Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Sept 17, 2011 16:29:22 GMT -5
SILLENIA AND KRYSTAL YHATE
THE INNOCENT SKIER AND AMBER BLACK
WORKOUT FOR THE PREAKNESS CHAMPION STAKES
Krystal watched as Amber rode the colt she had began to bond with, making sure Ian was okay with Amber in the saddle. Amber had been second choice to ride the colt, but Krystal knew she had a turf affinity that attracted turfers towards her. She couldn't explain it, but that was just the way it was. It intrigued her, too, how Ian had responded to her. But for the Turf Triple Crown, she was riding Sillenia, and it was victory they sought. In the Kentucky Open, Sill had carried on the Stride Of Perfection tradition of excellence in the TTC, and won it in winning style, with Ian close behind. The two of them were both closers, and had let their lone competitor race from them while they bided their time.
This race, Amber was set on winning, even if it meant that Sill lost her Turf Triple Crown bid. She wanted Ian to win, as the colt was talented enough to do so. Thus, she was going to be working her hardest. Today, though, was not a tough workout. Today was simply a small gallop, side by side, for a half mile. Just enough to loosen the legs and get them humming for the race. Any series of three races was tough on the horse, and Amber didn't want them to overdo it. Critically, Krystal glanced at Amber, noting her firm seat and set expression. She was in workout mode aboard the son of one of her most beloved mares, Hall of Famer Little Miss Innocent. From the expression, it was clear she was enjoying the ride, even if it was only for the next month and a half or so.
Sillenia was having a headstrong day, courtesy of her sire. She pulled at the reins, impatient, and when Krystal did not relent nearly made to snap at Ian, who was close to her side. Ian did not react very much - he simply side stepped a bit and continued trotting. Amber had prepared for Ian to bolt or something, but Krystal knew the colt would not. Ian just was not the bolting type. It would have been very out of character for him to run off. Amber nodded, as though expecting this, and continued. Meanwhile, Sill was getting all huffy-puffy, and tried to find something else to do. She was raring to go, but Krystal wanted to remind her who was boss first. She pulled back at the reins, and Sill slowed, grudgingly listening to her rider. Had it been anyone else, she would have kept going. Krystal smiled, and then performed a quick reinback, setting back Sill's pace even more. She reinbacked again, and then called ahead to Amber Ready!
Ian was going along smoothly. He didn't seem to mind the slower pace, instead enjoying it and the recovery. Amber liked the feel of the colt. He was smooth like his dam, and classy like both his sire and dam. He carried royal bloodlines, and carried himself occasionally like the royalty he was, but usually he showed no outward emotion. He was not overly affectionate or expressive, probably because he had been moved around a lot. Amber intended to keep him at SOPS permanently, though. She had missed Galaxy Ruler, and wanted him here with his dam and the rest of Missy's foals, his half siblings. The Turf Triple Crown had always been an ambition for a Missy foal. Amber would have liked to have run Missy in it, but there hadn't been a TTC all those years ago. Hearing Krystal's voice, she forced herself to refocus on the workout.
Amber cued Ian to canter, and then to gallop. Krystal waited for Ian to gallop before asking Sill to canter, and then finally letting the filly gallop. But she kept her behind Ian, not letting her have her way, gently reminding her that her rider, and not Sill, was in control. The dark bay filly struggled at first to catch up to Ian, not liking the fact he was kicking clods of turf in her face. Krystal just knew that Amber was smirking right now. Krystal hated having Amber and Ian ahead, too, but she had to teach her filly a lesson, even if she wanted the exact same thing the filly did. Eventually, after about a quarter mile, Sill became a much more quiet ride. With a quarter left to go, Krystal let Sill pick it up a bit, and by the time the two horses galloped under the wire Sill and Ian were neck to neck, just as Amber had intended.
Both women slowed their horses, and nodded to each other. Their work was done. Now it was up to the horses to prove themselves in the Preakness Champion Stakes.
