the quiet ones

[S u N f r O s T ~]

ALUCARD AND HENNA TURATH
TRINITY AND AMBER BLACK

ALU'S WORKOUT FOR BOYS PARTY/DR FAGER RED MILE
TRIN'S WORKOUT FOR SPINAWAY STAKES

It's the quiet ones that get you. Amber Black reflected fiercely on this as she rode the shy and quiet Trinity onto the dirt track. Trinity's ears perked as they entered the dirt and the track material encased her hooves with each step. She became a bit more alert, and even side stepped slightly, her high strung nature showing only on the track. There was a tough task ahead of this filly in the Spinaway Stakes. Trin's performances were never consistent. She either kicked butt or bottomed out the field. Her topsy turvy performances had Amber considering letting the filly rest through the rest of the season and show up again at three, but Amber knew better than most trainers the importance of experience during the juvenile season. It built up needed foundation for the classic season, needed if they ever hoped to tackle the classic series. Sometimes it didn't hold them back, but for a horse like Trin that needed learning experiences a juvenile season was practically essential. Trin was a difficult horse in her races. She had to be perfectly placed or it all fell apart. Amber fully knew the strain it took to ride this filly in her races.

Her workout partner today was the miler-sprinter Alucard. The son of Scripture's Sapphire was serving notice in his races and had recently ascended to grade three. Indeed, he was becoming a top prospect for the Triple Sprinter Crown. He had the Boy's Party this week, an important prep race, and then the Dr Fager Red Mile the week after. Alu's schedule was indeed complex. Henna was fond of the stoic bay colt, even though he showed absolutely no affection towards her. Affection was just not Alucard's thing. He did not express any emotions, just cold indifference. An occasional snort or whinny, perhaps, served as enough indication of his mood, or perhaps the ways in which he responded to her cues on the track. But otherwise, Alucard was a slab of smooth marble - beautiful, but expressionless. Henna rode the uncaring colt onto the track and he barely flicked an ear as Trinity shied sideways at the sight of him. Henna smirked, liking his indifferent attitude. Alucard was a horse that nobody could rile up.

The duo swung around to be side by side now, Amber sending a smile in Henna's direction and a searching look in Alu's. He had developed a lot at three years old and was becoming a seasoned, rock solid competitor. Trinity was similarly developing, she reflected. She was just a late bloomer. Lynara's Kingdom had been the same way. She had started strong, then bottomed out the fields, and then developed into a monster at three. Trinity would do the same. They just needed to stick out this season, steal victory where they could and ascend to greatness the hard way. Amber was patient, and heck knew she could train Trin up over time. Right now, Trin skittered sideways as Alucard took the position he loved on the rail. Alucard slowed down, letting Trin have the lead even though the pace was unbearably slow. Trin was discomfited. Amber's quick hands adjusted her to the present situation. They reached a happy equilibrium down the backstretch of control.

Trinity relaxed the longer she ran in the lead, Amber providing constant comfort. Alucard remained coldly indifferent, stalking his prey. He was truly coming into fantastic form, Henna reflected, and was becoming a solid contender for the series races. Even now he went along confidently, biding his time for the stretch. By the time they hit the final turn, Trinity was comfortably settled and had increased the pace. Alucard remained calm, sticking slightly to her pace and dropping back slightly, as though teasing her. He could be merciless when he wanted to be. His turn of foot in the stretch would end this race. They rounded the turn, and here it was. Trinity exploded, but Alucard's turn of foot was manifold times her own. The older horse came down on the bay filly, swarming her and then blazing past as though she was standing still to open a three length lead in a matter of seconds. Trinity whinnied in shock, but Amber refocused her sharply. Eyes blazing now with sudden determination, Trinity accelerated, refusing to be left behind even as Alucard easily defeated her.

He may have proved to be too much, but Trinity went down bravely if anything else. Determination and heart would carry them through in the Spinaway Stakes. As for Alucard...he was riding a wave right now that would only take him higher for the Boy's Party and Dr Fager Red Mile.