specialty

[S u N f r O s t ~]

AXIS MUNDAE AND AMBER BLACK
INNOCENT PASSION AND KRYSTAL YHATE

ANNA'S ROSE MILE CUP WORKOUT

Sometimes, there was just one distance that a horse excelled at even if they could run many other distances. One of the best examples that came to mind was Infinite Warcry. The black goliath lived for the twelve furlong distance - there were few who had his stamina or closing kick to put him away at the marathon distance. It was what Infini lived and breathed for. As Amber looked into the eyes of Axis Mundae, daughter of Warlock and Little Miss Innocent, she knew that she had discovered yet another horse with a special inclination to a distance. Axia was a miler. She excelled at the mile and was perhaps the best miler in the country after her impressive Sunshine Millions victory. This special miler was here to teach Innocent Passion, her half sister through their shared Hall Of Fame dam, about the mile distance as well. Anna ran the same preferences as her sister and it would now be discovered if she was also a prodigy at the mile distance.

Anna had the Rose Mile Cup to run against Bella Luna and Calamity Queen. Tough, tough fillies. It would take all of Anna's grit to take this win home and get the fifteenth victory of her career. Anna was coming off of a good looking win in the Star Festival against her long time rival Cross My Heart. It was with confidence that the insanely competitive filly carried herself now, eyes sweeping around the track looking for her competition. Krystal grinned. They had needed that confidence even though they had been among the first of the three year olds to hit grade one. Working out with Axia would hopefully keep their confidence streak going. Anna loved competition, and Axia would be amazing competition for the developing filly. Anna would be taking Axia's place in the string after this year. That was a hard task and she needed to be ready.

Axia took one look at her sister and her eyes lit up. She was ready to go. Bold and daring to the end, Amber Black vaulted into the saddle and knew Axia wasn't going to back down from Anna's challenge. She grinned at Krystal, her best friend and head of operations at New Flight, before swinging towards the turf track. Anna quickly followed. Even now, off the track, she didn't want to be left behind. Krystal settled into Anna's quick, graceful walk and admired Axia from afar. The champion turf sprinter and miler was rock solid muscle and looked more like a colt than a filly. She had rarely faced restricted competition as a juvenile, even going to the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf for them and placing a gallant third. There was something about Axia that was just special enough to take the hardest of challenges and pull away easily. Krystal wanted Anna to inherit that spirit.

Amber urged Axia into a canter the moment they reached the track. The black mare stretched out and obeyed immediately. She loved to work hard and she'd have to work hard today to deal with the insanely competitive Anna. Even now Amber felt like Anna was giving her mount laser eyes, absolutely determined to take her down. She thought of another certain black filly that made Anna mad as hell and grinned, realizing the resemblance and shaking her head. Krystal seemed to realize it too, as she smirked. They had taken Cross down last time out and she wanted to do it again just as badly as Anna did. So off they went, cantering down the track. Axia was bold today. She was running more like a front runner and showed it. Amber went with it, used to the variable style mare's tactics. They had worked before and she had learned to work with them.

The two graceful and powerful thoroughbreds were great movers over the turf. Now they dropped into the gallop. As expected, Axia roared into the front. Usually she was a closer - not so today. Axia was full of it after streaking to four victories in a row and was seeking additional glory in a couple of weeks. She wanted a good run. Anna adopted her preferred position alongside, sizing up Axia with the experience of a horse that had learned much and was now trying to utilize that knowledge. Side by side they galloped, staying steady. This was Axia's first lesson to Anna; stay steady no matter how pressured you may be. Anna took it to heart and didn't react as Axia accelerated suddenly at the half. She stayed steady and not too far behind. Krystal grinned.

With a half mile left to go and Axia three in front, it was time to think about narrowing the gap. Remaining rational, Krystal paid attention to the horse beneath her. There was plenty left. She angled to the inside of the turf track and waited. They hit the final turn and then she let Anna go. The bay roared into action, eyes blazing. She made up the ground in sweeping strides that threatened to leave Axia behind. But Axia was a veteran, a pro, a victress with twenty-five wins under her belt - nearly enough to make grade one twice. And she wasn't going to get beaten by this upstart. She accelerated, still cool and in hand, and held off Anna's assault. Now for the final lesson, one Anna didn't need to be schooled in - fight back. They straightened in the stretch and Anna darted to the lead at the rail. Axia fought right back grimly, the five year old's legs blurring as she ran faster.

Nose to nose they swept under to the wire, to a silent ovation imagined only by their riders. Amber and Krystal grinned with the light of understanding in their eyes. They had lots of horse beneath them and the potential for even better things to come.