Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Oct 27, 2011 19:27:20 GMT -5
DASHING IN THE FIRELIGHT AND HENNA TURATH
SILLENIA AND KRYSTAL YHATE
WORKOUT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE CUP
It was a beautiful morning; the hues of the morning sun were lightly pink and orange, a pastel of warm colors promising a gorgeous day. The orange hues were reflected in the warm light bay coat of the four year old Dashing In The Firelight. The bay mare had been on a roll lately; with loads of wins this season, she was gearing up for the Independence Cup, one of her first real major dirt stakes. Ever since she had become a grade three, possibilities had opened up before her, and Henna wanted to take full advantage of them. Fire had been working hard to not be overlooked; being sidelined by an injury for the entirety of her three year old season had really hardened the resolve all around of those who cared for her. Henna would let nothing stand in the way of her mare's path to stardom. One more win to grade two, after all.
The dark bay three year old filly was starkly contrasted against Fire's light bay coat. She moved as though she didn't care today, hardly headstrong as she was known to be. The dirt track didn't appear to affect her, even though it had been a while since she had run on it. After a tough Turf Triple Crown campaign, Sillenia was returning to the dirt. Krystal hoped to prove her competence on that surface as well. Sill had talent and was looking to make it big; Krystal intended to guide the filly on her way to stardom. She had been entered in the Independence Cup with Fire, and this workout would get the filly thinking about running on the dirt again. She needed some good competition right now. A five furlong gallop side by side with Fire would get her mind sharpened. She had rested since her campaign, and was raring to go.
As if on cue, Krystal and Henna cued their mounts for a trot instantaneously. Both thoroughbreds smoothly entered the stride, effortlessly going away across the dirt. In no time at all, it was cantering time, and the two entered the rocking gait, once more with little to no effort. There was a quiet rivalry brewing between the two, one of competition and mutual challenge. The two had hardly worked with each other before, but now that they were on the track they were acting like rivals that had been rivals for a long time. Fire's way of showing her feelings was to strictly ignore the three year old's presence. She strode forward at a strict, tightly controlled pace that spoke of more speed hiding in the wings. Sill, on the other hand, openly showed her spirit. She was now pulling slightly at the reins, ready to run.
When it had been long enough, the two women glanced at each other. Seamlessly, with the ease of those who are familiar with each other, they started to count down out loud. When they reached zero, both assumed the galloping position and cued their mounts. Fire responded swiftly; she entered smoothly and stayed just ahead of Sill, who appeared to want to hang back and let Fire set the pace. Though they were only racing five furlongs, both women tactfully held their mounts in and prepared to go for the win. Easy work or not, they were still racing and prepping for the big races.
