Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Jul 15, 2013 21:19:01 GMT -5
VENTURA AND AMBER BLACK
ALUCARD AND HENNA TURATH
VEN'S HANDSOME MILE WORKOUT
Amber Black looked into the eyes of the black daughter of Impressario and Rising Fury. It seemed like the success of Impressario at stud was nearly unprecedented. Born To Impress had competed in the Triple Crown and even stolen the Kentucky Derby. Italian Ice had knocked into second in the Belmont Turf Classic and then gone on to win the Canadian Triple Crown, becoming grade one in the process. And Ven was keeping up with her star siblings, being the first of them to reach grade one and standing tall at thirteen wins and a Triple Tiara campaign underneath her belt. After her second place finish to War Cry in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Ventura had returned three weeks later to win the Seaspray Cup Grade Two. Now the horse was looking towards the Handsome Mile, a race at a distance that she craved. She was facing GS Royal Crown, War Cry and Born To Impress - so needless to say, the competition was going to be tough. But Amber wasn't running away and neither was Ven.
Her workout partner for today was the intense, haughty and domineering son of Scripture's Sapphire and Finale Slew known as Alucard. The two year old from Witch Creek Stable was prepping for the Dixiana Breeders Futurity at the Wire in about one week. He prowled forward beneath Henna Turath and barely took notice of her or anything as they approached the dirt track. Henna tried to not let the colt's indifference hurt her. Alucard had long since revealed his lack of an emotional nature. Since coming, Alucard had proven his purchase was a good decision after taking the Remson Stakes and the Orchid Cup Colts. He was a top contender for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint and Henna Turath was excited to pit him against Amber's filly in today's workout.
Ventura snorted loudly and pulled powerfully at the reins. After a month of conditioning and rest from the races, she was very eager to return and she knew that a big race was coming up. The Handsome Mile would determine a lot about the Breeders Cup for the young filly. Her suitability would be tested and a final decision made. Amber looked forward to it. She eyed Alucard admiringly, once again entranced by the colt's Arabian-like build and fine, proud temperament. Alu was not endearing, not at all, but he was admirable. Ventura snorted in distaste as the haughty colt approached and completely ignored her. She locked her gaze with his, searching for a reaction, and received none. Amber shook her head as the Rising Fury side of Ventura showed through. Her eyes burned with fury and she turned as if saying Let's get this over with. Somebody needs a pounding.
Alu glided alongside Ven at the canter with all the grace of an Arabian. Ven was distinctly less graceful. She was more like a ground and pound type of horse, and each of her strides spoke of fury and power. She wasn't going to treat racing like a dance. She was beautiful, a complete classic filly as she stretched out slightly over the dirt, never letting Alucard slid from her side. Henna remained motionless on the bay juvenile, letting him run as he pleased. Alu was pleasingly intelligent and rarely needed intervention in order to run well. That was one of the things she liked about the unlikeable colt. And boy could he run. He could rock a mile and that was why he was here today. They were going to work out through a good mile over this dirt course and it would give both horses what they needed for future success.
Ven and Alu stayed side by side as they were asked for the canter. They transitioned smoothly, Ven's fury giving her a brief advantage in speed. Alu accelerated to make up the distance. Henna felt something kindle in the stoic colt beneath her and grinned. Alu was waking up. He was on the rail, just where he wanted to be, and he drifted back to let Ven have the lead. The filly showed her Rising Fury blood and happily took it, snorting with triumph gleaming in her eyes. Amber refocused the thoroughbred, shaking her head in amusement. Alu wasn't done yet. The colt had too much talent and will to just fold in like Ven thought he was. Alu calculated the angles, and Henna smirked. The rail was a dangerous place for the bay. He could come out of nowhere in the stretch to win.
The horses stretched out a bit in the backstretch. Ven picked up the pace and Alu shadowed her like a wraith. He just couldn't be shaken off. The three year old and her companion glided around the final turn and then Alu showed his true colors. Henna didn't move as the bay juvenile exploded forward, taking full advantage of the rail and blowing past Ven as though she wasn't even there. He had opened up two lengths before Ven snorted in shock, dug in and furiously set off after him. The black filly wasn't going to get beaten by this colt. They straightened into the final stretch and then the black really hunted the colt down. Alu was working hard, but so was Ven. The classic filly caught up to him, dawdled slightly then found the extra momentum to push on past the young colt. At the wire she was one length in front, and triumphantly pleased.
Amber and Henna exchanged high fives and grins as they galloped out side by side. There was speed like lightning in these two and the world would know it soon.
