send it flying

[S u N f r O s T ~]

WISH UPON A STAR AND KRYSTAL YHATE
DEMONIC DESIRES AND AMBER BLACK
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
ATHENA'S DESIRES AND HENNA TURATH
TRINITY AND CHRISTOPHER BLACK

This was one of Amber's more unconventional workouts. She had proposed a relay around the track of some sort and then left it completely in the hands of her other riders to figure out the logistics. Every SOPS horse was fit as a fiddle, so Amber wanted this workout to be focused on fun. Such was her rationale as she winked at the set and went first. Demonic Desires flared dangerous speed as he flashed over the turf, muscles flexing as he bent to the rail and cut the turn sharply into the backstretch. He was a oncoming train, speed all at the ready as he beat it down the turf. Amber grinned, drinking in the pure speed. She understood more and more every day why Henna Turath only rode the speedy ones. The thrill of seeing the world blurred like this atop a powerhouse equine was addicting. Demon was perhaps her fastest horse - Ventura was fast, too, but Demon had this pure speed born to sprinters that had sprinter parents. Demon moved easily despite the speed and the power, clipping off a quarter in twenty two flat and barely being affected by it. Amber let him out more for the half, didn't bother glancing at her watch for it, then slowed him as they came to the next horse in the line-up.

Tag, you're it. Wish Upon A Star galloped away as Demon was pulled off, barely blowing as he was cooled down and Amber kept eyes glued on the rest of her stock. Wish moved like an athlete. She was readily responsive to everything Krystal asked, and her easy stride hinted at the mountains of stamina she possessed. Wish was one of those horses who just got better and better over time. The way she carried herself now was a product of experience and class. Krystal leaned a bit closer to her mane, asked for a touch of speed as they hit the sixth furlong. Wish gave it easily. This was one of the things Krystal loved about this mare - she had mountains of stamina, but upon asking she gave speed easily, too, and she could sustain it. She was light footed and swift as she headed to the wire, where the next horse in the line-up awaited. Krystal sent a smile to the rider's way and received a wild grin back. Valencia was ready to roll.

Valencia sent the signal to her mare and got a whiff of blazing speed back. In The Spotlight, the surprise winner of the Breeders Cup Turf that had catapulted her into the spotlight - what a pun - had plenty of speed. She was definitely one of their more fast turf routers in the barn. Her win in the Breeders Cup Turf had saved the mare another Breeders Cup appearance. Her final race would come in the Tropical Rainforest Invitational, if invited, and then she would be retired. There was really nothing the mare needed to prove. Her bloodlines were valuable to SOPS and her performance on the track had been spectacular. Innie flew over the track, as light footed as Wish but perhaps a bit more swift. This boundless energy was key to her front running style. Valencia did not have to work the mare for long - she was already in top form. But they would do at least six furlongs before handing over the turf to somewhere else. For now, the four year old chestnut blazed like lightning for the entirety of her gallop and finished up with a defiant head-toss and a loud neigh.

Now speed related to the likes of Demonic Desires took to the track. Athena's Desires moved just like her brother - wildly fast - but she had a more delicate frame than her brother and was a bit smaller, thanks to her sire Pegasus Wings. She was also a bit less expressive, marked more by her dam in that respect. Her speed fit exactly Henna's brand. Henna let the filly fly as fast as she wanted - there was no harm in this. The sprinter crowns were coming up and they were going to let the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner flash some speed to assert her position. Athena was perhaps a touch faster than even Demon had been. She just had more problems moderating it, leading to a bit less of her brother's success at three. Henna would let the filly run for now, and after clipping off the quarter in a shade under twenty-two she moderated the speed, bringing her to a coasting half mile in forty eight before handing off the track to the next horse in the set. Athena had demonstrated her speed and her control - what more could be asked?

The final horse in the set was Trinity, running back to the turf like she had all season. She had switched from the dirt last season after demonstrating her prowess in a stakes race and had experienced mixed success. However, she had pulled off an upset win last race over a top turf miler in Spotlight Pride - Innie's half brother, funnily enough - and that had given the stable all it needed to keep Trinity on the Green Mile trail. It had also reassured her young rider, Christopher Black, Amber's cousin currently in her first year of racing. Trinity was like him - shy and reserved, but willing to show what she had. Now they made their way over the track, floating, Trin quiet and sticking to the rail, waiting for the cue. She didn't like being out here by herself, but she had seen her stablemates at least. Christopher let her gallop for a half, coast for a furlong and then explode for the final eighth. Trin gave as much as he asked, flashing some of that developing speed before finishing off the workout with a flourish.

A good set. Amber's grin said it all.