Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Sept 3, 2013 18:03:18 GMT -5
ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
SIZZLING DAWN AND HENNA TURATH
RISORGIMENTO DERBY WORKOUT
Small but mighty. Those were the best two adjectives that could be used to describe Sizzling Dawn. The bay daughter of Barely A Moment and Flash At Dawn was intense, powerful and strong. And she had been on full display to the world two weeks ago. Henna remembered what it had felt like to be aboard the mare. They had gone out fast and finished even faster. Eleven furlongs was the distance at the edge of Dawn's preferences, but for some reason she excelled at running that distance. First in the Preakness, then in the Consumato, Dawn had put on exhilarating performances full of speed and class. She had even set a new track record. And she was now going in hot for the ten furlong Risorgimento Derby, against the other winners of the races and Lusitania's Soldier. It was going to be a tough test, and Henna was aiming to excel.
Eternal Phantom, on the other hand, was best characterized as dark and dangerous. At four years old the mare was fully grown and looked the part of an absolute champion. She had been flawlessly groomed and gleamed with health. Her eyes were sharp and full of promises of danger as they swept around the dirt track. Phantie had put on a show in the Provetto Derby, drawing off to win by two easy lengths. She had been strong and full of herself that day. Now she was running a win streak of three into the Risorgimento at her prime distance of ten furlongs. Krystal grinned. The Kentucky Derby distance. There was no doubt Phantie was well proven and ready for this task. They would just have to go out there and prove themselves some more. Phantie was running for possible renomination for Horse of the Year. Her season so far had been a bit quiet, but boy was it about to get a whole lot better. Phantie was blazing and ready to go, and even her own stablemate wouldn't stop her.
Amber Black swept her eyes from the toned bay hide of Sizzling Dawn to the predatory grace of Eternal Phantom. Her eyes gleamed with a pleased light. These two had been impressive in their most recent victories and she hoped that the impressive streak would continue. For race tactics, she knew that Dawn would be right at the front end and that Krystal would just let Phantie decide where she wanted to run. Hopefully without running her to the ground as had happened in the Preakness. Amber snorted. Dawn possessed a kind of talent Phantie did not have, and that was the talent to not get run into the ground. She had proven that in the Consumato. Phantie, on the other hand, had to either be very tactical with her speed on the front end or close sharply at the end of the race. She had won with both strategies. It truly just depended on the competition. That was what made Phantie more flexible than Dawn. But Henna and Krystal and all the SOPS ladies knew that Dawn was a horse on the improve. She could not be underestimated.
Amber called to Krystal and Henna. The two women turned their horses and responded, walking them over. Dawn had intensity pouring off of her in waves, and her eyes glared challenge at Phantie. Phantie was no slouch. She responded right back with a glare of her own. Phantie didn't play well with others, ever, and Dawn easily got on her nerves. She was ready to put this young mare down. But she would do it on her terms, not on Dawn's. If Dawn wanted to start the competition now, that was up to her, but Phantie did her challenging and running in the race. Amber glanced once more over her mares, beaming with pride. All right ladies. This is their last workout before the Risorgimento. I'm not going to tell you how to run the race because I know you guys can manage that yourselves. But I will tell you how to run this workout! Henna snorted. Phantie's had a race last week and she's sharp as tack. I just want you to gallop her for a bit Krystal. Try a mile, mile and a half if she's feeling really good. Krystal nodded. As for you Henna, Dawn's been off for about two weeks now. She's had steady gallops this week. I want you to gallop with Phantie, and whenever Phantie tails off I want you to pick it up for about a half mile. Nothing too hard speed demon. Let her do it on her own.
The two women turned away, Henna still grinning over the use of her nickname. The woman loved her sprinters or her distance front runners. Dawn fit the bill. Dawn snorted, arched her neck and sprightly trotted alongside Phantie. Phantie's ears were pinned at this point in time. Krystal watched the temperamental mare closely, nudging her slightly ahead of Dawn and then jerking her head sharply upon seeing it snake out to take a bite at Dawn. Dawn snorted indignantly and veered away, while Phantie merely settled back down into cold indifference. Krystal paid close attention whenever she was on Phantie's back. She knew the mare like the back of her hand. Phantie was satisfied for now, but could very easily change her mind and strike again. Dawn had settled down now, her ears attuned to Phantie while her eyes were attuned to the dirt track they were sweeping over.
The two thoroughbreds gradually accelerated to hit the gallop after one mile of cantering. Now it was starting to get serious. As was usual, Dawn pulled like a train at the front end and pulled away slightly to lead by a length. That was enough for her for now. Henna sat chilly on her back, evaluating Dawn's strides. She was moving easily and had plenty left. Phantie trailed behind a bit, but she was no less impressive. Her eyes were locked onto Dawn and she was grimly set on defeating this foe. Krystal just let the mare run, her own mind running through possibilities. Phantie did not feel lethargic. She felt strong, sure and ready. And she would be in great shape for the Risorgimento. Her conditioning was showing through. They swept through the quarter and approached the half. Krystal let Phantie run up now to bear down on Dawn's side as they rolled into the backstretch. Head to head, the two SOPS candidates strolled along at their gallops contentedly for now, but with eyes and mind focused on their competition close by.
With the three quarter pole behind them, the two mares began to accelerate. Dawn was fast, but Phantie wasn't Horse of the Year for kicks. She stayed even as they swept into the stretch and then under the wire, and was even pleased as Krystal kept her running. The mare could definitely handle a mile and a half today. She needed the distance to stretch out. As for Dawn...the more stamina she had, the longer she could carry her speed. They tackled the turn side by side and Krystal began to ready herself for the task of slowing Phantie down. As they passed the half and Dawn exploded like a firecracker on their inside, she slowed Phantie down with a gentle hand. The cold mare had come alive, but now reacted violently to Krystal's commands. Her ears pinned, she attempted to bolt down the track. Krystal knew this was coming. She had the reins short and her hands strong, and Phantie had no choice but to slow at her command.
Sizzling Dawn felt like a bullet for Henna Turath. The three year old blazed down the track like a sprinter, the wind in her mane and lightning in her feet. Henna let her fly, enjoying the wind, welcoming it even as an old friend. This was why she rode these horses. For this unbelievable and exhilarating feeling. Her smile grew wider as Dawn remained effortless in her sprint. She was doing it all on her own. They blew through the half in a flawlessly easy forty eight flat and then slowed right down. Dawn was breathing easily and felt like she was full of more. Henna looked over her shoulder, turned Dawn around and trotted her up to Amber. Krystal and Phantie were already conferring with her. Amber looked nothing short of pleased and excited. Dawn and Phantie had more left in them to give, and no matter the winner the Risorgimento would be an exciting race for all.
