zubeneshamali

[S u N f r O s t ~]

zubeneshamali, of the constellation libra
Breeders Cup Classic - Limited Edition & Valencia Andrews
Breeders Cup Juvenile - Incognito & Kylie Silverstar

Face their rival in the Breeders Cup Dirt Marathon or go where they deserved to be in the Breeders Cup Classic. It had not been an easy decision to make. Both races fit, both fields were ones in which Ed would be a serious contender....and the decision had remained tough right until last week. Valencia had finally thrown down the brush she was cleaning and declared her choice last week - they would hit the Classic. Her beloved horse would not retire without his chance at the grand prize. And all the better. Stride Of Perfection had a legacy to maintain in that race. It had been theirs since Year Twelve; they were back to defend their title for the fourth time. It would not have been right to dodge the chance this race presented. Yeah, Nightshade and others were there, but Ed had proven himself their match. Valencia wanted nothing less than a victory to cap off her horse’s career, and the Classic was a coveted jewel.

Ed puffed out his chest and strode powerfully as he hit the dirt track. His impressive musculature on full display, Ed made no secret of his intentions - he was here to conquer. The inattentive observer would miss the eerily quiet black horse that shadowed him. Incognito stayed true to his name, Kylie quietly guiding him after Ed even as Ed grabbed all the attention. But Nero could not stay unknown for long. Here was a winner of seven Horse of the Year races, one of the few foals out of The Devil’s Touch, by none other than True Enough, and his jockey was the miracle of SOPS, Kylie Silverstar, who had jockeyed only the second Turf Triple Crown winner in existence to victory that very season. Kylie was quickly becoming just as known as the horse she rode, but she was shy. Even now the red blush on her cheeks was unmistakable. Valencia snorted and let her horse do the talking for her; Ed arrogantly picked up the pace and proceeded to ignore their workout partner.

Ed and Nero warmed up alone, Ed showing off as Nero moved in his usual, quietly professional way. Kylie was more than happy to let Valencia have the spotlight, for now. The point was not to compete but to prepare. Ed was simply their partner in this dance. Valencia paraded Ed until she was ready, about five minutes, and glanced over to see Nero and Kylie executing a perfectly circular circle and finishing up as well. Valencia knew how dangerous Nero and Kylie were together; they moved like a pair that had known each other for years, like a married couple in their old age executing the dance of their youth. But she also knew how equally dangerous she and Ed were. They had clicked from day one, from the moment she’d bought the horse with her own money as a yearling. Ed was hers and she would not see him underrated.

Nero ghosted up to Ed’s side almost without being asked. Kylie smiled shyly at Valencia and nodded ahead, as though indicating they were ready. Valencia gifted her with a smirk and settled more deeply in the irons right before she led Ed go. And as her horse was known for doing, Ed’s immediate focus became his sole competitor and giving him a very difficult time. He crowded Nero even as he drifted off the rail, purposely attempting to intimidate the younger horse and make him fold. But Nero recognized no horse’s dominance but his own; he was quiet about it, but that was the truth. He lived in his own universe where he was the sun and all revolved around him. Should any horse attempt to change that, he became the black hole that sucked them in and taught them the irresistibility of a black hole’s gravitational pull and ultimate domination over anything near enough to be sucked in.

This show continued for exactly a furlong before Ed, surprisingly, laid off on bothering the younger horse. He settled instead, his smooth stride one of the most compelling reasons he was such a fine horse to ride, and Valencia waited. She had seen Nero’s eyes after a race, the fire that he kept hidden but that lay buried within his pedigree. She wanted to see exactly when this fire would come out and attempt to swallow them. Valencia loved the fire of her horses; without it, she just couldn’t relate. She wanted to see the fire that Kylie apparently related to and got to ride. And she would not be disappointed. As soon as the final turn came and Ed lifted off the ground in sudden acceleration, she saw it. The fire flared to life and the black wave that was Nero came rolling over the dirt towards them.

Even as Ed put his best pace forward, Nero kept on rolling ever steadily onward. Kylie didn’t move a muscle, the colt doing it all on his own as he stuck it to the senior racehorse and came on to challenge. Ed responded as he always did to a challenge - with eager excitement. Valencia breathed in the wind as Ed took off again, intent on victory, and found himself with company at the wire as Nero caught pace and wouldn’t be moved from his side. They flashed under, two impressive classic dirt horses, and Amber Black at the rail grinned openly and widely. Her horses were ready to bring what amounted to more than a storm on race day.