Break The Curse.

[Cavallo]

Break The Curse.
Featuring: Nightshade & Barely Legal

Nick stifled a yawn as he emerged from his office, cup of coffee in his hand as he shut the door. It was an extremely busy week for Intrepid and he was feeling it. The crew was going hard at it from dawn till dusk and today would be no different, but for now his attention needed to be focused on the two fillies scheduled for this morning. He heard the piercing shrill of one of his trainees and didn't have to take much of a guess to decipher who was the source. The black bay filly had the regal look to her, but she danced across the dirt terrain sideways with fire in her eyes as Michael worked to keep her in hand - that was Nightshade for you.

She had running an amazing race in the coveted Duabi World Championship. Though Nick had been disappointed to hear of Eternal Phantom's scratch from the race, the remaining field had been nothing to scoff at. He'd been amazed right along with the crowds as Nightshade had fought with a die hard attitude over the sand course. It had been the one race last year that the black bay daughter of Frontier and Requiem has lost and she'd picked up the gauntlet that the competition had thrown to hedge out the now Hall of Famer Bella Luna for a win. He, Nick Landing and the rest of the Intrepid staff had cried and stared in shocked amazement. Nightshade was back. She could no longer be defined as an up and comer or as a mare fighting to regain form, she had arrived to a truly competitive form and they now had the momentum to carry them, through what Nick was hoping to be a Hall of Fame career ending season.

His trained eyes walked over Atropa's form as Michael got a leg up into the saddle. Toned, ready and primed there was no questioning Atropa's readiness. The DTC was a coveted title and one that Atropa had attempted three of four times last season, always placing but never winning, but things had shifted and changed. Last season had been a climb to the summit and now it was time to defend. Nick wasn't naive. He knew there was hungry competition and this season, the best offense was going to be an intimidating defense. In all the years that the DTC had been run, there was only one horse who had ever won it twice and Nick knew Amber was pointing Italian Ice to do just that, but with Nightshade having one race for the season already under her belt and in champion form, they were here to foil plans and seek retribution in a race that had eluded them all last season. It was time to put in the final prep before the showdown and he had just the perfect partner in mind.

Brody Graham looked up at his bay charge. Barely Legal was the same age and very nearly the same height as her partner and she was hungry. Brody had almost felt the need to accept the blame for their fourth place finish, but Nick wouldn't hear it. The race had been just the impetus the five year old had needed. She sood stoic and composed as Brody mounted, but her eyes were honed and trained on Nightshade. She had hungry eyes. She had tasted defeat and looked for redemption. Her body language was tense and trained as Brody settled into the saddle.

Michael wrangled Nightshade into attention as Nick stepped up and held the filly's bridle. "She's ready for this. She wants this, but so does the competition. Everyone is a legitimate threat, but Nightshade is here for fight and defend. She has the high ground in this battle and we're going to use it." Michael was determined and so was Nightshade, but then so was their stalwart competition and right now that was in the form of Leila and Brody. "Take them at a gallop for the mile and bring them home on their own accord." Nick instructed as he stepped back and allowed way for the two massive thoroughbreds to move by with determination gleaming from their eyes.

Side by side the two seasoned five year olds galloped with a sense of control and power that could only come with age and experience. Both fillies were taking measure of one another. On paper some wouldn't question Atropa's superiority over Leila, but simply watching the two in motion and Nick would wager that they would be shocked to hear Leila was only a Grade Three. She was holding her ground like the seasoned pro she was, she was just looking to find the right path and circumstances to rise to the top. Michael knew better than to underestimate any competition, too many races had been lost that way, but it didn't mean they had to race in trepidation. There was a cold calculation to everything they did as they galloped their mile in easy fractions. Nick watched as Nightshade initiated the charge and Leila rallied instantly as the fillies dueled for home. Brody felt the wealth of power at his fingertips. Leila was not about to cower and he had to admire the new spirit that was blossoming. Michael admired Leila's tenacity, but both he and Atropa were ready to up the antics as home drew near. Micheal released her head and the black bay flew with a turn of foot that never ceased to amaze him. If there was one thing Nightshade knew how to do, it was to close and close hard despite all obstacles. Brody felt Leila fight on the bit and he released to catch the ground lost and enter the fray again. Nightshade and Michael never called things a done deal and as Leila surged up again Nightshade lunged ahead to pull away again!

Nick laughed on the rail as Nightshade came home a length lead and growing to home as Brody and Barely Legal rebounded again in their wake, but the workout was at an end. Nick smiled, they were going into this DTC seasoned, with eyes wide open and a hunger that ensured they would be spoiling for a fight. Maybe, just maybe, this was the year to break their DTC curse and they were going into this race with one hell of a defensive offense.