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[S u N f r O s T ~]

QUASAR
Eternal Phantom & Krystal Yhate - Breeders Cup Classic
Forbidden To Fly & Henna Turath - Breeders Cup Sprint
an unusually bright object found in remote areas of the universe; release incredible amounts of energy and are among the oldest and farthest objects in the known universe

It was the final set of finals for Stride Of Perfection Stables, the final set of Breeders Cup workouts. Amber would have felt relief if the next two horses, the last two horses to hit the track weren’t ones she would so desperately miss. She had taken one in as a yearling as a favor to Ripley Marsh; the other she had bred and shocked the world with. And now, both of these giants were leaving. It was such a big blow that Amber could not even choose words to describe it. All she knew was the legacy they had created and the hole they were leaving behind. Others would fill it, surely, but each successor filled the hole in the same way. One of these two had filled the hole simply by defying the odds and refusing to let her gender define her class, just as her dam had. The other had filled the hole with surprise and blazing fast speed the likes of which the racing world just did not see. These two were Eternal Phantom and Forbidden To Fly.

Krystal Yhate knew that her mount did not appreciate the loose emotions pouring out of her, and she tried to reign it in for the sake of the Queen. Eternal Phantom was an absolute hard horse to ride, constantly on the verge of getting out of control. Krystal was the only one who could get the mare to listen, to run within the bounds of control necessary. The mare was tactical, emotionless except when she was furious and the most impressive animal Krystal had ridden. Phantie had always been a queen, always taken on the boys and even walked away with a series of surprising victories. But even in the wake of such amazing past seasons as this mare had had, her five year old season was her best one, closely matched by her classic season.

There was no horse like Phantie to Krystal. She could get on this mare and prepare to face the world. And this thought rolled behind Krystal’s eyelids and brought with it a single tear. Damn it Phantie. It was just yesterday that we won the Kentucky Derby, the Distaff, the Dubai Filly Cup for the second time…! Krystal glared at the mare, and this elicited a stronger reaction than any tears could have. Phantie stomped a hoof and snapped irritably in her direction. It was though she was saying I know all that happened. Quit your whining, and let’s get the big race. Krystal could not agree more. The Breeders Cup Classic...this was their second try at it. Krystal had dreamed of capturing this race for years. This was their last chance. She gulped and attempted to erase her nerves. She had done this before, faced this before aboard Sillenia for their third Filly And Mare Turf victory. But somehow, this was different.

Henna Turath looked into the gentle eyes of Forbidden To Fly and knew he could be the last great racehorse she ever rode. Like it or not, she was riding less and less now, turning her attention to other matters in her life. The only one who had noticed so far was Krystal. Henna intended to keep it that way until she spoke up about her own matters. Thankfully, Krystal knew more than to butt into her business. Fly was the last in her dynasty of Forbidden Wings foals. It felt like so many things were coming to an end at once. Fly was the single fastest horse in the barns right now. The winner of thirty-seven races was among the biggest surprises on the tracks when he appeared. He did have a champion’s attitude. No, he treated racing like a game to be won. He was loud all the time and rarely took anything seriously. Only years of riding this horse granted Henna the ability to make him focus.

Fly had rattled off the most impressive season a sprinter could run. With twelve Horse Of The Year victories, Fly topped the standings. The horse had won at up to eight furlongs, but had proved simply unbeatable at six furlongs. It had been acknowledged that Fly was simply the fastest horse in horse racing at six furlongs. Not even Mastermind could defeat him at the distance. And the best news was, the Breeders Cup Sprint was in Fly’s wheelhouse. Henna could have clapped her hands at the news if it hadn’t been so perfectly planned. Fly’s Breeders Cup history was indeed a colorful one. As a juvenile, Fly had won the nine furlong Breeders Cup Juvenile against the industry’s Triple Crown hopefuls, a victory that had left people scratching their heads in surprise. A sprinter, defeating the best of the classic horses? Unheard of. Fly had sprinted after that, but nobody had forgotten his class at every distance in his range. Fly was just...special.

The meeting on the track was a serious one. Krystal gazed at Henna and Henna gazed right back. Both recognized something that they sympathized with and felt within themselves, reflected right back at them from the other person. The small smiles they shot each other after that said it all - we are here for each other now. let it be done. Together, the two swung towards the dirt track, walking side by side. Fly bugled to announce his presence, never shutting up, and now the press descended on them. Awe took over their faces as they gazed at Eternal Phantom, marveling at her imposing beauty and absolute precision as she strode to the track. The Queen was making her royal entrance. Forbidden To Fly was impossible to mistake, and the press marveled at his attitude and the build of his body. The two thoroughbreds simply looked fantastic. Phantie snapped her teeth in the direction of a couple of reporters, Krystal shaking her head in silent laughter as she recognized that Phantie probably loved every minute of the press despite her ill temper. And Fly just didn’t care about them. He chose to flit his attention between several different things at once instead. As per usual. Henna felt deep affection fill her - this was why she loved Fly, after all.

Phantie knew the press was watching. Fly was vaguely aware of it. Regardless, it was the Queen who took the lead as they marched onto the dirt at a canter, then a gallop. This was a track neither horse was a stranger to, and both had experienced a lot of success here. Phantie cut to the inside and lengthened her stride at command, fluid in motion and making this all look too easy. Her speed was easily matched by Forbidden To Fly, who happily recognized that his favorite game was going on and he was a player in it. He was perfectly immune to the killer intent Phantie practically radiated as they galloped through an easy quarter. And now the pace increased, Phantie pressing it just as she had during the Preakness Stakes so long ago. Her strides ate up the ground, her focus absolute as she took advantage of the inside rail and left Fly behind by a length. Fly snorted, but Henna focused him on the task. Now they had a target to chase. Phantie had given them exactly what they wanted.

The third furlong whooshed by, then the fourth. And now Henna let Fly run. She giggled almost drunkenly as the speed overwhelmed her. The world was a blur as Fly soared like a unicorn forward. He was so purely happy at top speed, and so bloody fast as well. Henna whooped as they pounced on Phantie like it was nothing and went racing right on past. The black mare would have snarled if she could have, digging in in an attempt to match Fly’s pure speed. She was not as fast as the six furlong specialist - nobody was right now - but she could sure as hell grind him down. Krystal remained motionless as she let the mare work. She needed no encouragement, only open reign. And after one furlong passed, Phantie began to run down her stablemate with absolute intent. Fly could not withstand Phantie’s harsh acceleration as she bounded up to him like a, well, phantom come out of the mist, but he could definitely stick with her to the end. Now he had a target again. Henna encouraged and praised the gray stallion as they stuck with Phantie just as much as Phantie stuck with them.

The King and Queen of SOPS blurred under the wire stride for stride, neither giving up to the other. Fly ended the workout full of his typical innocent joy; Phantie ended it vibrating with the intent to dominate, to conquer. Amber could not help the single tear as she watched two of her finest end their final workout for the Breeders Cup. Every furlong of this workout had been run faster than the last, and the time for the final eighth was unbelievable. She knew what she would have been feeling aboard the backs of these two great horses as they galloped out - pure exhilaration and determination with a touch of sadness.

Henna leaned down to capture her mount’s neck in her arms, burying her face in Fly’s mane. Krystal made no such motion of affection - Phantie would not appreciate it. But she did tangle part of Phantie’s mane in her hand and stroke the neck underneath once. Phantie’s eyes finally glowed briefly with something other than anger or fury or determination. There was affection in them too, for her partner of so many years. Krystal smiled. It was time for both her and Henna to embark on the final ride.