the stand

[S u N f r O s t ~]

AQUATIC ADDICTION AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
ALUCARD AND HENNA TURATH

The sprinting division of Stride of Perfection Stables was perhaps not as well known as their classic and miler divisions. But they still had horses packed with talent that had raced there. Just last week Aquatic Addiction had placed third in the Quick Cup for Valencia Andrews. That had been one of his few starts over the Green Horse Fields track this year and he had come out of it beautiful and raring for me. Theo was a willing and able son of Shiver Me Timbers who had some deeply buried talent and ambition. He had begun to show that this year with four wins over the Wire dirt and the ranking of grade three. Valencia hoped to hit grade one by early next year. That would be amazing for her. Valencia was growing rapidly in her abilities as a jockey and everybody who knew her understood her potential.

And speaking of potential, a new horse had been acquired from Witch Creek - the fine son of Scripture's Sapphire and Finale Slew known as Alucard. He was a beautiful animal who looked truly Arabian, right down to the disdain and coldness glinting from his eyes that came from the knowledge of one's inner power and might. Henna Turath had received this troublesome mount despite the fact that he was more of a Krystal Yhate type of horse, probably because Krystal didn't know the sprinting circuit nearly as well as Henna Turath did. She didn't mind Alu, even if he treated her like the ground beneath her hooves. As she reminded herself, what mattered was that the bay juvenile could run and packed one heck of a closing kick within his hooves. He was dispassionate but not a horse she could fault for being so.

Theo was being pointed to some major sprinting races for three year olds this year, provided he took more to the Green Horse Fields dirt track. As it was, the son of Shiver Me Timbers did prefer the Wire greatly, but they were trying to breach new horizons with him. Alucard stared down the tip of his nose at the dirt and merely snorted. He had no such preferences or quandaries about the surface beneath his hooves and could have cared less. The majority of his races were at the Wire, but he had broken his maiden over this track. The stable hoped to send him to the Orchid Cup Colts in July, and for that Henna needed to forge a partnership. As she walked the haughty bay onto the dirt track she felt a flare of passion and a sudden desire to express a personality. Alu stopped and stood still, then snaked his head out and threatened to bite Theo. Henna jerked his head away, shocked at the quick change in personality but adapting quickly to it. She could deal with moodiness.

Valencia eyed Alucard warily as she walked Theo on. Let's start warming up, see if he bites Theo then she suggested, half smirking and half actually wary as she urged Theo on. The three year old stretched out joyfully, his eyes straight ahead and the threat of Alucard almost stupidly forgotten. Alucard followed sedately and mechanically, expressing none of his previous aggression as he began to run. Henna felt him out and discovered Alu was all about efficiency and was also surprisingly malleable beneath her hands. She urged a bit more speed and Alu expressionlessly accelerated, stride for stride with Theo as they cantered their warm up. Amber watched with interest from the rail as Theo and Alu swept through a mile. They both moved well and obviously had some conditioned stamina. But what about speed?

The command came and the two thoroughbreds extended themselves, letting it all out as they hit the backstretch again. Alucard was fast, and now Henna discovered he didn't like to lose either. He swept past Theo, who was taking his time, and in devastating fashion began to open up a huge lead. This was the winning style that had won him races, including their first together just this week. Henna guided him to the rail and sat chill on his back, letting him run it out and keeping an eye out for Theo. He didn't keep them waiting. Theo came on under a drive from Valencia, whose eyes were mere pinpricks as she watched victory be stolen from them. She wouldn't let that happen and she got after Theo now even as the bay got after himself. This was a pair that hated losing. They dug deep and closed the gap bit by bit. Alu couldn't hold onto his lead as Theo stuck his nose defiantly in front at the wire.

Henna could feel the pent up aggression of her mount and snorted. So Alucard did feel something besides indifference! But she she slowed him down the speck of feeling disappeared. He was a track animal through and through.