achernar

[S u N f r O s t ~]

achernar, of the eridanus constellation
Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf - In The Spotlight & Valencia Andrews
Breeders Cup Turf Marathon - Wish Upon A Star & Krystal Yhate
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint - Demonic Desires & Amber Black

This would be the first of Stride Of Perfection’s senior class to make their final set of workouts, at least if they didn’t go to the Dubai Championship races at the Wire next month. Amber always found these workouts bittersweet. She had retired her best for many years to the breeding shed, missing them terribly and yet finding equally good horses worthy of her love and attention rising to replace them. Demonic Desires was a product of three generations of this cycle. She had ridden his grandsire Sweet Sugar Cane, then his dam Deadly Desires, and finally this stallion. A legendary horse he was, living up to his pedigree and most certainly leaving his mark on the track. The first winner of the Senior Turf Sprinter Series had not faltered. Amber Black could list off some horses who had made her proud, but Demon ranked up there. She simply could not believe that powerful black horse would be retiring within a month. This was it.

Valencia Andrews eyed Amber Black sitting tall and proud aboard an equally proud horse and thought to her own mount. In The Spotlight squealed like a yearling even now, skittering sideways and attracting eyes to her lithe chestnut frame. Her energetic mare was on her way out after another year of class validation. This was the mare who had risen to beat the queen in the Breeders Cup Turf last season as a three year old; now, she stepped back into the Breeders Cup fold to face her own gender in the Filly and Mare Turf and was more than up to the challenge. She was a top turf mare; Valencia would have campaigned her as nothing else and would think of her as nothing less. They headed into this ten furlong race off of a seven furlong fun sprint in the first week of December. Innie had enjoyed the speed of the race and Valencia knew they would relish returning to a prime and proven distance in the Filly and Mare Turf. This mare had certainly gone far, and though her retirement would be bittersweet Valencia would never forget the way she had surprisingly clicked with an amazingly fun-hearted but competitive mare.

Bringing up the rear was Krystal Yhate and she rode the racing world’s newest monster. Wish Upon A Star had done nothing but transcend all expectations. Her five year old season had been her time to prove herself and she had done just that. The beautiful mare moved with long-strided grace and would find herself right at home in the Breeders Cup Turf Marathon. SOPS had been after the race for years; in its inaugural running Dazzling Dame had won it, then her twin brother Infinite Warcry had taken it last year while under different management. It was time for an SOPS horse to take the crown, and Wish was a prime candidate. She was primed and ready to take down a Breeders Cup race of her own, a feat some may not have seen as possible at the beginning of the season. Krystal could hardly wait to go out with a bang with this mare. Regardless of their placing, Krystal knew their competitors would have a hell of a time with them in the gate.

These horses were pros; they warmed up with minds fully focused on business. Even Innie displayed a focus she had lacked during her younger years, keen on listening to her rider under the weight of stares from the rail. Innie loved crowds; the larger and louder they were, the more of a show she got to put on. Demon simply snorted and ignored the crowd like a reigning king; Wish neighed softly and eyed the crowd with interest. She always seemed to find something interesting about track environments. Krystal smiled in open affection and scratched the mare’s neck as they warmed up.

When Amber swung into the fifth minute of canter-jogging, she caught the eyes of her riders. They knew the signal. The three horses were rounded up at the same place along the track and within five seconds were sent off around the first turn. Innie exploded into the lead, legs flying as she flashed some power. Valencia kept her close to the rail and eyes on her competition. She could practically feel Demonic Desires breathing down their necks and Wish Upon A Star contentedly biding her time. Innie was known for grabbing the lead and rating like a pro to take a race, but these two horses were not easy competition and Valencia wanted to control as many factors as possible. Innie was perfectly comfortable with horses behind and rattled off her first quarter with no effort exerted.

Amber smiled as Demon ghosted up on Innie’s outside, right at her neck and exerting his full dominant aura. But to the mare’s credit, Innie didn’t bat an eyelash. Wish moved up a bit closer, sensing the pace quickening and the plot quickening. Krystal kept her in hand with an eye for a sweep to the outside. The backstretch floated by, Demon continuing to pressure Innie and Wish keeping an eye, until the trio hit the final turn. Now Demon snorted and Amber could feel the black stallion stretch out, accelerating rapidly. One moment Innie was on the inside, the next she wasn’t and Demon was flooring it to home with deadly power. Innie squealed and flew behind to challenge, furious at the black getting the jump on her, and now Wish came up like a wraith, bearing down on the younger horses from the outside and asserting herself as more than a lurking presence.

The horses made a line three wide as they raced into the stretch. Innie made up for the jump Demon had gotten on her even as Wish challenged. Fierce determination flared as the three crossed the wire, dead even. It was time to bring all this fierceness to the table for the big race.