Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Dec 20, 2011 18:52:19 GMT -5
AXIS MUNDAE AND AMBER BLACK
FOOLISH LAD AND KRYSTAL YHATE
AXIA'S WORKOUT FOR THE BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE TURF
As a two year old filly, Axia had shown some of the spirit that her dam had been well known for. Little Miss Innocent had been an excellent little racehorse, of course, with her funny attitude and daring intelligence. To ride Axia was to experience something similar to that. There was the same kind of fire and determination in her that had been present in her dam. Of course, her sire Warlock had contributed too, but Axia was more like her dam than her sire. She loved to sprint, but her favorite distance was at one mile. And what do you know, the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf was run over one mile. This was one of the reasons why Amber had decided to put Axia up to the task of facing a male field. Axia would be facing Chicago Blues, Executioner's Apprentice and Silent Fury, and Amber was praying for a win from her. Axia had the talent, and she had the guts. Now she needed the luck and the additional work.
Thus, she was set to work with an experienced grade one turfer by the name of Foolish Lad. Laddy had his own Breeders Cup race to worry about - the Breeders Cup Turf, specifically - but he was the perfect horse for this workout. Krystal had at first been unwilling to work Laddy again, but after hearing Amber out on her reasoning was forced to accept and deal with it. Laddy could always use an extra fitness run, anyway. He would need it for the twelve furlong turf - but luckily, he was a distancey runner anyway, and twelve furlongs happened to be one of his favorite distances. But back to Axia. The black filly was only now beginning to walk out onto the turf track. As was common of Krystal when it came to Laddy, she was already there, having shown up early for the appointed workout. Amber smiled a gracious smile, but didn't speak. Instead, she had Axia begin to trot, and Laddy followed the black filly meekly.
As they trotted, and then cantered, Amber thought over the running styles of the horses she was facing. From what she had seen, Silent Fury and Chicago Blues would both go straight to the lead, with Executioner's Apprentice somewhere behind them. Where, then, should Axia run? The filly could run virtually any position that she felt like. If she felt energetic, she'd pull to the front. If she felt like a hunter, she'd go for a closing position. If she felt like being in the thick of the action, she'd go for the preceder or mid pack spot. Really, Axia had raced well with all of these racing styles, but in Amber's opinion a running style as a closer or as a preceder just alongside of Executioner's Apprentice seemed to be the best strategy for this race. Hopefully, Chicago Blues and Silent Fury would just duke it out and get tired, so that Axia could come and swipe away their lead. But then they'd have to worry about Executioner's Apprentice, who would probably be as fresh as Axia. Axia had never been driven like that to the wire before. Amber frowned. Hopefully the filly would be able to handle the additional stress.
Finally, after a sufficient amount of time, Amber turned slightly towards Krystal and began to speak. I don't want to push Axia hard she began. After all, she's got a very tough race coming up. Being the only filly in a field of colts is tough - however, you should know that it's possible to win. You won with Sillenia, after all. Krystal nodded, smiling slightly as she recalled that day. So, what I want to do is get Laddy to cruise with her for about half a mile. Have him go at his regular starting speed. His starting speed is good, and seeing as he's a closer as well - and a dang good one, at that - I want to feel how Axia is at that speed, and work from there. Also, this will give her an inkling of the speed I expect on race day. Krystal nodded. On the inside, she thought that a pre-race would have done more for Axia, but she also understood Amber's decision to hold the filly back a bit. Though she looked like a colt and definitely behaved like one sometimes, she was still a filly, and Amber was being extra careful because of that.
As soon as Krystal's approval was received, Amber smiled and said You start! Krystal smirked slightly. Try and keep up with us! she invited, and then cued Laddy to gallop. The five year old grade one leaped into the pace easily as he had done many times before. Not wanting to be left behind, Axia started to gallop as well, though a little hesitantly. Amber's slightly delayed command steadied her stride, and Amber nudged the filly up alongside of Laddy. Axia did not appear to be struggling with the pace - she was coasting, really, and indicated by the constant slight tension on the reins that she wanted to go faster. But Amber held her back, drinking in her current speed with a smile on her face. If Axia could be this good on race day, the Juvenile Turf could very well become theirs. Axia certainly had the turf breeding, the experience and the record necessary to take home the win, after all. All Amber could do was hope to make her succeed in this challenge.
The four furlongs passed quickly; in no time at all, Amber and Krystal were pulling up their mounts. Laddy appeared quietly pleased, while Axia seemed upset that the race had ended before she had gotten a chance to beat the stallion. Amber grinned, and Krystal gave her a thumbs up. Axia was definitely ready to take on the boys in the Juvenile Turf. It would be a challenge, but she was ready to conquer the Breeders Cup.
