monocerotis

[S u N f r O s t ~]

monocerotis, of the constellation monoceros
Breeders Cup Turf - Pandora & Kylie Silverstar
Breeders Cup Mile - Call Of The Wild & Krystal Yhate

What a ride it had been. Krystal Yhate knew when she was letting go of a good horse and felt it now. Call Of The Wild had been ever dependable, ever reliable. He was one heck of a nice horse, a good consistent grade one performer. But due to roster constraints, next season Call would be leaving to race his final season under different silks. Krystal was excited to race against her horse in the future, but the loss would take some getting used to. She had ridden her stallion’s sire, and his dam was much beloved within SOPS. He was a late-blooming type, that Krystal knew, and he could be just the thing another stable needed to focus on and learn in the racing world. But the loss would still be felt. Krystal would enjoy this last ride aboard her horse as much as she possibly could. Call snorted as he approached the track, recognizing in a single sound the big-race craze at Green Horse Fields. He was familiar with this, had raced in the Breeders Cup twice before and would be returning for the Breeders Cup Mile. He was facing a good competition, but he was a good horse, and Krystal couldn’t wait to show him off.

He was running his final workout against SOPS’s darling, Pandora. The blue-blooded filly was special for more reasons than just her bloodlines. She had achieved the Turf Triple Crown dream. Her sire and dam had been bred and raced by the stable, and now Pan was living up to their memory on the track. Even now she moved with the innate grace she had been born with, completely heedless of the gazed directed her way. With this Breeders Cup, Pan struck out for SOPS’s coveted jewel - the Breeders Cup Turf. The SOPS legacy in the race could not be understated. They knew how to win this. The field was anything but easy, but winning the Turf Triple Crown had been anything but easy. They could do it. Pan set off at the warm-up canter with single-minded determination, warm brilliance streaming off of her in waves. Amber watched the black filly run and felt like she was looking at her dam and sire in one package. She was beautiful to see.

Call hooked up on Pan’s outside, the pair canter-galloping together. This was one of the few sets where neither horse had a real problem with the other. Call stayed strong and steady as was his nature; Pan, stately elegance. They shadowed each other, content to simply run. The turf sang softly under their hooves; the pace picked up. Pan picked it up spectacularly at asking, Call just a half-beat behind as they raced into the workout. Pan had a floaty way of moving that made it seem as though she wasn’t moving as fast as she was. Call did not have as flashy a way of moving, but he made up for it in rock-solid dependability. He shadowed the taller filly on his inside down the backstretch, just biding his time excitedly for the right moment.

Pan clicked off the first quarter in a devastatingly easy twenty five. But now the pace reached a high pitch. Pan accelerated sharply and suddenly in the middle of the backstretch, her desire to run taking over. Kylie let the filly run, trusting in her strength and speed to last. The three year old pulled away by three lengths before settling again almost as though she had not done something spectacular and put away an older horse like a walk through a park. Call was not deterred. He kept his eye on the prize and steadily climbed in pace as they raced down the backstretch. He knew how to catch his prey, was seasoned through many races and was always down for a win. Krystal urged him slightly now, closing the gap and settling, closing the gap and settling. They continued the pattern right to the final turn...at which point Krystal leaned forward, Call read her mind and the horse exploded into a full-own, commanding gallop at the turn.

Kylie could feel the tidal wave approaching. She knew what was coming. Call was bearing down on them within seconds, but he did not find his challenger wanting. Pan responded, shaking off the older bay with almost unreal ease as she hit her cruising-stretch-stride and did it all without being asked. But Call would not be put away easily like a lesser horse. He reacted, gearing up for the drive as the pair swung into the stretch and showing his truly colors as he apparated to the Turf Triple Crown winner’s side and demonstrated just how much of a challenger he really was. He would not back down even as Pan reached to respond and the wire slammed down upon the two dueling thoroughbreds.

What a way to end Breeders Cup workouts. Amber watched her horses gallop out, admiring the graceful beauty of Pan and the steadfast power of Call, and couldn’t wait to see her horses bring it home and challenge on the day of the big dance.