dawn of battle

[S u N f r O s T ~]

BATTLE WINGS AND KRYSTAL YHATE - WINTER DAWN TREADER CUP

The decision to enter the Winter Dawn Treader Cup had been an impulsive one. Battle was certainly running a nice enough season to wager consideration for it, but even Krystal hadn't actually thought they'd find themselves in the starting gate. They would be facing down Dancing Fool, Anodyne and Flashpoint - not an easy field, but certainly not one out of Battle's capabilities. The cold bay daughter of Akuma Battlecry would be a force to reckon with out there. Krystal had ridden this mare since she was a yearling. She knew her capabilities. Battle made a terrifically strong distaff runner, but she was also good enough to challenge the boys. And she would not show an ounce of mercy on race day. This Battle was looking for wins. She was as hungry for the win as she had been before the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies - as she got older, winning became more and more an item on the menu for her to command. And a Dawn Treader Cup win looked pretty darn good on any record.

Battle eyed the dirt track as she coasted over it like a predator. She knew this track, had garnered some wins over it, and she was ready to assume command. Krystal grinned and just let the mare jog her warm-up, occasionally breaking into a canter and not batting an eye whenever a galloping horse coasted by on the inside. Battle just did it all on her own. That was a trademark of Stride Of Perfection's senior stock - they didn't need much direction in their workouts, doing it all on their own while performing to a high standard in the process. That was part of the reason why SOPS senior horses were renown. They could maintain their form and rage extremely competitive campaigns all throughout their final year or two on the track.

Krystal counted down the furlongs they jogged. When they hit the fourth one, she leaned forward. Battle took off like a stealth jet coasting into flight. Her movement was powerful, flashy as she marched down the backstretch, fluid and focused. Krystal didn't even have to do a thing - Battle knew her workout pace and stuck to it. She was competitive now, keeping her competition in sight and letting her running do the talking. She accelerated past any horses she came into contact with, letting them know she was boss before settling down. That was the thing Krystal loved the most about her older distaff runners - they always knew how to command the track with their presence. Battle Wings was not like Eternal Phantom on the surface, but they ran similarly - always in control and competitively so.

They finished off a half mile at the gallop and Krystal let her mare coast as she wished for a quarter before slowing down to finish the workout out. Battle had stretched her legs and proven her readiness. It was time to tackle their foes in the Winter Dawn Treader Cup.