Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Aug 9, 2012 15:17:39 GMT -5
SWEET INFERNO AND HENNA TURATH
ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
SWEETIE'S AND PHANTIE'S SPRING CUP WORKOUTS
Triple Crown season was approaching and Krystal couldn't help biting her lip as she thought about it. Phantie had, thus far, had a classy season. She had won against her eternal rival Paradise Island in the very first start of the season but had failed to win against older stallion Knight Rousseau last time out. This was a defeat Krystal found herself willing to accept. They wouldn't be perfect every time out and she had long since accepted that. But they had to work on approaching perfection right now. March Week One brought the first of the Triple Crown prep races, the Wood Memorial Stakes. Krystal had had this race penciled into her mental calendar since the end of last year. Phantie was to take on the Crown and she was to win it, too. Unless a filly was threatening to take the entire Triple Tiara, they would stay with the Crown to the end. The black filly was capable of winning against the boys, and she was tough. Krystal wanted nothing less than the best for her.
They were entered in the Spring Cup Grade Four Dirt. Phantie was not yet grade three, not for lack of trying, but they were only two wins away from reaching that milestone. There was only one other horse entered in the race so far, Strictly Royal, whom Krystal had actually ridden at one time. She knew the colt, now a stallion, well, and despite the fact that he was older she knew that they could defeat him. Roy had won his first start of the season and was coming in hot. He would be setting the pace. Krystal also knew that they could end up facing Euphoria's Warrior. The Grade Three Dirt would likely collapse into the Grade Four Dirt. Phantie had defeated the colt in the Breeders Cup Juvenile and hadn't seen him since. He had won his first race of the season as well and would be closing from behind. This left Phantie's running style up in the air. She was usually a front runner or a closer. Because she would see Warrior and identify him as a threat, they would likely be near the pace. Krystal would make sure they didn't get tired out as the race progressed, and by doing so would hopefully guarantee their victory. She was fully expecting to see Warrior among others at the Wood Memorial and this would be a good prep for that race.
Their workout partner today was the talented black thunderball of a filly Sweet Inferno. She was brave, bold and a complete queen, expecting everybody to meet her every whim without question. She was meanest off the track and nicest on it. Henna had yet to fully understand the filly's psyche, but so far the Crooked Fire and Sweet Stalker daughter had proven herself to be immensely talented. She had most recently run second in the Give Me A Chance Stakes and was coming into this race rested. Unfortunately, they were being faced by five challengers, only one of which was their age. It was going to be tough and the race would likely ruin Sweetie's perfect record. But Henna had argued that if Golden Ghost was going for it, they would be, too. It was the argument she had used with Sizzling Dawn, and Dawn had been facing up to older competition a lot ever since hitting grade five. Henna was confident Sweetie could do the same, and Amber was trusting her in this matter.
Dreamvalley had sent three horses to face them - Lucky Silver, Santana's Gold and Enchantress. Henna had counted them as threats due to their greater age, but nothing more. If anything, there was nothing spectacular about any of them, but they were all capable of pulling a surprise. They made up two closers and a mid packer, meaning there would definitely be some horses at the back this race. The two year old Golden Ghost had placed third and behind them last time out. He was another closer and Henna found it likely that he'd have some traffic problems during this race. Lady Ophelia was the other Prison Hill entry and the last one in this race. She was the pace of it all and Henna knew she had been having a good season. The win was most likely going to go to her, and she knew it. The mare had experience, age, maturity...everything on them. She had even been prepared for this. She had won last time out and was coming in ready for more.
Sweetie was a front runner, which could actually play against her in this situation. Lady Ophelia was known for being fiercely competitive, and Sweetie was also very competitive. She was known for taking races wire to wire, her preferred style. To rate her pace would be very tough in this race. They had to have enough left to fend off the closing charge when it came. Henna was actually questioning her judgement in entering, but being aboard the black filly always made her feel better. She guided Sweetie towards the dirt track, the filly fighting every step of the way until her hoof finally dug into the dirt. Then she was calm, and she strode out with sudden sweetness and a confidence that instilled more confidence in Henna as well. She grinned and guided the filly along, and she was feeling light as air as she did so. They were ready to go.
Krystal knew what challenges Henna was facing in her next race and had decided before the workout that she would have Phantie play the part of Ophelia. This way, Henna could work on rating Sweetie's pace. It would lead to a speed duel, so they were only working half a mile at the gallop today. But to get some bottom and conditioning in, they were going to be trotting and cantering a mile and a half first. Krystal grinned as she spotted the black Inferno out on the track already. She guided Phantie forward, and the phantom horse was light as air as she stepped onto the track and barely brushed the ground as she approached her partner for today. Her keen gaze had already fixed on her competition and she snorted in recognition. Sweet Inferno. The two year old black filly who thought she had it all off the track and was obedient on it. They had worked together before and Henna knew that the previous experience would definitely flavor the workout today.
The two jockeys met up and each began their mile and a half conditioning work. Phantie glided barely ahead of Sweetie, silently taunting her, as they progressed at a trot. Sweetie at first ignored the challenges, but as two furlongs passed them by she finally responded. She tried to bolt forward, and even managed two strides at a gallop before Henna had her firmly in control. She was held back as Phantie strode up yet again and then slightly took the lead once more. It was agonizingly painful and annoying and Krystal knew that her mount was taunting the two year old. She couldn't stop the smirk from forming on her face as Phantie continued her taunt throughout the mile and a half trot and canter. Now at the end of it, Sweetie was sweaty and worked up, and Henna had her hands full. It was with relief that she released her filly into the gallop, Phantie just following behind.
Sweetie made for the lead and Phantie eventually came up for it too. She ghosted just ahead, and Sweetie fought back, increasing her pace. Such was the way of things for two furlongs, and by the end of it Sweetie was practically sprinting. She wouldn't last six furlongs at this pace, and Henna knew it. She collected the suddenly fiery inferno of a horse and tried to hold her in. It took a furlong before Sweetie acknowledged the command and dropped the pace a little bit. Phantie, too, was slowing, as though sensing the sudden control over her competition. She was likely disappointed that Sweetie had failed to fall for her game for the entirety of the race. As the final half drew to a close, Henna realized she was grinning. She had done it! She had slowed the inferno despite Phantie's constant pestering! If she could do it now, then she could do it in the race. As for Phantie...the black filly had more than proven the cunning and speed she possessed today, and Krystal was confident that they could pull off a win.
