bright stars

[S u N f r O s t ~]

CYCLONARIA AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
MELODIOUS AND HENNA TURATH
GROUND ZERO AND AMBER BLACK

EVERYONE'S WORKOUT FOR UNICORN HORN SERIES

The turf was ready for them. It was springy today, bringing promises to the horses currently racing over it. Flighty Melodious had snagged the lead first, and the dapple gray filly was speeding along with all the class warranted to her. A strong second place finish in her first start had put her on the maps, and now she sought glory in the winners circle in the Unicorn Horn. Henna cackled at the speed of the mare - this was exactly what she liked in a horse. She was shadowed closely by the chestnut Cyclonaria. The tomboyish chestnut did not move an inch from Mel's side on the lead, even on the turn that she took wide. She pressured Mel closer and closer to the rail, crowding her, intimidating her. It was totally Cy's style to do such a thing - she gave the chosen horse in her races the roughest time of their lives, seeking to not only defeat but dominate them. The kingly Ground Zero ate the clods of turf flying from the hooves of his opponents for the present. He was keen to run behind but not ahead for now...times would change rapidly as the race drew to a close.

Melodious snorted and attempted to lengthen her lead as the open stretch appeared in front of her. As a raw sprinter, she had a lot of speed that the others perhaps lacked. She shook off Cy by an inch, the chestnut filly furious at how quick footed the other filly was but settling for the slight gap under Valencia's slight check. Valencia had carried Cy to victory in their first race together...perhaps listening to the woman on her back was a smart move. And still Zero glided behind, eyes intent on the horses in the lead, plotting. The horse had won at a mile first time out and was living up to his pedigree thus far. He was a strong, talented horse and Amber looked forward to attempting success with another DW Flamekissed foal, half to near-Turf Triple Crown winner Dare To Impress to boot.

Mel clicked off four furlongs in forty seven and three fifths. The pace was speedy for a workout indeed, and she wasn't slowing down. Speed was the gray filly's game. It helped that her competitors were keen on the pace though. Cy ate it up, relishing the challenge, looking to steal the victory when asked. And still Zero prowled, the waiting threat, the shark circling in for the kill. Amber shook the reins to wake up a bit as they glided into the fifth furlong. The bay stretched out like a lion waking up, rumbling down the track, now, ghosting on the outside as they hit the final turn. The two fillies appeared almost heedless of him - well, not Cy as much, being sandwiched between the two horses. Zero's musculature pushed her over a bit, and Valencia cursed as Cy was forced to slow, swallowed by Zero's bulk. Mel raced for the lead even as Zero did, and Cy was forced to straighten out in the stretch before continuing her bid.

Zero dug down gamely, angling to be right alongside Mel. The dapple gray filly was a fighter, and she did not go down as they raced to the wire, all the while with Cy's threatening presence speeding up on their outside. The furious chestnut filly just missed nabbing the win at the wire, so far back had she been, but it was a game effort regardless. The three rolled into the cool down like professionals, sweating slightly but light and limber. Excitement took hold in their riders' hearts - time to show them off to the world once more!