confidence

[S u N f r O s t ~]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND HENNA TURATH
DEVIL'S FLAIR AND VALENCIA ANDREWS

INNIE'S WORKOUT FOR THE WORLD FILLY CUP
DEVIL'S WORKOUT FOR THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES

Henna Turath could have bounced if it didn't make her seem like a five year old. Here she was, aboard a horse brimming not just with speed but with stamina too. In The Spotlight was renown in the stable for her energy and passion, but had never been Henna's mount. She had somehow turned into Valencia's, though Valencia usually got along better with the grouchy ones. Henna had had no idea why this filly fit Valencia so well...until Innie took one step on the turf track and transformed completely. Henna was shocked as suddenly Innie became less of an attention-hogging juvenile and more like the classy three year old she was. Now she focused, her stride becoming more purposeful, and it was like she rolled forward rather than bounced now. Henna enjoyed the transformation, knowing the energy and speed of this mare. Innie was a distance mare who enjoyed running in the front. What more could Henna ask for, even if it was just for one workout? She just hoped she'd do a good enough job getting the mare sharp for the World Filly Cup.

Valencia Andrews would have been unable to let another rider get up on Devil's Flair. To do such a thing was to compromise the safety of the stranger. The Augusto son was bonded to only one rider, rideable only by one rider, and that was Valencia. She stood back to admire the chestnut colt before vaulting into the saddle. Devil's Flair was well known among the juvenile ranks. He was outrageously talented, having won the first leg of the Turf Challenge and lost narrowly in the second. Now the final leg, the Champagne Stakes, demanded a winner, and Valencia would be happy to get Devil's Flair crowned in that way. The chestnut looked beautiful, all muscle and arrogant pride. He was in form, in shape and ready to roll. They faced a talented filly in this workout today, In The Spotlight, but they would simply press her until she died too. Valencia knew that Innie would not give in, having buckets of stamina, but this was Devil's tactic. Any race with Devil in it was going to be blazingly fast. Devil possessed the ability to almost completely control the pace of a race using his tactics, and that gave them an advantage. They made the race.

Innie was trotting in circles when they came out on the turf track. Valencia could not tell if the mare was searching for her competition or just warming up. She didn't care, however, when Henna nodded at her cheerily and Innie took off just as Devil caught up. Valencia cursed, but there was no need to worry. Devil reacted lightning fast as always and was chasing Innie down within seconds. He pulled up just behind her now, in the perfect place to pressure as they cut around the first turn. Innie was running briskly at the front, but she had a determined horse behind her. The Augusto son would not take no for an answer during this workout. He accelerated now so he was only a half length back and on this filly's outside. Innie snorted and accelerated, falling into the trap as Valencia knew the filly would. She hated to have the spotlight taken away from her, and that spotlight was the lead. But Henna's smirk left no doubts as to Innie's abilities. Yes, they were starting to push the pace a bit, but with what Henna was feeling right now, this filly could handle it. Her talent lay in maintaining a very high cruising speed for furlong upon furlong.

Devil's Flair continued right on pressuring as they roared down the backstretch. Innie gradually got faster and faster, but it was very slight, and sometimes she settled for so long a period of time that Devil scooted closer to the lead, prompting a sudden and quick burst of speed in response. Henna was still smirking as Innie began to curve around the final turn. She was moving smoothly and well within herself. Then again, so was Devil. Valencia laughed as the chestnut filly's bulk bore down on Innie, suddenly accelerating and becoming a very real threat. He may have been on the outside, but the minute they hit the stretch he would be gone and probably cut them off in the process. Henna processed this quickly, and when they came off of the turn she let Innie go. The chestnut filly shot forward, just in time to match the rush of Devil's Flair. Locked in combat, the two chestnut thoroughbreds met their matches as they rolled down the stretch. Devil's eyes burned with dark fury, Innie's with passionate determination.

It would come down to who was wanting it the most at the moment, and that was Innie. The chestnut filly had been denied one too many times and was not up to it this time. She practically jumped forward at the line, a sudden burst of speed carrying her a half length in front of her foe. Valencia knew a storm was coming when they hit the wire, Devil saw he had lost the lead and promptly threw a tantrum. He was not going to be easy to pull up. They galloped out past Innie, who had slowed quickly and appeared smug with a smirking Henna on her back. Henna watched Devil gallop past, still strong even after the grueling battle down the stretch. Innie had gotten the confidence she needed to win in her next race, and Devil the burning motivation. Next time out, both horses would most assuredly be deadly.