deathly silence

[S u N f r O s T ~]

LYNARA'S KINGDOM AND AMBER BLACK
ROYAL CADENZA AND VALENCIA ANDREWS

WIRE FINISH CUP TURF/MILE WORKOUT

There were no words for the strength of focus that sizzled between horse and rider. Nothing needed to be said - it could only be felt. Amber Black vaulted onto the back of the gray mare who had become apart of her life. Lynara's Kingdom snorted and stretched out, muscles bulging as her eyes roved around the barn, all sharp focus and intensity. This was a mare far from done with her racing career, though she was indeed a mare that had already accomplished so much. She was perhaps one of the most flexible and heart stoppingly talented horses Amber Black had ever ridden. This was the mare who had proved to be the surprise of her generation. And now she had a job to continue performing. If a horse won all four Wire Finish Cup races, he or she would be named a legend. Lynara's Kingdom had taken two races so far - the Mile as a three year old and the Sprint as a four year old. What was most interesting about Lynara were the conditions of her victories.

As a three year old, Lynara had come flying from the shadows to stamp herself as the toughest of the tough. Being a mare had not stopped her. She ran a predominantly turf season with a focus on the miler distances. Back then, Lynara had craved some more distance, disdaining the shorter sprints. Last season, as a four year old, everything had changed. Lynara had switched to the dirt and essentially taken command of the dirt sprinting division for older horses. She had well nigh unstoppable at moments and had relished the gutsy speed of every run. Even with all that sprinting, Lynara had returned to the mile distance for the Breeders Cup and won going away. But this season, something had switched again, and Amber wished she had picked up on it sooner. Lynara had foregone the sprints entirely. Her being was focused on running faster for longer. In short, the mare craved distance. She craved stretching out to the nine furlong distance. She craved that extra furlong of heartstopping speed and gritty heart, and she had made that very clear when she refused to perform in the Test Stakes.

That had occurred nearly a month ago, and now Lynara was getting her wish. The Wire Finish Cup Turf was the next step on her path to becoming a Wire Legend. No other race meant as much to Amber Black as this one. None. This was the big one, every season. It was true that Lynara did have her doubters though. She was facing Bella Luna, Turf Triple Crown champion, and the gutsy Apollo Bear. It was going to be rough - but Lynara was ready. She was well rested and raring to go. There was something about the Wire Finish Cup that brought amazing performances out of this mare. Never had Amber stretched her ambitions farther than she had with Lynara. This was the mare of all mares to her. For her doubters that doubted Lynara was a turf horse, Amber Black had her answer already. Lynara had been second only to Executioner's Apprentice over the turf as a three year old. And if she wasn't a turfer, how could you explain her switching to the turf last year in the Wire Finish Cup Sprint and still pulling out a victory? The answer to the criticisms was right there - Lynara was a turf horse right now. One that was dying to get the nine furlong distance.

Amber's eyes were pools of dark green intensity. There was no calculation in them - only feeling. She barely glanced at Valencia Andrews as the apprentice jockey pulled up alongside on Royal Cadenza. The son of Hail To Prince and Bluebell Sonnet had really blossomed for them. He was two wins from grade one and boasted a win and two seconds so far this season. He was ready to step up in class. The Wire Finish Cup Mile called his name now. He was up against it, with race favorite Blue Me Away and the horse who had finished second behind Lynara in the Dirt Mile, GS Royal Crown. He would need every ounce of talent he possessed to pull this off. To Valencia, there was no pressure - she was going to prove what she already knew about Caden. Arrogance filled the air around them, but if Lynara and Amber noticed they gave no sign of it. Lynara was far too senior of a horse to care and Amber was too focused. She briefly met Valencia's eyes, mouthed classic and then got Lynara started down the turf track.

Lynara's Kingdom's strides were like knives cutting through the air. They were precise and full of power. The gray mare was fully intent on her task and hungry for a win. She knew what the second week in March meant and was rounding into perfect form right on time. No horse had been able to work out with her recently - she had just been too much. It was a good thing Caden was a tough cookie, thought Valencia. The black stallion kept pace with Lynara, his selfish side showing through as he cared not that she was there. Lynara's aura was deadly and focused today, her most dangerous side showing, and Caden took it all in stride. Valencia smirked and drew him back slightly, letting Lynara have the lead as they blew into the backstretch. The pace was fast already and both horses were only just getting started.

Lynara ate up every furlong with fierce exhilaration. She wanted these furlongs obliterated, wanted them pounded out of existence behind her. There was something savage about Lynara now, something that had not been present before. Amber ate up the new attitude because she felt the same way. They could not let anything stand in the way of this victory. This was their only shot and she was done letting Lynara down. The strength of feeling showed as Lynara accelerated again, now beginning to leave Caden behind. There was just no keeping up with the gray mare, and Valencia began to recognize it. But we sure as hell can try! she snarled, urging Caden onwards. The arrogant black needed no encouragement, lengthening his stride and setting off in pursuit. The pair whipped through the first six furlongs and curved around into the stretch. The minute they hit it, Caden accelerated rapidly, whipping on the speed. It was nothing short of impressive, but...

There's no catching a horse bent on the win. There was no catching Lynara's Kingdom.

Amber Black held on for dear life as her mare, hell bent on conquering and nothing less, blazed away from Caden, opening up length upon length upon length. Her legs drove her forward, fury making her eyes burn as she passed under the wire having run a twenty-one second quarter for the last part of her workout. Caden came in at twenty-three, which was perfect, and Valencia was triumphant even in defeat. But her eyes lingered on the form of Lynara's Kingdom, the gray mare who had let up slightly but galloped out still around the turn and into the backstretch. The mare was completely on form and ready to go. And after losing to her, Royal Cadenza was mare than ready to go. She slapped the black's neck, smirking as they left the track.

And as for Amber...dreams flitted behind her eyelids, dreams that she was hell bent on achieving with this mare.