on the world stage

[S u N f r O s t ~]

FLASHY WINGS AND HENNA TURATH
ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
DUBAI WORLD CUP WORKOUT

The big races were here and boy did SOPS know it. Just next week was the World Turf Cup and the Dubai World Cup. Last week had been the coveted invitationals. Horses needed to be at the top of their game in order to do well these days, and maintain that form going into the Breeders Cup. Amber Black knew this all too well. Despite her seniority on the racetrack, Amber was still nervous on the inside. She wasn't a mess like she nearly had been the first time she'd sent horses to every race in the Breeders Cup and had to prepare them appropriately. She had learned over time to trust in her horses to get the job done. So that was why she felt confident as she watched two of her toughest dirt horses striding out on the Green Horse Fields track for their prep workout for the Dubai World Cup. A tough field awaited them, but then again a tough field awaited them with each start they made. They were conditioned enough to handle these, had raced against them before. It was just anyone's game on race day. The goal of this workout was to tip the balance in their favor and hopefully make it their day.

Flashy Wings was smooth and full of run under Henna. She stroked her much loved stallion's neck thoughtfully, feeling a bit sad. She had only just lost Pegasus Wings recently, and now another Forbidden Wings son was leaving her. It would be Forbidden To Fly next year. Her sadness at the prospect was only uplifted by how much Flash had accomplished. He had established his sire News Flash in the breeding barn. He owned thirty four victories and two Breeders Cup Wins - one in the Juvenile and one in the Classic. He had won the qualifying Dubai Colt Cup and was looking to head in strong to the World Cup. This was a race Flashy Wings had raced in twice. He had come in fourth both times. Henna wanted a reversal of fortune for the bay stallion this time. It was the last Dubai World Cup he would run. After this it was a straight shot to the Breeders Cup Classic and then the Dubai World Championship. This was it. Flash had come second in the Dubai Colt Cup in previous years. They had broken the streak by winning the Colt Cup this year. Henna hoped to continue breaking the streak.

Eternal Phantom was one year younger than Flashy Wings, but she too owned success. She was the reigning Horse of the Year who in recent months had picked it up to streak to more and more victories. Her latest may have been in late October but it had been classy. The black mare was only continuing to improve going into the Distaff at the end of the month. Then she would move on to aim for the Classic next year and jockey Krystal Yhate could hardly wait. The Kentucky Derby winning mare was often raced against open company anyway. She was sharp as tack coming off a dead hit second in the Dubai Filly Cup with stablemate Sizzling Dawn. The legs of the field just hadn't been in her favor that day. The way Krystal saw it, they would likely close in this field, but it was always up to temperamental Phantie on race day how they would run. Flash would likely have a better race, being the sole stalker.

Amber Black called out Change of plans. I only want a mile out of these two. Four furlong gallop, two furlong pick up, two furlong gallop. Got it? The jockeys raised their right hands to show that they had heard before starting the warm up. Flash and Phantie cantered side by side with the familiarity of workmates and rivals. They seemed to always be at each other's throats in workouts or in races. They knew each other well. Phantie snorted as she drew off to a half length lead with Flash stalking on her inside. They moved in tandem, with nothing but concentration in their movements. This was a workout of seasoned professionals on the world stage. They knew what was expected of them and they intended to deliver as best as they could. Racing was what they loved to do, and for some it would be over far too soon. Henna shifted slightly on Flashy Wings as they began to gallop. The blood bay swept down the dirt now with intensity in his gaze. He was keenly focused on Eternal Phantom, who was cutting her way over the dirt to draw off by another half length to lead by one. The time would come to run her down and he would be ready.

Krystal Yhate remained steady on Phantie. The furious mare was darkly galloping, her senses attuned to the annoying stallion she always ran into somewhere behind her. All she wanted was to open up and crush him. Krystal kept her cruising through light pressure - direct orders were not taken by the daughter of Night Stalker and El Sol Del Mar. Krystal glanced over her shoulder as they crested the backstretch before facing front and asking Phantie for a quick spurt of speed. The black mare responded happily, and Krystal guided her to scrape the paint. She didn't want Flash shooting up on their inside. Henna smoothly guided Flash a bit off the rail, not missing a beat. She could deal with Krystal's games. Krystal brought the mare back under control, and Phantie reacted stiffly to Krystal's commands. The end of the half was then upon them and it stopped mattering. The two horses picked it up in a dizzying explosion of speed. Showing the kick that had carried him to victory so many times, Flashy Wings stormed down the dirt track, sliding up smoothly alongside his black nemesis. Phantie had an answer for the mighty horse. She put on her own spurt of speed and remained level around the far turn.

Amber's eyes were critical as she watched the stallion and mare gallop. They looked smooth and like they weren't even trying, but Amber knew a true battle was being raged. Raw power poured off of the two as they struggled for dominance and found a willing foe in the other. Phantie's eyes glared in vibrant fury while Flash merely tried with all his heart to win. He didn't have Phantie's roiling fury, but he did have rock-hard will. And every ounce of that showed as they bounded towards the wire. The workout had gone so that they galloped out for two furlongs past it. Amber grinned with pride as the two horses slowed appropriately, side by side. They had put on a thrilling display of power for her and she could only hope they would continue to prove themselves on the world stage. The Dubai World Cup awaited them.