in memory of

[S u N f r O s t ~]

DASHING IN THE FIRELIGHT AND HENNA TURATH
SILLENIA AND KRYSTAL YHATE

WORKOUT FOR THE EUPHORIA MEMORIAL STAKES

Both fillies were beautiful bays that attracted the eyes of everybody around to their forms. Fire moved with a ruthless stride; each hoof appeared to crush the dirt beneath them, as though the heat of her will was burning the track. Sill, on the other hand, moved like a colt. Her bulk certainly would have mistaken her for one, and the fact that she had won the Juvenile Turf against colts last year could also make one fall for that illusion. But Sill was also skilled on the dirt track, and today she would be working out with Fire to prove it in their upcoming race, the Euphoria Memorial Stakes. The competition was stiff, and somewhere within both women had decided to work together to defeat their upcoming enemies.

Sill was having an unusually low-key day. She wasn't as headstrong as she normally was, instead listening quietly to her rider's commands and not asking for more. Krystal regarded this with relief. The filly had bee hard to handle lately, especially during the warm summer, but the cooler weather appeared to be affecting her temperament. Winter was upon them, and that meant championship races were coming up. Krystal wanted Sill ready to take on the competition. Alongside her, Henna was also thinking of Fire's future. The Euphoria Memorial had been a random prep race thrown in before the Dubai Filly Cup. Henna knew that Fire could take a heavy racing schedule - she definitely wasn't worried about that. But she wanted Fire to win, and that meant lots of hard work.

Instead of going for a long warm up as they usually did, both women simply let their mounts go. They were willing to give them free reign to race as they pleased for the next six furlongs or so. It was sometimes good to let the mares feed off of their natural competitiveness for each other. Given the free reign, both reacted most admirably and went straight into a considerate gallop. Both of them were racing veterans, and they knew what to do. Fire took the lead, slightly ahead of Sill, who appeared to be goading Fire on. Fire, being Fire, was more than willing to take the challenge, and kept ahead of the closer for the next furlong. Henna was careful to rate Fire's pace so she didn't run with her heart instead of her head. The mare didn't back down from challenges, especially from stablemates or her rival Moondance, who also happened to be her sister, whom they would be facing in their next race.

Two furlongs flew by, and neither horse was flagging. Krystal could practically hear the wheels spinning in Sill's mind as the filly calculated her next move. Her will was pliable beneath Krystal's hands today, but she was letting the dark bay make her own decisions. Ahead of them, Fire looked like a horse made of flame. She was a beautiful light bay who was just coiling and uncoiling, bounding ahead like an unloosed conflagration. But she was Sill's target; the filly would not let her get too far ahead. She wanted to win this race. After another furlong flew by and they were racing around the final turn, Sill finally made her move. Like fire set to gasoline, she came roaring on home. Krystal grinned, reminded of her previous mount Passionate Class, and shook the reins at Sill, letting her know that she had her head for the stretch run.

Henna seemed to sense Sill coming; she let Fire go just as the dark bay filly came alongside. Why so late? Fire also had a good turn of foot, one that Henna hoped would put the dark bay filly to shame. Unfortunately, she had underestimated Sill. The filly got ahead by half of a length before Fire matched her speed and worked on overtaking it. Slowly, she inched up alongside, and then the two female thoroughbreds were going stride for stride right down to the wire. It was too close to tell who had lost the race of free reign. Instantly retaking control, both women slowed their horses down to a canter, and then to a trot. Fire and Sill were both panting and sweating, but they looked good, and felt good too. They were ready to take their next competitors on!