strength of will

[S u N f r O s T ~]

FLEET MAJESTY AND AMBER BLACK
CALL OF THE WILD AND KRYSTAL YHATE
ATHENA'S DESIRES AND HENNA TURATH

MAGE'S WORKOUT FOR WINTER CUP GRADE TWO TURF
CALL'S WORKOUT FOR WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC
ATHENA'S WORKOUT FOR BEST PAL STAKES

This was all speed. And it was glorious. The wild, gleeful grin curving its way up Henna Turath's face could not be mistaken for what it was - true, exhilarated joy. Athena's Desires was as fast as she had been bred to be. She had the heart-stopping speed of her sire Pegasus Wings and the turf prowess and attitude of her dam Deadly Desires. And this combination was currently rocketing over the track ahead of two older horses both intent on hunting her down. The long backstretch did not deter this juvenile filly. She flew with the reckless speed of an older horse, intent on the lead and currently demolishing her workout mates by at least five lengths. That was Athena. She did not have the silly attitude of a typical Henna Turath horse, but she definitely had the speed. And among her fellow juveniles, Athena was widely recognized for her front running tendencies and suicidal speed. It had landed her in the winners' circle plenty of times already, for such a competitive division, and the best part was that Athena would only get faster. Henna glanced under her elbow, saw her competition ghosting closer, and smirked. She looked forward to the challenge these two closers would bring to the table.

Amber Black felt the energy thrilling through Mage's body with each bounding stride. The gray mare was intent on the task at hand - racing to a victory. The only back-to-back winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes had pulled off an upset both times. She was intent on winning once again at the Winter Cup before continuing a campaign that would likely end after the Breeders Cup. With only one win between them and grade one status, Mage had been creeping closer and closer to this seemingly elusive goal since the first time SOPS had bought the mare. Mage had been classy, but not classy enough so many times. She was so deserving of grade one. Amber's eyes narrowed as she watched the fleet footed Athena ahead of them take the final turn sharply and still full of speed. She and Mage could hunt them down, but they would have to move NOW. She asked and Mage responded, accelerating with a sudden burst of speed that had Amber flying slightly backwards over her shoulders. The gray mare was fresh and full of run as she closed in on her competition.

But they would not complete this journey alone. Call of the Wild, the most surprising three year old colt perhaps this season, would not be left behind. Call had been a good juvenile, but not a major standout as others in his group had been. But this season, Call had become the most surprisingly adept miler in the stable. He had even won the Royal Heroine Green Mile against Paranormal Hunter and a bunch of others. That had proved his class. He took the Man O War Stakes the start after and was now prepping for the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic. Call had grown as adept over the turf as his bloodlines had stated he would. And he was only getting better with age. Krystal grinned as Call followed Mage up the track and around the final turn before suddenly exploding with speed of his own as they hit the stretch. He accelerated so sharply that Mage's own acceleration could not keep up. Now they were rolling towards Athena and with them came a tide of defeat. Little Athena was fast, but Call and Mage had the advantage of age and developed talent.

The minute they caught up to Athena, the juvenile filly rebroke, refusing to give up her lead. Call stayed stride for stride, eyes glinting in stubborn will. But it was Mage who pushed through at the end. Her final burst of speed launched her a length in front of the other two just in time for the wire. Amber's smile was radiant as Athena blew past them in a fit of fury as they galloped out. Call simply slowed and evaluated his competition. The strength of will Mage had used to win this was present in each of these horses...Call had simply been the luckier one this time around.