Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Apr 19, 2013 16:40:13 GMT -5
FLASHY WINGS AND HENNA TURATH
INFINITE WARCRY AND AMBER BLACK
The season thus far had been lackluster for two great colts and the stable was still beset with the question of why. Infinite Warcry, Amber's lumbering black gentle giant, had been a monster last year, and this year had been hardly a threat. And Flashy Wings, flashiest of the flashiest, was flatlining in his final season. Perhaps it had to do with the absence of Sunset Crusade and any other real competition out on the track, but whatever it was had displeased Henna Turath greatly. Flash was flailing and there were no clues as to why. He perhaps just needed a good pick-me-up before he could begin to truly shine again. As for Infini...he just hadn't been closing fast enough. The kick was there, but he hadn't been making it happen. His statements on the track were always full of heart, but also just-misses. They needed to be faster. And Flash was just missing out there in his favorite position. The two colts were still very much present...they just needed the extra push to be truly great.
Infini and Flash picked up the canter alongside each other, Infini gently rocking along and Flash with a touch more pep in his step. He was always the more expressive one. Infini was just the lumbering gentle giant of muscle and concealed speed alongside, the horse nobody noticed until he barreled down on them. He was packed with the talent, and despite his large size had been a great horse last year. Now this year others had caught up, and they needed to get better in order to stay abreast with the new developments. Infini would be challenged today by Flash. He would need to close faster in order to nab a lead from the talented winner of two legs of the Triple Crown. As for Flash, he would need to stay ahead of Infini or else lose the win as he had in previous races. This workout would test both of them and also help them overcome these difficulties.
The transition to the gallop was flawless. Flash soared into it with beauty and grace, flying away from Infini as though he was standing still. Infini lumbered along without a care in the world, though Amber could keenly feel the four year old honing in and noting Flash's position. His starting gallop was ridiculously slow. Perhaps therein lay the problem. Amber prodded him with a simple shake of the reins. Infini didn't hesitate to obey her command, stretching out a bit more and picking up the pace. His slight acceleration at least gave him the appearance of a galloping horse as he coasted along, not even trying as he appeared to be in his own world. This was their style, patented, tried and occasionally true. And that was Flash's style, well in his own power and guiding the pace.
The beautiful two stallions were moving along great. And now it was time to ask for more. Amber gently nudged Infini along, the black stallion opening up with each nudge. He was not quite accelerating, more like preparing to bear down on his new foe. Flashy Wings was indeed flashy out there, and he hadn't gone yet. It was like Henna was waiting for them, goading them on. Amber frowned. She didn't like ignoring challenges...and seeing as they had three furlongs left, it was time to go. She released the kraken that masqueraded as a gentle giant. Infinite Warcry unfurled his long legs and became a blistering black inferno. He was gone, up the track, a blur of pure, unrecognizable speed. The heart in him cried out for the win, blood pumping furiously as he zeroed in on the thing that mattered.
Henna almost didn't react in time. Infini's acceleration was so ridiculously fast that she almost didn't expect it. But she knew Infini well enough, and she heard those hoofbeats coming and Amber's quiet whispering in Infini's beautiful black ear. She let Flash loose and the five year old roared into speed. He knew the stretch. He knew what his job was. He wasn't as quick at accelerating as Infini, but he matched heart with heart and met Infini's challenge as the black drew alongside. Nose to nose, the two stallions battled for dominance using pure speed and pure determination. Flash dug down and briefly shook off the black leopard at his side, but Infini had experienced this for far too many races now. He heaved and burst forward with entirely new speed, leaving Flash in his dust as he finally hailed victory by an increasing length at the wire.
Pulling the two stallions up, both jockeys were a bit breathless, but both were similarly exulted. They had firecrackers beneath him and the desire to win was strong as ever. The ability was there, ready to be harnessed. They were ready to greet the winners' circle as their domain once more.
