Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Nov 12, 2012 22:57:36 GMT -5
INFINITE WARCRY AND AMBER BLACK
BREEDERS STAKES WORKOUT
So then I swung her to the outside and Icee was right there on her shoulder and BAM, we ran for it and just happened to steal the win we wanted. Ven's got some talent boy, but she's nothing on you. Amber was talking conversationally to the gentle giant that she was really beginning to fall for. The kinship she was starting to feel with the black colt was beginning to rival her greatest bonds - the one she shared with Impressario being the most recent. Infini had won no Triple Crown, but he had won her heart in a heart-stopping fashion. She was lost now in her appreciation of the thoroughbred. Infini was a horse unlike any other she had ridden. He had quietly risen in the ranks his juvenile season, then made an appearance this year as a top contender over the turf. But still he had raced quietly, albeit near perfectly, in preparation for the race.
His first loss of the season had been in the Kentucky Open against his greatest rival, Frozen Motion. Then he had won the Preakness Champion Stakes to reclaim his honor. Amber still felt the stings of her failure from before the Belmont Turf Classic when she couldn't ride the colt due to nerves. She had never fizzled out like that before a race before, but there was always a first time and she had moved on. She had even made it up to the colt with a calming workout before their first start back about a month ago in the Taking Momentum Stakes. They had beaten Executioner's Apprentice and Destined For Glory in the race, losing to the Mare On Fire, Alluring Assault. That was an acceptable defeat. It was his first start off a layoff and he had been the first of his division to face the older cream of the crop turfers, and he had come away quick.
That had been their tune-up. Now they prepared for the Breeders Stakes against Instant Success and Frozen Motion with a Canadian Triple Crown on the line. At last they would run the twelve furlong distance they had missed in the Belmont Turf. To Amber, the Breeders Stakes was symbolic of what she had missed and messed up for Infini. It was their second chance at the twelve furlong distance against top class colts and she sure as hell didn't want to fail out of this one. Infini had been raced quietly all season, losing twice and with eight starts so far this season. He was probably the lightest raced horse in his division and that gave him an advantage. He was controlled and rested talent waiting to be unleashed and Amber badly wanted to unleash him. There had been questions raised about their talent and partnership. They were as strong as ever and it was time to prove that. Infini was a legendary horse to Amber. He was heart stopping when he ran.
They had been walking around the racing barn waiting for the turf track to clear out so they could do their final prep for the Breeders Stakes. Amber had found herself telling Infini about her latest troubles and problems while waiting. Before the Belmont Turf she had left all of her stress cooped up inside. Now she vocalized it to her horse, and Infini listened calmly while taking care of her as she rode him. His was the calmest, most understanding and least judgmental ear of them all and she found herself loving every aspect of this ride, and they hadn't even worked out yet! Now she decided to tell Infini about his competition as they walked their final lap around the barn. He wouldn't understand a word she said but it made her feel better, and she would never let stress get the better of her again.
Instant Success and Frozen Motion Infini. You know them. Isa, that chestnut you beat in the Coronation Cup? He's back. And I don't need to tell you who Freeze is. They're both coming off of solid outings and they're rested. But you've faced the tough boys and girls on the turf, Infini. You've got that edge. Not to mention I'm not letting you down ever again. My determination is here. And then we have you. You know yourself. You know what we need to do. She paused. Freeze is setting the pace here, Isa's going to try and roll with us. We need to be able to close that gap that's going to open up. Freeze isn't allowed to cakewalk the field. If that gap opens, we're closing it. Isa won't be able to match that. He'll go sooner than us. We'll go when we're ready. We've got twelve furlongs to cover and by all hell we'll cover it.
They completed their last lap of the barn and now she went to the turf Wire track. There were much less horses out there now, but the press were all there and waiting. They had had plenty of time to set themselves up and now a crowd descended on them with questions. Infini did not mind the crowd. He was essentially bombproof and ignored them soundly as he strode purposefully forward beneath her hands. Amber, Amber, how are you riding Infini into this race? How are you going in to this? She could answer at least that question. It's a race, and we're going in expecting nothing and everything she said, with a smirk. Her words were cryptic but meant the world to her. She would not be overconfident. She would just be prepared.
The welcome turf encased Infini's hooves, touching their welcome. Infini snorted quietly and contentedly, relaxing into Amber's hands as he did whenever they took to the turf track. He was ready to roll and he was warmed up from all that walking around the barn. Amber picked up the reins and clucked once, and soon they were cantering around the track at their usual long-strided smooth pace. This was a dream come true. They were floating around the track at bottom speed and the beauty of his motion was climaxed by the onset of power. There it was, vibrating through the reins, growing as time passed and Amber sensed it. They cantered a simple mile and then it was time for their prep workout.
She released the thoroughbred and leaned in to welcome the blast of air that greeted her face. Infini didn't jump into the gallop as most sprinters or other horses did. He eased into it with a simplicity of motion that was idiosyncratic. He was the slowest gate breaker in the world and was in absolutely no hurry from the get go. He took the time to enjoy his gallop and collect power into his hind legs. Their gallop was unimpressive in speed but impressive in looks. The black was a master of energy conservation and he was the best at closing from the outside. He took the first turn in smooth stride and flowed into the backstretch, still moving in usual motion. Twelve furlongs was the longest race any Green Horse Fields or Wire horse was asked to run. But it was bread and butter to Infini, in which longer distances only benefited him and his stone cold closer style.
They rated the half mile in fifty or so, a snail's pace, but Amber didn't care. They were absolutely floating out there, and as the final turn neared she felt it wasn't time to release Infini yet. They were going far today and she could feel through the reins that Infini wanted more. This was not going to be a short workout. The master of stamina desired his stamina, and he would get it. Amber grinned cheekily as they galloped into the stretch and she caught sight of the clockers on the rails, expecting a sudden burst of speed from the black giant and not getting any. They wouldn't know when to start clocking. When they saw Infini pick it up it would be too late for them to get an accurate time. Such was the speed of Infini's closing drive.
They were halfway down the stretch when Amber felt it, the sudden vibrational crest of the energy in the reins that signified the readiness of the black to finally run. They had done a mile and now it was a waiting game for Infini to decide when to finally go. They would go in the backstretch, Amber decided. She wanted to feel his acceleration over a straight. Thus they galloped, and as they went into the turn and hit ten furlongs the black's speed and majesty was unfurled for the world to admire. Amber held on and eased out the reins. There was no gradualism. There was only the onset of speed and might. Infini's acceleration was immediate. He was standing still one second and gone the next. Waves of power thrummed as Infini hit the closing drive and turned the world into a myriad of color. Amber sat still as the black rewrote history. This was pure power and acceleration. And as they rode forward the black's eyes shone with his warcry, and his hooves wrote tales of glory.
They had just covered the backstretch in what felt like impossible time and Amber had never felt so good aboard a horse. Infini was beyond the expectations of the world. There was thunder in his chest and lightning in his feet. There was talent in his body and passion in his heart. All of this Amber knew, for it was she who rode him. Their comeback would be a mighty one and the race would be equally mighty. They would not be going down easy and she would never fail this thunderous horse, listener of listeners, love of all loves, ever again.
