kalashnikov [frostay]

[soliel]

He was content, though a lesser man wouldn't have noticed. I could see it in the way he moved [his steps taken high and put down collectedly, as if he were a grand Baroque showing off his Romanesque walk], the way he carried himself [arrogantly and arched, though with his lines, it wasn't a surprise how full of himself he was], and even the way he looked at things as I led him down the leafy trail [the fact that he showed an interest in anything was reason enough to assume he was in a good mood]. Yes, he was definitely happy today, for some reason. For my own self-esteem, I'd like to think it was because I had returned. He had seemed a bit more energetic lately, and this morning as I was tacking him for our ride, he rubbed his muzzle against me. I assumed he was trying to nuzzle me, something he'd seen the other horses do to show affection, but something he'd rarely, if ever, done himself.
However, he did seem considerably distant as well. He hadn't even glanced at his object of affection when we passed by her stall [not that the filly cared; she was too busy munching on a candy cane leftover from Christmas to notice us], but it did come as a large shock to me. I would have figured his bond with her would have grown since my absence, but he seemed barely aware of the other horses' presence. Just like old times. I trailed my fingers through his inky black mane, smiling wistfully as he kept stride with my animated pace. It had been a while since I had the chance to exercise properly, so I figured I could walk my colt down one of the trails for an hour or so, then begin our ride. He didn't seem to mind the slow progress we were making, and as we emerged from the forest, it gave us a chance to enjoy the countryside we had entered.
Miles and miles of rolling green hills, a beautiful clear river, and blue skies as far as the eye could see. Not exactly one of my favorite sceneries [the opposite, in fact], but I'd make do. The reins held loosely between my fingers suddenly went taut, and I glanced back over my shoulder at my colt, wondering why he had halted so suddenly. His ears were pricked, black eyes flashing as he struck out with a hoof and arced his neck. I knew I was witnessing one of his 'wilder' episodes. I was used to horses acting temperamental, but Anarchi was one of the few exceptions. "Ease." I murmured, immediately on guard as I slowly approached him. His eyes, ringed white, locked on to me and seemed to smolder. I bit my lip, but pressed on, stroking his neck tentatively, in hopes of calming him. "What's wrong, Arc?" I murmured, subconsciously using my pet-name for the colt. He snorted loudly, but after a moment or two, settled down into his usual indifferent facade. "Well that wasn't weird." I muttered and gave the colt an affectionate- if rough -pat on the neck. "I think it's about time we galloped, no?" I mused, buckling the girth to a tighter hole before jamming my foot in the stirrup and swinging into the saddle.
Now that I shared a perspective with him, I saw immediately what could have made him act so strange. Not far in the distance was a horse and rider, on the same trail as we were, though it was obvious they had come from a different direction. I hadn't known Anarchi to be so flippant when it came to other animals sharing his space; he usually just ignored them or moved away. So, I was naturally curious as to why he had reacted so strongly toward another's presence. After gathering my seat, I took up the reins and nudged him gently toward the other pair.

[S u N f r O s t ~]

He was so arrogant that it was downright obnoxious. My lip was set into a tight curve that could have been trying to hold back a smile. I couldn't help but share his mood. We had won the Juvenile against his top competition, and we were already thinking ahead to the Triple Crown. The days were good.

Evidence of him maturing to three years had begun to pop up two months ago, but now it was almost impossible to not notice how different he was. He was much calmer, and his strides had doubled in length so that he covered ground even easier then before. His legs had grown longer, more sleek, and he was less bulky then before - evidence of his body growing larger, which would cause him to be thinner as the skin spread. His tail was long, but not he held it up when not galloping like an Arabian. His mane was free and flowing, the same as always, but his neck curved majestically. He was a picture of magnificence.

We were trotting down the woodland trail. I admired the countryside just as much as I admired my colt. There was a hint of faint birdsong - winter was just starting to draw to a close - and there were rustles of life in the undergrowth despite our approach. I was just checking the sky for returning birds when the two year old snorted defiantly and lifted his head. My eyes swiveled to the trail ahead of us. I blinked once, twice, and then a grin broke across my features.

Anarchi was back.

Impressario acted much less happy. He sent a challenging snort in his top rival's direction and increased his pace, begging to come closer. A steady current of dislike was rolling off of him in waves. I tightened my hold on the reins as we rode closer, stopping about five feet away from the oncoming Anarchi and his rider Moody.

Where were you? I asked simply. I had missed the challenge of them on the track, but I was sure as heck that Ario hadn't missed them.

[soliel]

I whistled softly as the other horse and rider drew close enough to recognize. "I should've known." I mumbled with a small smile and a roll of my eyes. I really should have; Ario was the only horse that could anger Anarchi enough to melt his outer chill. What had started out as a small squabble had turned into one of the deepest grudges I had ever seen, especially considering the horses that held it. My colt ignored the large black, snorting disdainfully as we halted a good three yards away. "You were the one that wanted to come. Don't be rude" I scolded under my breath and checked the reins roughly. I knew his mouth was as soft as ever, but he locked his jaw defiantly and seemed oblivious to my reprimand. I shook my head slightly but kept a tight hold on the reins; had it been any other horse, they'd be on the receiving end of one of my infamous tantrums by now, but the action would be wasted on the colt. Which is why I chose to sit quietly in the saddle, preferring to remain passively aggressive.
I heard Amber's voice and glanced over at the older woman, my lips threatening to pull into a wider smile. I suppressed the urge and settled for smirking instead. "Business trips and college prep." I shrugged and sawed gently on the reins, though the colt's attention hadn't wavered from me. He seemed adamant about remaining oblivious to Ario, going so far as to stare right through the colt, and not even bothering to avoid looking at the space he was taking up. "The stable's been on the down low for a while, since more than half of the staff left." I added with another small shrug. "But we're back now, and ready to toss some new competitors into the mix." I patted Anarchi's neck while I looked over Ario. He had grown. A lot. He no longer looked the lanky colt Anarchi and I had run into at the track. The Merry Bay King son had filled out into a nice three year old. "How've you guys been?" I asked, genuinely curious as to what has been going on in my absence. Anarchi tossed his head ever so slightly and tugged softly on the bit. Grimacing, I took the hint. "Mind if we walk and talk? He's pretty energetic today."

[S u N f r O s t ~]

I laughed on the inside at the smirk Moody was giving us. How very Moody. I remembered her a bit.....well, gruff maybe, but she knew her horses and shared an extremely special touch with each and every one she met. I examined Anarchi. The colt didn't look as in shape as Ario, but I bet that wouldn't stop him from beating us if given the chance. He was currently staring right through us coldly, ignoring our presence, instead interested in a bird chirping in a tree behind us. Very, very Anarchi. The grudge had certainly survived the long layoff he had had.

Walking and talking sounds excellent. Should I stay ahead, or shall we walk side by side? I had my doubts as to walking side by side, and elected to walk ahead of them. I smirked slightly as I turned Ario around. Ario began to walk ever so slowly, challenging Anarchi to pass us if he dared. My heels lightly touched his side as a warning, which he took. His pace accelerated slightly, but he was still begging Anarchi's anger. I wondered if the Arabian-like colt behind us would even notice Impressarios' arrogance. Probably not, but the aura of menace behind us might thicken to a thick fog if Ario didn't quit it.

Things? Well, for Ario and I, they've been going great. He's found some new rivals on the track these days. Akuma Battlecry and Native Flame. He beat them both when he won the Juvenile last week. I mentioned Ario's win in the Breeder's Cup lightly, but there was a pride buried in my words. His second to top rival currently is Native Flame. I didn't even mention who his top rival was. We already knew.

[soliel]

"Doesn't matter to me. One in front and one behind may be the best way to go about it, since they still seem a bit angst around each-other." I mused thoughtfully and kept Anarchi reined in while Ario was turned around and allowed to walk down the road. I waited a few seconds before giving my mount an soft nudge in the sides, and sat tall as he moved into a smooth walk. I think out of all the horses, I loved his gaits the best. He moved like a great cat, limbs loose and each movement was carefully articulated and appeared effortless, no matter how fatigued he was. I grinned slightly as he ducke dhis head into his chest and flattened his ears back. No doubt his tail was raised and flagged out behind him. The arrogant little prick. Even though no one was around to look, he was still showing off.
And true to his pride, Ario's challenge didn't go unnoticed. Though he had been casually ignoring the colt earlier, he had still taken in ever twitch of the skin, and every breath he'd taken. But that was just Anarchi; cold, calculating, and never one to underestimate his opponents. His tongue pressed lightly against the crescendo in his mouth, almost as if he were toying with it. That seemingly insignificant action told me that the colt wanted to catch up to his larger rival, and that he desired to move at a pace faster than a walk. I loosened my grip on the leather, letting him take as much was needed before gathering in the unnecessary length. He began trotting [stalking, if we're going to keep up with the predatory terminology], and I posted to it easily, not caring if I was on the correct diagonal or not. I'd never been that good at telling them apart anyway, which was why I'm not a show rider. His stride lengthened as he picked up the pace, yet collected himself a nose-length in front of Ario. And just to spite the colt, he kept up the ignorant facade, acting as though it was just him and I on a cross country jaunt.
"Juvenile? As in Breeder's Cup?" I asked, allowing my awe to fill my tone. Winning the juvenile... scratch that... winning any Breeder's Cup race was an incredible feat. It gave you permission to brag until your throat was hoarse. "Wish we could've entered it. Although we wouldn't have won, we might have at least spiced the race up a bit more." I murmured sagely. From experience, I knew the only race most of the crowd was interested in was the Classic. And being a born entertainer, I felt it was my duty to put on a show that will make watching the other races worthwhile. Anarchi lowered his dished head a few inches and pressed softly on the bit again, but I ignored it. "We won't be going for any awards this year either. Been absent for too long, not that if we had stayed, it would have changed anything." I predicted with a small nod. Most of the staff loved the horses indescribably, but we always spoke in low opinions about them. Adoration led to blindness of faults, and since we tried keeping our arrogance and humility on a balanced level, we usually spoke of our stable this way. We weren't fishing for compliments. It's just the way we are. Gah, I'm so pessimistic lately." I said with a small smile. The feeling was nothing new, but usually I didn't speak out my negative thoughts to just anyone. "Care for a run? We're no match for Ario at the moment, but we can pose a good challenge any day."

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Impressario shivered slightly as his rival appeared next to him. He couldn't help it; the presence of the other colt was menacing and cold. It made him feel unsafe deep inside. Ario's shiver was barely noticeable though, but I bet Anarchi caught it. I laid a reassuring hand on Ario's shoulder. The black two year old stopped shivering at the touch and then raised his head proudly. He increased the pace of his walk so we were once again in front of the pair. Ario's stride was a regular walk now. He didn't want to mess with Anarchi too much currently, but I could practically feel the heat of the fire going through his veins. He was awakened in Anarchi's presence to a mood of carefulness that wasn't shown, a mood that hinted at the small drop-sized menace pools dotted through him. And the pools were very deep.

I couldn't help but smirk slightly. Wouldn't have won it? Anarchi would have placed third at least. Great. We were back to making the other's horse look better then our own mount.

Ario's pace increased to a trot as he heard Anarchi accelerate as well. His head was held lower, in a more comfortable position for the trot, but he still exerted his dominance by the proud crest of his neck. I decided to ignore his arrogance and male attitude for now and instead feel his paces. Ario's paces had always been smooth, but now it was like floating. It wasn't predatory like the trot I knew Anarchi was having; it was more like dancing, more like prey dancing about, challenging the hunter to come. It looked like the challenge would be met, based on Moody's last words.

A run? Ario and I would appreciate it. I didn't comment on Moody's prediction of Anarchi losing to Ario - I knew Anarchi was perfectly capable of beating us - and instead I gestured ahead, to where the trail was getting wider. It gets up to a couple meters wide in a bit, and it lasts for a mile.

[soliel]

I smiled, delighted our challenge had been accepted. Ario looked to be in prime form, and the way he moved hinted that he was already warmed up and ready to get on with it. I laid my hand on the side of Anarchi's neck, giving him a few solid pats, though he didn't need reminding I was there. He shook his head slightly, teeth grating against the bit as he stretched his jaw. He was an odd one, but at least I had a good understanding of him. "A mile sounds good. He's not exactly feeling picky." I laughed softly and picked up the reins again. I asked him for a canter and sat the smooth gait. Like anything he did, the movements were smooth and controlled. His hoof-beats were soft and muffled against the dry ground, sending up little clouds of dust with each fall.
My body moved into the crouch of its own accord, already preparing for the break. Ario was a bit ahead of us now, but the colt didn't mind the handicap at all. I wondered vaguely what sort of strategy he would use. Would he maintain a steady pace, or run his opponent off his feet? It didn't matter much to me; our little match was just for fun, and I was happy just to see him so eager to run, even though he didn't express it very well. I kept him on the outside

and had him switch to his right lead to further complicate the race. His dominant stride was to the left, like any racer's, but Anarchi was never one to back down from a challenge. Ignore them, yes, but once he set in his mind that he would do something, he was going to do it thoroughly.

[S u N f r O s t ~]

I made no reply to Moody, instead just urging Ario with a small touch of my heel that it was time to canter. The black colt bounded forward into a swift canter, already guessing at what was going to happen and wanting an advantage over his rival. I smiled slightly. The one time he decided to play unfairly was with horses that he had a grudge against, and how did I know that? Because Anarchi was the first horse to ever make him play unfair and be eager to run away from and challenge to catch up. All other times he just coasted along, easily doing his job, but he knew and relished the challenge of beating Anarchi.

I absorbed his smooth movement. Since he was nearly three his body had grown wider, but his muscles stronger. He was not bulky, but he had a conformation now that hinted at concealed muscle. I enjoyed the forward movement of his canter, with his front legs reaching forwards at the same time as his back legs pushing him in the same direction. And to change his pace or to direct him was all too easy, and the pace didn't change either. He was agile like a filly, but possessed the strength of a colt; it was an excellent combination of power.

I realized that Anarchi was somewhere behind us, and slowed Ario down so that Anarchi was beside us. The trail widened, and I tensed my legs, ready to gallop. I decided to take the call. I muttered just high enough for Moody to hear Three.....two.....one. At the count of one I rose into a crouch and urged Ario onward with a quick nudge of the heel and kneading of hand. The black burst forward and took the lead as he always did, his breathing steadying as he found his racing rhythm.

[soliel]

My legs tensed in preparation of what could only be one of his fastest breaks ever. The moment I clapped my heels to his sides at 'three', he took off like a shot. Literally. My butt his the seat, and I winced as the motion jolted my knees. I'd definitely be sore later. I sat awkwardly like this for a few moments, though my unusual choice of seating didn't seem to hamper his stride in the slightest. Maybe he could run heavier than I anticipated. Or maybe he just hated Ario that much. I lurched forward, once again maintaining a crouch, and this time making sure my legs lower body was locked in position. Sure, I'd be able to hold the position until my muscles went numb, and I'd most likely be paid with cramps and sore tendons when I went to dismount. But that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.
Anarchi kept pace with Ario, since saying he was going "stride for stride" would be a bit of an exaggeration. The colt had a big stride, and Anarchi had to run twice as fast just to keep from dropping behind. But the colt never faltered in his run; what he lacked in reach he more than made up for in speed and stamina. He could go for a while at this pace, and even faster, should he feel it necessary to bump it up. His current gallop I had affectionately labeled 'game speed'. Like I said, he could go much faster, but he was content to toy with his opponent's head for a little while before transitioning into 'kill mode'. I tried directing him to the side, to keep a good distance between the large black and the lithe bay, but the colt kept digging to the inside, and ended up running a few inches apart. His opening strategy was one he commonly used; pressure your opponents by keeping level with them, then gradually move them closer to the inner rail, until they're forced to drop back, thereby giving him an opening to slip through. He normally saved this for later in the race, and, it wouldn't work out as well, since we lacked rails at the moment, but Anarchi wasn't above running his rival off the trail, if it meant humiliating the other colt.

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Ario forever remained relaxed as Anarchi took the outside of us in his stride. The lithe colt that Moody rode was quiet as he ran, much quieter then Ario. But enough of how he ran.....I knew this type of strategy. He was trying to pressure us into going faster, and then he would keep pace with us still until, finally, Ario got tired. Well, that wasn't happening. We would let Anarchi make the first move for the lead, not us. Then we'd see who came out on top. I made sure Ario was at least an inch ahead, though, in case he decided to cut in front of us and block us.

Impressario ran smoothly onward, ignoring his rival's presence at his side. I could feel his reach lengthen just slightly so that he was a neck in front of the other colt. His mane blew back, lightly covering my vision, but I could see enough to know where we were. Anarchi was beside us, and we had just gone through at least a furlong on the wide trail. I noticed that the colt seemed to get closer as time went on. Glancing ahead to make sure there were no turns coming up, I risked a quick glance to the side. They were only a couple of inches from us! Wondering what Anarchi was playing at, I quickly made a counter move.

Ario seemed only dimly aware of his rival's presence. When I made a movement with the reins he quickly became alert, listening to me. I made him go a bit to the outside, copying Anarchi's move to the inside and closing the proximity between us. We were now much closer then before - I couldn't waste time counting the inches though.

[soliel]

He didn't seem to mind the close proximity, however, I wasn't terribly comfortable being this close to another racer. I'd seen too many jockeys break legs, arms, or worse for riding too close to another horse. Shaking the reins slightly, I nudged Anarchi with my left leg. The colt snorted, flattening his ears in response but didn't budge. Frowning, I tugged harder, but he only clenched the bit tighter in his mouth and galloped on. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ario had copied Anarchi's movements, and had closed the distance between us to but a few inches. Well, perhaps it was good that Anarchi's stubbornness won out; if he had moved, Ario would have used his own momentum and ran us off the trail in a successful counteraction. But instead, Anarchi had remained firm, glaring coldly at his rival, as if daring the colt to try to take him down.
Maybe I should learn to trust his judgment better. He had a good, analytical mind, however, his obedience still needed some work. The colt still should have listened to my command, even if it meant losing. It was my position as master to give orders, and have them obeyed. But I wasn't about to correct him. Just this once, I'd make an exception for him. I was the one who had encouraged the rivalry, and I wasn't about to discipline the colt for doing exactly what I had wanted him to do; develop an obsession for racing. His strides lengthened after we took out another few furlongs, nearly halfway over with the race. Being nearly a straight mile, it seemed to go by faster than normal. We were still running average for the half, around thirty-five to forty-eight seconds, because neither colt had bothered to show their speed yet. Though his reach had grown, Anarchi maintained the same pace, though he was using less energy now. Which meant he was conserving himself for a final sprint to the finish. Smirking lightly, I hunkered down closer to his body and tried to stay as small and light as possible.

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Impressario refused to budge as the furlongs went on, making sure he didn't lose where he was. He, too, saw what could happen if he moved away; Anarchi would close in like a hawk swooping upon its prey. Instead, my black colt continued his pace without losing much energy. My hands were motionless at his neck except to follow the bobbing movement and reach of his head. I knew we were halfway through the race by this point, judging by the way my legs were starting to feel uncomfortable. It wasn't that I wasn't conditioned - but I was low over his neck, trying to take all my weight into my body and not on my colt in an effort to make his running easier. If Ario was grateful for it he wouldn't show it; he was too preoccupied with Anarchi's movements and what to do.

I felt no swell of energy yet in him, but there was an undercurrent going through his body, feeding his senses one command; time to run soon. run soon...... He was leading by an inch, but with a firm yank he widened his stride and therefore his lead to a length. I was a bit worried that Anarchi would get us now that Ario was showing a small level of his speed. No doubt the colt would keep pace with us, unwilling to let his prey escape. Well, Ario was not the prey; he was the controller, the one who would come make sure every move made was in his favor and his alone.

ooc// Who should win Sols? I hate deciding.....(:

[soliel]

My colt and I came to the same conclusion after we ran a little more than half the distance; it was time to run. I felt my grin broaden, until the wind whistled painfully through my teeth and I was forced to bite down on my lip. Gradually, I gave in to his constant pressure on the bit, letting out the reins in small sectionals so as not to give him his head and have him blow himself out before the finish.
The bay lowered himself to the ground, his muscles coiling and springing with each stride. He surged forward, hooves flying as he flailed the dirt with each touch down. I conformed, keeping myself balanced forward so as not to be overpowered by the momentum and fall off his back, and pumped my arms in sync with the bobs of his head, giving him every available opportunity to overpower his opponent. No longer concerned with keeping pace, Anarchi leaped forward, ears flattened and eyes locked on the end of the trail not so far ahead.

[ooc]randomize it =P[/ooc]

[S u N f r O s t ~]

ooc// Anarchi. Randomizer loved him. xD You can rp the ending. Just don't humiliate poor Ario by winning by five lengths. ^__^

ic// I saw and then felt the whirlwind that was Anarchi on our outside. The bay colt was speedballing it to the finish, leaning down low to the ground as his great momentum carried him along. I felt a wave of anger sweep through Ario to see the bay ahead of him. His own muscles were uncoiling now, and shortly he was extending his legs forward and thrusting off with enormous power using his hind legs. We caught up to Anarchi, and suddenly we weren't going ahead any more. I realized the truth; they were both unwilling to lose.

My teeth grit together, and I concentrated on the tree that marked our finish line. I felt a huge surge of power working it's way up through Ario's system, but would it get here in time? I kneaded my hands anxiously as we entered the final furlong. There was so little time left to beat the black colt's bay rival, and I was getting worried that we might not be able to pull this off. Ario was still resting from his big Juvenile win, after all. He was busy maturing, working into his new muscles and body. I hoped I wasn't pushing him. Impressario needed all his strength and fitness for the tough three year old campaign ahead of him.

I made a snap decision and loosened the reins an inch. He took the extra rein eagerly, thrusting his neck in front of Anarchi's and heaving for more. I felt he had more, knew he had more, but hoped we ran out of ground soon enough so that Anarchi couldn't retaliate. I didn't want to push him so soon after that win.

[soliel]

His eyes were locked ahead on the lone tree. Reaching it first seemed like a childish aim, but to him, it was his reason for living. Humiliating others was his favorite game. I gave up most of my grip on the reins, holding them with loose hands so that they wouldn't swing over his head and trip him up. He took the length without a moment's hesitation, stretching out lower and increasing his reach so that he looked almost like a cheetah. With his aggressive stance and the wild hunger in his eyes, though, it wasn't hard to imagine he had been born a predator in an herbivore's body.
We could see Ario shoot ahead in our peripheral, but it would be a cold day in hell when Anarchi let his youthful rival grasp the win. I crouched lower over his back, until I could only see through a wild sea of black mane. His ears were flattened against his skull, nares flared, and teeth bared against the gentle pull of the bit as he surged forward. The black colt's lead gradually decreased, from one length two a half. Then we were at his haunch, his girth, then neck and neck. The finish was coming up fast, but I knew Anarchi wasn't going to opt for a tie. He'd either win or lose; there was no in-between. I wondered if he'd make a bid for the lead, or would he tire out, and leave victory open for Impressario to claim?
I received my answer when Anarchi threw himself into a sprint. His lungs must be burning. His heart-beats were probably palpitating so quickly that they sounded like a single, steady hum. His legs must be trembling from near exhaustion. Yet his stride never faltered; he pushed on, refusing to suffer defeat at the hands of his enemy. The bay colt slammed forward, using his own momentum to carry him farther, faster. I kept my gaze locked on to the blurry shape of the tree up ahead, not daring to take my eyes off of it, for fear I'd grow nauseous. And then it was gone. Behind us. I hazarded a glance to our left and felt my stomach drop from surprise when I didn't see a black colt at our side. Surely he couldn't have gotten that far ahead, could he? Carefully, I raised my head and peered ahead, but didn't see the dark form of Impressario anywhere in front of us. Then that meant... My head whipped around of its own accord, my eyes locking onto the colt about a length behind us.
He looked livid.

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Impressario felt the bay at his side using all his might to catch up and try and pass us. His short spurt of triumph faded into anger that grew as my hold tightened. I refused to let him go faster, because I wanted to not push him too hard. He had a trying campaign this year in the Triple Crown and would need all his strength. His anger turned to loathing as he saw Anarchi surge past us and open up a length of daylight. Anger became desperation, and he tried with all his might to break my hold. His black legs flashed out as far as possible, and his back legs pushed off with the force of a tsunamii. But it was not enough. Anarchi finished a length in front of us.

I felt his attitude turned livid. The black two year old quickly dropped the pace without my asking, his head held low. His eyes, I knew, were burning with hatred. I knew what his flattened ears and threatening steps meant. It was the same reaction he had given to Anarchi when he had finished in front of us twice in the Youth Challenge. It was the same reaction he gave to any horse who beat him without his consent, only tuned up to maximum glare.

Ario slowed to a smooth trot, and then a walk. Every movement of his was loaded with menace. I glanced briefly at the bay form of Anarchi. The colt was just as fast as always, of course. I wondered what would have happened had it been Anarchi in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, against Akuma Battlecry and Native Flame and the more than game Secret Miracle. Would the results have been different? Would it have been Anarchi in the winners' circle?

Ario's anger briefly changed direction, and I realized with a start that he was livid with anger at me. I had restrained him. His head swung around to examine me critically, his near black eyes staring at me accusingly. He turned his head away from me with a low snort of unhappiness, and then focused on Anarchi. I did the same. Would the other colt boast of his accomplishment? Probably not verbally, but in his body language you could probably read it....