Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Sept 22, 2012 19:14:07 GMT -5
INFINITE WARCRY AND AMBER BLACK
KENTUCKY OPEN WORKOUT
Could you see the thrumming of power beneath the black thoroughbred's frame? Could you read the desire in his eyes, muted by the same simple softness that had captured Amber's heart in the first place?
He was sure footed and swift. Muscles rippled as the black giant strode forward. He was not an arrogant creature. He did not look at the track as though he owned it. In fact, he seemed to lack the typical temperament of a racehorse. He moved instantly to response to his rider's commands, predicting what she was going to ask him to do and doing it without being asked. He was an easy ride due to his obedience. But when Infinite Warcry got running, you would be hard pressed to hold on for the ride. Not in the beginning, though. At first he'd be like a ship on a gentle sea. All that muscle, none of it being used, power channeling into the back end, collecting, preparing. And when the storm came, and the stretch arrived, that was when you found yourself pushed back by the force of the wind as Infini sprinted faster than the fastest sprinter in his conquest for the lead, a war cry glinting in his suddenly fierce eyes.
Amber Black was astride this magnificent black and her heart was filled with buckets of love, a tinge of excitement and plenty of nervousness. This was the moment they had trained, rested and worked for. The Kentucky Open. The most lightly raced three year old she had ever laid eyes on had laid claim to ten wins in thirteen starts, five of those wins coming from this year. He was the favorite for the Turf Triple Crown and Amber had known that he would be. He had taken the two Turf Triple Crown preps open to him and the Wire Finish Cup Turf against older horses. So essentially, he had been a winning machine this year. And Amber had become careful of that. That was why he hadn't been seen since the third week of March. Now, a little over a month later, he had been training brilliantly, was amazingly well rested and was ready to rumble in the Open.
Their only competition so far was Frozen Motion. The Witch Creek colt had only this year become such a contender for the Crown. He was a new purchase of theirs and a horse Amber had somehow gotten a reserve to since he was a weanling. Perhaps even then Amber had sensed that Freeze was going to be good. He had definitely lived up to the expectations. He had been racing at the Wire tracks a lot and then shipped here for a race March Week Five at the Stable Face Off. That was Amber's first real taste of riding against the colt. She had ridden Wild Kiss to victory in that race while he took third. But he was fast. They had worked out with him, and Witch Creek horses always worked well. She knew Brookson Wells was going for the win here and that he had it easier than she did right now. She had stress; he had excitement. But as soon as she got in the saddle of this wonderful creature, she relaxed and refocused. As she would right now.
Krystal Yhate was waiting for her at the track railing. Henna Turath and Valencia Andrews were somewhere else, poised to time Infini going through some fractions. His times were, if anything, slow, but he moved so easily as to brag of the capability to go faster. He had been conditioned thoroughly on the SOPS turf track and even taken for a good ride on the hilly trails twice a week. As a result, he had an even deeper chest now and he moved as lightly as ever. He just felt so ready to go, purring like an engine beneath her, the horse that surprised the world with his late charges. That would be their disadvantage in the Open. Freeze would leave them in the dust at first. Could they manage to run him down? If they began to on the final turn they would be fine, as always, but Freeze could set whatever pace he wanted and have plenty left. He'd be alone up there unless some other horse entered, which seemed unlikely at this stage in the game.
That was why Krystal was here. She was Amber's pep talker. And as Amber walked Infini over and halted at the track entrance, taking in the quiet working atmosphere and the small crowd that had somehow gathered at this early part of the morning to watch them work out, she felt a tendril of sweat trace its way down the back of her neck and let out a sigh she didn't know she had been holding. Krystal took her best friend in at a glance before launching into a monologue that had the tone of preparation embedded in it. You listen well Amber Black. You and Infini are the Big Cheese. Infini here is the most promising horse you've ever sent to the Turf Triple Crown, and yes, that includes Wildly Natural. You've got the most powerful closer you've ever ridden aboard and a horse whose record triumphs whatever we've ever had. He's got talent, experience, grade and rest on his side. The only thing you may need to worry about is Freeze getting too far ahead of you. But don't forget, you know how Freeze ticks. You faced him in the last week of March with Kiss. How funny is it that Kiss is a closer too? You've beaten him with a closer before. Infini is faster than Kiss right now. You can take him. She paused, and then stated passionately Have some confidence girl. This could be it. Rock and roll.
Krystal would never know how truly thankful Amber Black was for her pep talk today. It raised her spirits and Infini's head quietly began to raise along with them as he acknowledged the change in his rider and readied himself for a good workout again. He pawed the ground once, snorted quietly, and as Amber murmured her thank you in a small tone of voice began to stride forward even as Amber barely asked. Infini just knew what his rider wanted. They went right over the dirt and instantly to the turf track. The home of Stride Of Perfection Stabled. Infini's domain, if they could get and stay there. This was the first step. Could they do this? Could they maintain these titles and transcend even what Amber dreamed of accomplishing? A heady feeling, and then a quiet snort from Infini bringing her back to earth.
They were doing a mile gallop and four furlong race run, with slight pick up at the end, before going into an additional four furlong slow gallop. A pick up, just to get Infini's legs moving a bit. The black colt lived for the distance. The longer a race got, the more likely he was to win it. It just gave him more time to barrel up from nowhere, take that lead and run with it, if they were so fortunate. Infini loved to win and Amber didn't want to deny him his happiness after so much work on his part. But first, they were cantering for a while. Just a bit, to get his legs pumping and some more blood flowing. Amber wanted to feel him out before galloping him. She checked him every day for heat, swelling or any other kind of injury and had given him a clean bill of health each time. He was perfectly healthy and Amber didn't want to overdo it. She gave him what he could handle and challenged him as often as she deemed it necessary. He was growing as a racehorse and Amber just wanted to get to his speed.
She let the pace increase and then they were trotting, cantering, rocking to the slow motion that was Infini. He was in no hurry at all. Amber felt as though she was barely riding a horse. He asked for nothing more, took what he was given and enjoyed the turf beneath his hooves. There was a fire within him, but overriding that fire was the love to run and please his rider. He was the calmest of the thoroughbreds and Amber had a relationship with this horse that rivaled her Merry Bay King relationship. The two weren't related, but it just felt as though she knew him as well as she had known King, and the small smile on her face, omnipresent whenever she rode him, mirrored her expression aboard King. But unlike King, Infini was his own unique racehorse, and she wasn't ever going to forget that like she had with Legacy.
The rolling canter felt easy, effortless and light. She rolled it over into the gallop, barely flicking out her hands and easing him out. He uncoiled his long stride and began to flick along. The track was well mowed and the turf beneath his hooves firm. He picked up every stride with no resistance and laid it back down surely. He felt confident out here, at peace with Amber on his back, just out for another run, aware of the expectation that enshrouded Amber but running regardless. He was smooth and the embodiment of her dreams. The Turf Triple Crown. How she had desired it, dreamed of it, and now aboard this horse how close she was to it, yet so far. The gallop. This gallop. Collecting and releasing, each breath easy, his tail streaming out behind him like a proud banner.
To an onlooker, he looked magnificent. He moved with the utmost of ease and languidness, each stride fluid and strong. He was a machine uncoiling his stride. The mile passed and Amber let him know he could run if he desired. The colt ate up the rein, some actual eagerness showing through. This was the temperament of a typical thoroughbred, this need to run, and it finally bled through Infini's calmly constructed exterior. He was getting ready to fly, and at Amber's command and quiet, bare urging he flew. He spread those wings and the acceleration nearly threw Amber back. She felt like she was driving a car, accelerating onto the highway. They curved around that first turn into the stretch like a race car would, drifting outward slightly and loving every minute.
Wind called their name. Exhilaration and adrenaline ruled their veins. Could you see the thrumming of power more clearly now? Could you see the way it supernaturally appeared, and had the capacity to leave the world shocked and his competitors behind? He was a fantastic machine, running off like he hadn't been running, almost leaving her behind as he reached and stretched, bounded and recoiled, pushing off with his hooves, using that power that always collected into his hind end to sprint along. They were midway down the backstretch now and Amber knew that she wanted to keep going, despite the fact that she was supposed to slow him up. But she wanted more, wanted to feel more, wanted to push him more. This was too easy for him. This four furlong drive was a walk in the park. So Amber Black decidedly let the colt go and held on.
The three year old did not hesitate. It was clear to him that Amber wanted speed and he was only too happy to go ahead and give it. So his pace increased more, twicefold, fivefold, tenfold, who knew, and he gave more to the rider he knew and loved and who cared about him in return. And so they flew together, off around the turn, into the stretch, sustaining a long drive without maximum effort. The stares of the crowd bored into his black form as he whipped into the stretch and surprised all as he increased his speed again for the final furlong, coasting under the wire before Amber had him back under her soft hand, lightly easing him up into a cool down like none other. She was aware only of his breathing returning to a slower tempo as he slowed down, his legs still taking massive strides. She had no idea what his times had been and she didn't care. She knew what she knew, and that was what she felt.
Krystal Yhate knew her times. Valencia and Henna knew her times. And the smirks on their faces were unmistakable. Each successive furlong just slightly faster after the six furlong mark. A sustained drive that only increases in its magnitude. They had a champion here and he had just turned in a massively impressive workout for the Open over this fantastic track, the making of turf legends. Many had set hoof here. Infini was up there with them. They felt it in their hearts, and as one the SOPS crew united to welcome Amber off of the track and help her get Infini cooled down and ready to go for the Open in a couple days time. They wanted their champion to do his best. For he was no longer just Amber's. He was their soldier, off to war for the entire team, to get what they had desired for many a year but never had.
