strength

[S u N f r O s T ~]

ITALIAN ICE AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
IMPRESSIONABLE AND KRYSTAL YHATE
VENTURA AND AMBER BLACK

ICEE'S WORKOUT FOR THE SUMMER DAWN TREADER CUP
EMPRESS'S WORKOUT FOR THE FOLLOW THE HOOFPRINTS SERIES

In order to be a filly and take on the boys, you had to have a lot of inner strength as well as talent. These three ladies had it in spades. Valencia Andrews couldn't keep the small smile off her face as she headed out to the track on Italian Ice. This mare was the partner of her heart. When it came to them, wins were on the card. Icee was well and truly the horse that Valencia got along the best with out of the older horse division. There was just some sort of ambitious streak, some sort of arrogance within Icee that reverberated within Valencia's own soul. Their bonds, when first developed, had been quick to do so and painless. It wasn't hard for them to get along. Earlier in the season, there had been some sort of disconnect that resulted in two sixth place finishes for Icee. But since then, the black daughter of Impressario had found her stride over the dirt. Last year had been a mainly turf season, save for the Canadian Triple Crown; this year it was a dirt season, and everything about the Wire's dirt track was something Icee appreciated. With three big wins racked up, Icee now looked to the Summer Dawn Treader Cup.

A competitive field awaited them - GS Supercharged, A Royal Legacy, Mastermind, Nightshade, Lusitania's Soldier and Red Herring. Valencia found the entry of Mastermind into the race particularly annoying. First of all, the colt had proved in his three year old season that he couldn't handle nine furlongs. Second of all, if he had been entered in jest Valencia would be pissed - the Dawn Treader Cup was not a place for that. And third of all, if he was entered with the serious intention of winning then the arrogance of Witch Creek knew no bounds. Valencia knew it was hypocritical - she was arrogant herself - but when it came to Mastermind it was just disgusting. We'll get him and the rest Icee. They can try to run as down, but they will fail. You love that distance she practically snarled into Icee's mane. The black mare barely reacted to the sudden change in emotion that her rider exhibited - she was too used to the hot fire of Valencia, and felt the same within herself.

They were joined shortly by Icee's half sister Ventura. Ven had been having a great final season and was looking to expand that resume in future races on the road to the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile at the end of the season. In Icee's case, they were prepping for the Ladies Classic this season and perhaps the Classic the season afterwards. Ventura was deadly grace was she stepped onto the track with all of her usual power and dominating aura. Here was a mare who had never flagged during her seasons of racing, and she wasn't intending to start now. Ventura was a star; now she could only add to her already impressive resume. Amber Black had settled comfortably into the temperamental mare's saddle. She was poised for action and had a calm look on her face. Ventura was practically vibrating with energy - she had been on a one month break and it had definitely revitalized the mare.

The duo were finally joined by Impressionable, the cleverly bred chestnut filly who embodied the strength of the female species. Empress was lean and graceful. She strutted onto the track with head held high, her classic build saying all she had to say about how she raced. Empress was a classic filly through and through. Empress sought royal treatment whenever she raced- i.e, winners circle treatment - and she had not been there since April Week One. Empress was a filly who consistently raced head to head with the colts. She would have a major challenge awaiting her in the Follow The Hoofprints against a solid field of fantastic colts. Among these horses, Empress was a long shot. She had a solid record, but being a filly did play against her. Krystal snorted. She knew that Empress was tough enough, strong enough to pull this off. They had to race cleverly, but it was possible. And right now, the stable could definitely use the pick-me-up that Empress's win would be for them.

Empress became cold now as she approached her workout partners. Cool as a cucumber, she eyed up the other two mares as though they were beneath her notice. Both of the mares reacted, but in different ways - Icee gave a challenging whinny and Ventura just stayed silent, the dark aura thickening. Competition crackled in the air. Amber's eyes shone with it, as did her riders. Let's get cracking she intoned, and veered off with Ventura. The other two mares followed, staying at each other's throats as they began their journey around the track. All of them preferred to lay right off the pace for different reasons, and now they shared the pace. It increased as they continued to gallop, until finally the pace was blistering and the three were racing. Yet the competitive fires were too strong among them to allow for defeat. Their own individual strengths decreed that defeat was unacceptable.

Head to head, the trio swept under the wire and never broke contact as they slowed for a cool down. The challenge had been accepted and relayed by all, and with this competitive spirit in mind the trio became prepared for their next races.