Triple Crown. She had a rich legacy and Krystal wanted to exceed it. As for Sweetie, her lines were relatively unproven but were getting proven. By two grade one horses, both of which had been classy, and her dam being a Hall Of Fame inductee to boot, a lot was expected. The powerful filly had a presence that neither of her parents had, and she had the most flippant personality too. She was also talented already, and Henna was taking the talent far.
The two fillies galloped along leisurely. The night grew darker and the track grew brighter by the light of the track lights. Yet the fillies were not bothered. It was in their blood to enjoy the night and enjoy it they did. As they ran, the competitiveness Phantie had been showing eased. She recognized this workout as a leisure one so ran as she was asked to, enjoying every stride as she did so. There was no need to rush. As for Sweetie, the two year old was loping along easily, confident in the fact that Phantie was remaining alongside. As the workout came to a close, Sweetie surged forward a little bit to take the win to a race that was never actually occurring. She danced down to a canter rather happily, content in the fact that she had finally won something. Phantie was not bothered by her apparent loss. Her eyes merely sought out Sweetie and remembered the filly. She knew she had not truly been racing and could have demolished the filly, yet she still remembered Sweetie as a rival.
Henna was grinning widely. Sweetie's confidence was back!
