extraordinary

[S u N f r O s t ~]

INFINITE WARCRY AND AMBER BLACK
ROYAL CADENZA AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
INFINI'S WORKOUT FOR THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST INVITATIONAL

The gentle giant was like a statue. He never changed, never wavered from his calm demeanor and gentle personality. He was almost too nice to be a racehorse. Perhaps this had had an adverse effect on the black stallion. He was powerful but only threw his weight around when he wanted to be left alone. Otherwise, he was peaceful to the core, and the hardest worker in the barn. Not to mention the horse that could run for the most ridiculous amounts of time. No horse approached his weekly mileage. It was a necessary part of the stallion's make up. He needed that distance, needed to stretch his legs out in order to be fit and happy. The twelve furlong distance was his home, but he could also rock ten furlongs, for the Tropical Rainforest Invitational. The stallion had worked hard this year but had only gotten the job down four times. Retirement was a strong option, unless Nick Landing had anything to say on the matter. Infini was just not getting to the wire in time. And the fact of the matter was that Amber wanted revenge.

Valencia mounted up on Royal Cadenza and felt like she was at home. The arrogance of the black son of Hail To Prince and Bluebell Sonnet met its match in Valencia Andrews. Valencia had had to deal with a crazy horse that morning when she got in to groom him ten minutes too late, but now they were at the track at the time Caden wanted and he was relaxed and ready to go. The four year old was fully grown, but he was developing into a strong and powerful racehorse for SOPS. He had only just catapulted into grade two land, up from the grade four they had purchased him as. He was high maintenance, but maintaining him was paying off. He was strong and a top contender for the turf miler races next season. And even the season beyond, if Caden expressed a desire to run more. He hadn't really run as a juvenile, after all, and that had impacted him negatively during his three year old season. He had picked up a bit this year, and had been reeling off wins since late August.

Valencia wished that Caden could pass the winning spirit into Infini. That was part of the reason for this workout - a wake up call. Amber wanted to jolt her stallion out of his reality and make him uncomfortable. Caden and Valencia were the perfect people to do that. Valencia exchanged a cheeky grin with Amber as she revved her engine up. Caden pranced in place, jerked his head towards the sky and then took off at a rolling canter. Infini was a bit slow to follow, but Amber got after him sharply. The stallion was clearly surprised, but was willing to slip to Caden's side and stay stride for stride with the horse. He was obviously discomfited by being asked for a fast pace so soon, but Amber would have none of it. This stallion was a champion and she didn't want to have to search for why he had been that way. It was still there, buried within. They needed his winning side to come out now more than ever. It was time for Infini to prove he was extraordinary again.

Caden and Infini sprint-cantered for four furlongs and then accelerated into the gallop. Infini settled into his slow working gallop, but Amber got after him with a sharp shake of the reins. She settled into Infini's stride with satisfaction burning in her chest. This was what she wanted Infini to know. He needed to wake up and prove himself again. Caden strolled along, entirely not harassed by Infini's close presence. Caden was pliable in Valencia's hands and she took full advantage of this. Her smile was present at all times during this run, and her joy at the classy calmness of Caden's stride bloomed through the reins and made the workout even more enjoyable. She was having fun and so was Caden. The black stallion was like putty, and she was in command with a lot of horse under her. They were pushing Infini and the workout was going well...until Amber gasped in surprise about four furlongs in as Infini just accelerated to astonishing speed a full mile in advance of when Amber would expect the rush.

It seemed as though Infini had gotten the message and was now busy trying to please his rider. His strides extended and his gentle eyes actually kindled into fire as he sprinted along. He was beautiful in motion, massive in stride and strong in heart and mind. Caden accelerated as well without waiting for Valencia, refusing to be left behind and actually even more comfortable as he stalked the pace instead of creating it. Valencia was nearly bug eyed with shock but she played it cool and raced all the same. The pace jumped again as they rolled into the stretch, and Amber let the stallion go. Once again Caden followed, and as they polished off a mile the black stallions didn't slow in speed. They were full out eager to run fast today. This was a side Amber hadn't seen from Infini in a long time - the side that was so burning for the win that it broke from the norm.

With another two furlongs behind them and a backstretch to run, Valencia asked Caden to go and go the stallion did. He broke into a blistering gallop, strides sweeping over the turf now with ever increasing speed as he ran down Infinite Warcry, the horse that did not take kindly to being run down. And Infini, gentle Infini, pinned his ears and plowed on! He broke from the mold and Amber held on for the ride as the four year old accelerated to paces Caden couldn't match. Caden dropped back, stubborn in defeat, as Infini powered across the line three in front and pouring it on. It was...shocking, to say the least. Amber was concerned as she felt a new emotion rising from within her. Disappointment, in herself. The minute Infini was walking she slid off him and walked around to the front, where she stared deeply into his eyes.

Infini got the message. And he was extraordinary. He just wanted to remind her of that, and to remind her to never lose faith in him. Amber smiled gently. Her eyes felt wet with tears as she petted the horse's nose gently, smiled across at Valencia and Caden in approval and walked her pride and joy off of the turf track. They were ready to go, having reached a new understanding and stage in their bond.