Year Seventeen Juvenile Workouts
battle of the giants
Aristaeus & Timothy Andrews ~ Tisiphone & Kylie Silverstar ~ Everlasting Gift & Amber Black
This was an exciting workout, not least because she would be aboard a horse herself. Amber Black smiled as the small bay horse neighed impatiently, pawing the dirt beneath his hooves. She let the reins out, and off he trotted. Everlasting Gift was the hottest sprinting prospect they'd had for a while. By the ever-fast Pegasus Wings and out of the even faster Innocent Passion, he was a third-generation SOPS bred horse with lines to the enviable foundation mares Forbidden Wings and Little Miss Innocent. His value to the barn could not be understated as both a racehorse and a future stud. Ever was a horse who reminded her a lot of a sprinting Impressario; he had the pedigree and the attitude that she liked to work with. It had been too long since she had ridden a true sprinting type such as him - the very thought was exciting. But the other two joining them were just as blue-blooded and hotly anticipated. Aristaeus, son of Sunset Crusade and Eternal Phantom, grandson of Akuma Battlecry, Night Stalker, and El Sol Del Mar, would be joining them in this set. With jockey Timothy Andrews aboard, Aris was a bit tempered, but otherwise he was a willful horse. He always wanted things his way or the highway, and training him was a nightmare. It was probably why Timothy got along with him so well. Valencia's older brother was a handful himself, and this was essentially one of his first years riding professionally. He had the talent, and certain violent horses seemed to like him. Amber was interested in seeing how it all worked out in the end. A glance had already told Amber that Ever would bring the arrogance and Aris the aggression.
Tisiphone, however, would bring the allure. This had been a hotly anticipated filly, the chestnut daughter of Mastermind and Lynara's Kingdom, expected to be everything her parents had been and more. Tis was a deceptive little thing. Sweet at first glance, frightfully cunning underneath, and of course preferring Kylie Silverstar on her back, Tis was their hope for the sprints and the miles over both surfaces. She had certainly been turning in early workouts proving her speed, and it was Amber's hope that they could get the filly to try it all before she retired for good. She would be running over the dirt today with the boys and there was no question in anybody's mind about whether she could hold her own. Tis was just too good to be left in the dust by any horse, even if those horses were Everlasting Gift and Aristaeus, widely regarded as the best horses in the barn. Tisiphone was fast; Aris could turn in his bloody fast workouts, and Ever could clock a final quarter in ten seconds flat, but Tisiphone would do all that and more if challenged. She was an unpredictable element, able to be anywhere and do anything. It sent tingles down Kylie Silverstar's back every time she rode her.
Kylie was looking forward to this workout. Timothy was an arrogant person; Amber had a tendency to underestimate others, even if they were her own horses that she fully knew the capabilities of. Kylie knew that her strengths lay in understanding her competition and gauging the mettle of her own horse; it was why she had risen so quickly in terms of riding skill and brought Amber had very first Turf Triple Crown winner in only her second season of riding. Understanding the horse was a key to success, and Kylie felt like she had a fairly good understanding of Tisiphone that would only improve over the years. Tis had a love of domination found more often in a male horse; she would not bend to the likes of Aris's will or Ever's arrogant proclamations.
Krystal eyed up Kylie as she rode up on her mount, admiring the sleekness of the chestnut Tis and laughing internally at the confidence in Kylie's eyes. Krystal knew which horse of this bunch turned in the sharpest workouts, and that was hers. Aris always went hard in his workouts; it was difficult to temper him. That was why they were doing a short and quick workout. Aris would push to go long and hard and think he could handle it all, but Krystal wanted him fresh and ready for the competition he would face in his first race. The Legacy Series attracted the most blue-blooded horses around, and it was critically important that all three of these horses be on top of their game in order to tackle the competition they would find there. They were all facing small but high quality fields, and Amber wanted nothing less than a win for all of them; they were all fully capable and likely precocious enough to do so, in her opinion. Krystal did not want to disappoint, and she knew that a second place or lower was by nature unacceptable to these horses anyway.
Amber met the eyes of her riders and nodded. It was time for the workout to run. As the three turned to face in the same direction and Amber hummed loudly, signaling the start of the race, the wind blew as if joining in the competition against these horses. All three took off as though the wind lifted them, bodies in motion side by side and competitive fires flaring. They were gone with the wind and would return with the wind, the winner of the mock quarter race unknown to all but the wind. Such was the way of this workout; the unknown would reign supreme until the horses proved themselves in their races. Such had been the way every year, for no matter how promising a horse looked on paper and in workouts, racing was an entirely different matter. Based on the way Henna Turath's eyebrows had climbed into her hairline, however, the three riders were fairly certain that the time they had turned in for this quarter mile had been something worth being impressed and hopeful about.
Tisiphone, however, would bring the allure. This had been a hotly anticipated filly, the chestnut daughter of Mastermind and Lynara's Kingdom, expected to be everything her parents had been and more. Tis was a deceptive little thing. Sweet at first glance, frightfully cunning underneath, and of course preferring Kylie Silverstar on her back, Tis was their hope for the sprints and the miles over both surfaces. She had certainly been turning in early workouts proving her speed, and it was Amber's hope that they could get the filly to try it all before she retired for good. She would be running over the dirt today with the boys and there was no question in anybody's mind about whether she could hold her own. Tis was just too good to be left in the dust by any horse, even if those horses were Everlasting Gift and Aristaeus, widely regarded as the best horses in the barn. Tisiphone was fast; Aris could turn in his bloody fast workouts, and Ever could clock a final quarter in ten seconds flat, but Tisiphone would do all that and more if challenged. She was an unpredictable element, able to be anywhere and do anything. It sent tingles down Kylie Silverstar's back every time she rode her.
Kylie was looking forward to this workout. Timothy was an arrogant person; Amber had a tendency to underestimate others, even if they were her own horses that she fully knew the capabilities of. Kylie knew that her strengths lay in understanding her competition and gauging the mettle of her own horse; it was why she had risen so quickly in terms of riding skill and brought Amber had very first Turf Triple Crown winner in only her second season of riding. Understanding the horse was a key to success, and Kylie felt like she had a fairly good understanding of Tisiphone that would only improve over the years. Tis had a love of domination found more often in a male horse; she would not bend to the likes of Aris's will or Ever's arrogant proclamations.
Krystal eyed up Kylie as she rode up on her mount, admiring the sleekness of the chestnut Tis and laughing internally at the confidence in Kylie's eyes. Krystal knew which horse of this bunch turned in the sharpest workouts, and that was hers. Aris always went hard in his workouts; it was difficult to temper him. That was why they were doing a short and quick workout. Aris would push to go long and hard and think he could handle it all, but Krystal wanted him fresh and ready for the competition he would face in his first race. The Legacy Series attracted the most blue-blooded horses around, and it was critically important that all three of these horses be on top of their game in order to tackle the competition they would find there. They were all facing small but high quality fields, and Amber wanted nothing less than a win for all of them; they were all fully capable and likely precocious enough to do so, in her opinion. Krystal did not want to disappoint, and she knew that a second place or lower was by nature unacceptable to these horses anyway.
Amber met the eyes of her riders and nodded. It was time for the workout to run. As the three turned to face in the same direction and Amber hummed loudly, signaling the start of the race, the wind blew as if joining in the competition against these horses. All three took off as though the wind lifted them, bodies in motion side by side and competitive fires flaring. They were gone with the wind and would return with the wind, the winner of the mock quarter race unknown to all but the wind. Such was the way of this workout; the unknown would reign supreme until the horses proved themselves in their races. Such had been the way every year, for no matter how promising a horse looked on paper and in workouts, racing was an entirely different matter. Based on the way Henna Turath's eyebrows had climbed into her hairline, however, the three riders were fairly certain that the time they had turned in for this quarter mile had been something worth being impressed and hopeful about.
tell the tale
Belladonna & Krystal Yhate ~ Phaedra & Christopher Black ~ Terminus & Valencia Andrews ~ Hyperion & Amber Black
This had been a workout the whole barn had been looking forward to. The horses in it represented a symbolic return to the way of things for Stride Of Perfection - turf dominance. Each horse had been hand-bred by the barn and carried coveted lines. Amber Black, perhaps too arrogantly, thought that her mount was the best catch of them all. But why wouldn't she think that? She sat aboard Hyperion, son of Merry Bay King and Rosalind, legendary producers, and through them he was related to legends. He was already a priceless stud prospect, even at two and unraced; as he raced, Amber knew that his value would only continue to increase, but he would certainly never be leaving her ownership while she still lived and owned SOPS. Per was simply too special. The gorgeous chestnut was built strong and to last, with classic lines that reflected the depth of production success within his pedigree. As Amber nudged Hyperion into a trot, she was struck by the similarity of this colt to Impressario - they had the same arrogant nature, though Per was perhaps a touch more aggressive. He strode across the turf with smooth confidence, but embodied within his stride was the hint of a threat. This was a colt unafraid to assert himself, to show his strength and do so with regal command.
Amber was reminded of another difference between the colt and his brother as she asked him to pick up a canter. Per lunged forward with smooth grace, well in hand, but he was completely aware of everything around him. Nothing got past this colt; he saw all. As Amber asked him to pick up a gallop, Per smoothly transitioned and leaned into the rail as the track curved into the backstretch. He had a closer's cruising speed, but his alertness throughout reminded Amber of what kind of colt she was dealing with here - a hunter. While Impressario had liked to be up front and tango with the quick pace there, Per liked to close into it gradually. He picked off horses as he went along, and the more horses there were to hunt the happier he was. It was a refreshing style and one Amber could not wait to employ in the colt's first race. He would be starting in the Legacy Turf Stakes against other blue-blooded prospects, and Amber certainly didn't mind waiting the extra two weeks.
Krystal Yhate's eyes were glued to the form of Hyperion and Amber Black as they swept off the final turn and proceeded down the stretch. She had her own mount to worry about, but she couldn't help admiring the power on display as Per neatly dodged under the wire, no doubt in good time. That colt was as ready as any horse to start. The filly she was riding was similarly prepared. Belladonna, daughter of Jessie James and Fleet Majesty, would have raced in the first week even if she had had the rich pedigree of Hyperion that allowed him to start in the Legacy Series. The filly was simply too ready to go, and Krystal was too ready to unleash her on the racing world. Bell was the product of a breeding experiment, bred to inherit the gorgeous conformation of her dam and the aggressive speed of her sire, and boy had she inherited both. Bell was even better conformed than Hyperion. Standing at an intimidating seventeen hands high, she made an intimidating sight as she glowered over the turf track. As Per glided by, Bell let out a single undignified snort, stamping a hoof in clear impatience. Krystal breathed a sigh of relief that the filly had learned to respect her at some point during yearling training; otherwise, Bell would have been off running after Per to savage him. She made her sire look tame.
Amber trotted back around on Per, eyes glowing with approval. A fond smile curved her face as she caught sight of Krystal and Bell. Krystal understood completely the nostalgia that lit her best friend's face shortly after the smile. Amber had been the only human whom Bell's sire had let near him for a time, and she had also ridden Bell's dam. Bell was thus a very special horse to Amber - but the horses with the aggressive streak had always liked Krystal, and when the filly had clearly expressed her preferences Amber had accepted it. A lot of hope was riding on Bell to corner the classic turf division with Per. They represented the highest hopes for a generation in terms of their potential future turf prowess. As if reminded of this, Amber's smile suddenly became a smirk. Now Krystal, I know that Bell doesn't necessarily play nice with others, but I felt as though for this workout she should have a companion in order to stay...motivated. Krystal nearly groaned. Who in the world was Amber thinking of for said companion? Amber grinned merrily and said no more, so Krystal just muttered and began to circle Bell, looking out for their competitor.
A cheerful whoop of greeting heralded the arrival of their workout partner. Krystal looked and couldn't help the competitive smirk she directed at none other than Valencia Andrews. The younger woman was riding Terminus, son of Stryker and White Chocolate, the most thickly built and aggressive horse in the barn. In the case of Bell, her stature was intimidating; in the case of Ter, his attitude made up for what he lacked in height (which wasn't much). To put these two aggressive horses together in the same workout would prove to be a savaging experience. It would also prove to be a quick one, and Krystal quickly leveled an intense glare at her boss. Amber grinned. I'd love it if you guys could play nice for about a half mile and then take a quarter mile at a bit of a quicker speed. I'm definitely not looking to kill them off before their first races, despite appearances. I just want Bell and Ter to get a good tune-up in before they go destroy the competition. Valencia snorted, but it was a snort of agreement, and Krystal nodded her assent.
It did not take much to convince the two horses to get going; they sized each other up, lined up alongside each other, and before long they were cantering quite quickly down the stretch. They curved around the first turn, and the minute the track straightened out they were off and running. Ter immediately dropped slightly behind Bell, glued to her side but exerting constant pressure. This was another reason why Ter was so perfectly suited to Valencia; they both loved to terrorize their opponents by pressing the speed and still coming out on top. Bell, however, was not intimidated. Being alongside another horse was like home territory to her; she would have been unhappy without the company. Krystal hoped Valencia could not tell how pleased she was to have the company as they rolled down the backstretch, keeping it slow but with tension flying between the horses with every passing furlong. Things would actually get very interesting in the stretch; Amber had already hailed Bell as the most talented stretch runner she had ever trained, but Ter had a stunning turn of foot when asked. To pit the two against each other was to ask for a speed duel.
That was what Christopher Black got to witness as he arrived aboard his own mount for the morning. Ter and Bell were locked side by side, eye to eye, power streaming off them as they stormed for the wire. Both jockeys were urging their mounts on, Valencia with muted shouts of encouragement and Krystal with eager hands and loose rein. Bell moved off with the boosted acceleration classically of the Jessie James line, but Terminus reached for his own gear and displayed his stunning turn of foot not only by sticking with Bell but by moving slightly past her, answering speed for speed. Christopher almost forgot he was riding a horse himself until said horse suddenly lunged forward as the horses stormed past, eager to join in the fun. Chris reoriented himself, grinning helplessly, as Phaedra dropped from her strong canter to a half-motivated trot, snorting all the while. Phae did have a taste for the dramatic. She was the final turf juvenile to be worked out today, and good thing too.
Here was the filly whom they hoped would lead their turf sprinting division in the future. Sired by Royal Cadenza and out of Sugar Jayde, she was richly pedigreed and well loved by the barn for her friendly, curious, and affectionate nature. She was also known for being one of the rare closers in the sprinting world. None had been more surprised than Chris to discover the filly's preferred running style. She would load into the gates, be one of the first to break, and then immediately drop back as though something had occurred to stop her. She would take up position towards the back, running slower fractions, and then suddenly close extremely aggressively in the last quarter mile. Such aggression was just something that had been unexpected from the filly, but it was certainly welcome. A filly that overcome speed with more speed in the later stages of a race was just fine for the staff; it was making sure she got started at the right time that would determine her success, and that was where Chris stepped in.
Phaedra got going just as the other two stopped. Chris leaned forward and the smaller gray filly took off, stride light and graceful as she glided around the first turn with ears pricked and speed well in hand. Here was a horse who would light the track on fire the minute he asked for it. Chris would not ask for it, at least until they had reached the final turn. They glided through the furlongs in solid fractions, at least according to Chris's mental calculator. Phae did not flag. Though born to be a sprinter, she certainly did not lack for stamina. Chris felt confident in his mount's reserves as they swept for the final turn. All he did was ask, and suddenly Phae went. Her speed tripled; the world became a blur of early morning color; Chris's eyes watered as his filly seemingly exploded with newfound speed, flicking through the furlongs as though they weren't there. She streamed under the wire, and as she slowed and Chris brought her back Amber brandished a stopwatch in his face. Chris's eyes widened at the number, and at the realization that Phae had most likely just posted the fastest final quarter of the day, and without truly trying.
It was time for SOPS to reclaim the turf across all distances and divisions. Amber calculated numbers and revised plans in her head, all the while petting her colt's neck and listening to the friendly banter of her jockeys, and dreams of future Turf Triple Crown attempts and Breeders Cup Turf wins filled her mind with nostalgic desire for a repetition of their past.
Amber was reminded of another difference between the colt and his brother as she asked him to pick up a canter. Per lunged forward with smooth grace, well in hand, but he was completely aware of everything around him. Nothing got past this colt; he saw all. As Amber asked him to pick up a gallop, Per smoothly transitioned and leaned into the rail as the track curved into the backstretch. He had a closer's cruising speed, but his alertness throughout reminded Amber of what kind of colt she was dealing with here - a hunter. While Impressario had liked to be up front and tango with the quick pace there, Per liked to close into it gradually. He picked off horses as he went along, and the more horses there were to hunt the happier he was. It was a refreshing style and one Amber could not wait to employ in the colt's first race. He would be starting in the Legacy Turf Stakes against other blue-blooded prospects, and Amber certainly didn't mind waiting the extra two weeks.
Krystal Yhate's eyes were glued to the form of Hyperion and Amber Black as they swept off the final turn and proceeded down the stretch. She had her own mount to worry about, but she couldn't help admiring the power on display as Per neatly dodged under the wire, no doubt in good time. That colt was as ready as any horse to start. The filly she was riding was similarly prepared. Belladonna, daughter of Jessie James and Fleet Majesty, would have raced in the first week even if she had had the rich pedigree of Hyperion that allowed him to start in the Legacy Series. The filly was simply too ready to go, and Krystal was too ready to unleash her on the racing world. Bell was the product of a breeding experiment, bred to inherit the gorgeous conformation of her dam and the aggressive speed of her sire, and boy had she inherited both. Bell was even better conformed than Hyperion. Standing at an intimidating seventeen hands high, she made an intimidating sight as she glowered over the turf track. As Per glided by, Bell let out a single undignified snort, stamping a hoof in clear impatience. Krystal breathed a sigh of relief that the filly had learned to respect her at some point during yearling training; otherwise, Bell would have been off running after Per to savage him. She made her sire look tame.
Amber trotted back around on Per, eyes glowing with approval. A fond smile curved her face as she caught sight of Krystal and Bell. Krystal understood completely the nostalgia that lit her best friend's face shortly after the smile. Amber had been the only human whom Bell's sire had let near him for a time, and she had also ridden Bell's dam. Bell was thus a very special horse to Amber - but the horses with the aggressive streak had always liked Krystal, and when the filly had clearly expressed her preferences Amber had accepted it. A lot of hope was riding on Bell to corner the classic turf division with Per. They represented the highest hopes for a generation in terms of their potential future turf prowess. As if reminded of this, Amber's smile suddenly became a smirk. Now Krystal, I know that Bell doesn't necessarily play nice with others, but I felt as though for this workout she should have a companion in order to stay...motivated. Krystal nearly groaned. Who in the world was Amber thinking of for said companion? Amber grinned merrily and said no more, so Krystal just muttered and began to circle Bell, looking out for their competitor.
A cheerful whoop of greeting heralded the arrival of their workout partner. Krystal looked and couldn't help the competitive smirk she directed at none other than Valencia Andrews. The younger woman was riding Terminus, son of Stryker and White Chocolate, the most thickly built and aggressive horse in the barn. In the case of Bell, her stature was intimidating; in the case of Ter, his attitude made up for what he lacked in height (which wasn't much). To put these two aggressive horses together in the same workout would prove to be a savaging experience. It would also prove to be a quick one, and Krystal quickly leveled an intense glare at her boss. Amber grinned. I'd love it if you guys could play nice for about a half mile and then take a quarter mile at a bit of a quicker speed. I'm definitely not looking to kill them off before their first races, despite appearances. I just want Bell and Ter to get a good tune-up in before they go destroy the competition. Valencia snorted, but it was a snort of agreement, and Krystal nodded her assent.
It did not take much to convince the two horses to get going; they sized each other up, lined up alongside each other, and before long they were cantering quite quickly down the stretch. They curved around the first turn, and the minute the track straightened out they were off and running. Ter immediately dropped slightly behind Bell, glued to her side but exerting constant pressure. This was another reason why Ter was so perfectly suited to Valencia; they both loved to terrorize their opponents by pressing the speed and still coming out on top. Bell, however, was not intimidated. Being alongside another horse was like home territory to her; she would have been unhappy without the company. Krystal hoped Valencia could not tell how pleased she was to have the company as they rolled down the backstretch, keeping it slow but with tension flying between the horses with every passing furlong. Things would actually get very interesting in the stretch; Amber had already hailed Bell as the most talented stretch runner she had ever trained, but Ter had a stunning turn of foot when asked. To pit the two against each other was to ask for a speed duel.
That was what Christopher Black got to witness as he arrived aboard his own mount for the morning. Ter and Bell were locked side by side, eye to eye, power streaming off them as they stormed for the wire. Both jockeys were urging their mounts on, Valencia with muted shouts of encouragement and Krystal with eager hands and loose rein. Bell moved off with the boosted acceleration classically of the Jessie James line, but Terminus reached for his own gear and displayed his stunning turn of foot not only by sticking with Bell but by moving slightly past her, answering speed for speed. Christopher almost forgot he was riding a horse himself until said horse suddenly lunged forward as the horses stormed past, eager to join in the fun. Chris reoriented himself, grinning helplessly, as Phaedra dropped from her strong canter to a half-motivated trot, snorting all the while. Phae did have a taste for the dramatic. She was the final turf juvenile to be worked out today, and good thing too.
Here was the filly whom they hoped would lead their turf sprinting division in the future. Sired by Royal Cadenza and out of Sugar Jayde, she was richly pedigreed and well loved by the barn for her friendly, curious, and affectionate nature. She was also known for being one of the rare closers in the sprinting world. None had been more surprised than Chris to discover the filly's preferred running style. She would load into the gates, be one of the first to break, and then immediately drop back as though something had occurred to stop her. She would take up position towards the back, running slower fractions, and then suddenly close extremely aggressively in the last quarter mile. Such aggression was just something that had been unexpected from the filly, but it was certainly welcome. A filly that overcome speed with more speed in the later stages of a race was just fine for the staff; it was making sure she got started at the right time that would determine her success, and that was where Chris stepped in.
Phaedra got going just as the other two stopped. Chris leaned forward and the smaller gray filly took off, stride light and graceful as she glided around the first turn with ears pricked and speed well in hand. Here was a horse who would light the track on fire the minute he asked for it. Chris would not ask for it, at least until they had reached the final turn. They glided through the furlongs in solid fractions, at least according to Chris's mental calculator. Phae did not flag. Though born to be a sprinter, she certainly did not lack for stamina. Chris felt confident in his mount's reserves as they swept for the final turn. All he did was ask, and suddenly Phae went. Her speed tripled; the world became a blur of early morning color; Chris's eyes watered as his filly seemingly exploded with newfound speed, flicking through the furlongs as though they weren't there. She streamed under the wire, and as she slowed and Chris brought her back Amber brandished a stopwatch in his face. Chris's eyes widened at the number, and at the realization that Phae had most likely just posted the fastest final quarter of the day, and without truly trying.
It was time for SOPS to reclaim the turf across all distances and divisions. Amber calculated numbers and revised plans in her head, all the while petting her colt's neck and listening to the friendly banter of her jockeys, and dreams of future Turf Triple Crown attempts and Breeders Cup Turf wins filled her mind with nostalgic desire for a repetition of their past.
eyes to the front
Sunrise Spell & Meredith Mahon ~ Sweet Dreams & Timothy Andrews ~ Kallisto & Krystal Yhate ~ Odin & Wanda Brown
It was a gorgeous morning to begin the Year Seventeen juvenile workouts with. Amber Black looked admiringly at the sun, head tilted to the side to keep some of the glare out of her eyes. It was cold for now, but the rising sun extended long tendrils of warmth over the horizon, and Amber knew it would warm up quickly...if her horses did not set the track on fire first. She looked back to the dirt track, admiring the form of Henna Turath crouched over the light gray mare's neck. Animatia was carving up the dirt track. She had been exposed to the Breeders Cup effect - run once against competition not likely to be beaten, and then use said experience to boost future performance. The filly had been campaigned hard last year, as she had not raced during her juvenile season due to a lack of mental preparedness. At three she had caught eyes; now, at four, she was ready to do more than that. Her first start would come in the Apple Blossom Stakes in two weeks, and she looked ready for it. But the story today was not about her, or even about Melusine, the muscly four year old mare who had experienced the same effect and would be starting back at about the same time as her stablemate. No. The story was about the new crop of two year olds, the first of which were about to make their way to the track.
Amber smiled as Sunrise Spell passed his half-sister on her exit from the track. He entered with the smooth, lithe grace of a professional, looking at the world around him and finding within it no surprises. This horse was the most fearless of his crop. The son of Mercurial Magic and Flash At Dawn was their latest edition, but he had adjusted so smoothly to SOPS that it was though he'd been here his whole life. Said horse packed a lot of explosive power in him and was one of the tallest of his year. He was slated for a first start in the Mighty Moose Stakes, traditional for any potential young milers that the stable raised. The horse made not a sound as Meredith Mahon lightly touched his sides, but everything he needed to say was expressed through his body language. He looked impressive as he accelerated to a trot, then a light gallop, staying smooth the entire time.
Amber's smile changed to a frown as another horse made his presence known. If her eyes weren't mistaking her, that must be Sweet Dreams marching his way out onto the track. Timothy Andrews was on board, and as Amber walked closer she watched his eyes light with competitive fervor and smug satisfaction as he spied Spell making his way around the first turn. Amber would have groaned out loud if she wasn't so close. Well then. It was the stable rivalry rearing its head. Sunrise Spell was essentially occupying the same space on the roster that had been reserved for Swe. Though both horses had their origins in SOPS blood, there was definitely a lot of stable rivalry going on between the two. Timothy clearly felt as though his colt was the best one. Meredith, of course, begged to differ. What complicated things further was that Valencia was essentially having to choose between her brother and her great friend in this fight, and whenever the Andrews siblings were fighting - even playfully - it was fierce. Of the two new rivals, Swe was the fiercest, though Spell refused to bow his head. The two would both be starting in January Week One, and Amber knew that their first races as well as all the ones following would serve to illustrate the tale of rivalry between the two for the entirety of the season.
Timothy tipped a mocking salute Amber's way before he touched his feet lightly to his colt's sides. Swe accelerated sharply, eyes already on the prize as he sighted the tail of his quarry. Amber let them go, frowning. She didn't want them going too fast, but they were just warming up right now and would return in a bit for full workout instructions. She turned her attention instead to the latest arrival. A chestnut colt, as tall as Sunrise Spell and as tactical as Sweet Dreams, was making his way down the dirt, eyes of both rider and horse excited for the workout ahead. This would be Odin, son of Instant Success and Atalanta, a very important horse for the stable's future stud program. He brought in fresh lines and fresh attitude - peaceful but commanding, usually nice and fairly intelligent. He had been a great pick for Wanda Brown, who usually liked these middle-horses and worked best with them.
Wanda's eyes were on the dirt track, a rueful but amused smile curving her lips. Should I come back at another time? I would hate to get in the middle of a Swe and Spell fight...they would be disappointed once they realized who the fastest one of them all would be. Amber laughed agreeably. She had always liked Wanda's positive and confident attitude. There was a reason she was no longer an exercise rider but a full blown jockey. She was light of hand and touch, and that approach was perfect for Odin, who did not take nicely to being commanded like some others needed to be. Nope, you should stay right here. Go warm up. You'll have fun, I trust. Just make sure nobody goes too fast. Wanda nodded, eyes alight. Amber didn't even see what signal she gave Odin, but in moments horse and rider were off. Odin moved like a machine, smooth strides swallowing the dirt. He easily had the most ground-covering stride of the group. He was lean while the other two were more stocky and muscly. Amber could see a bright future for the horse at the longer distances. He was, after all, their Canadian Triple Crown prospect.
There was just one more dirt horse needing to be worked in this set...Amber was curious to see if said filly would arrive on time. She got her answer when a loud neigh trumpeted through the morning air. It made Amber feel nostalgic, and she turned with a smile to welcome the lightly built gray filly who had made a sound reminiscent of her sire. Kallisto, daughter of Forbidden To Fly and Mystical Melody, floated onto the track and vibrated with visible energy. There was no mistaking the fond smile on Krystal's face as she let the filly barrel through the gap in the rail. She noticed Amber's look of surprise and sighed fondly. She was getting very excited. I had to hand off Sina to somebody and get on her back before she tore the barn apart. Amber laughed. Hardly surprising. Well, the rest are already here and warming up. Your filly's going to be speed of this workout, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. Krystal nodded her agreement, eyes shining, and went off to complete the filly's warm up.
Within ten minutes the group had gathered in the stretch, some circling and others jogging up and down. Amber recognized her moment when she saw it and strode across the dirt, excitement churning her stomach. She had some idea of how good these horses could end up being based off of pedigree and their readiness to race during the very first week, but first official workouts gave her an even better idea. All right everyone. I'm looking for a six furlong breeze from everyone. Nothing fast - save that for whoever shows up to take them down. There was a smattering of laughter at that. I have some idea where these horses are likely to place themselves. Let them. Don't try to do anything more than position them well wherever you do end up. I'm expecting solid fractions but, once again, nothing crazy. Got it?Swe and Spell were eyeing each other up and Kalli was vibrating excitedly. Of them, only Odin stood calmly, and even then his eyes were on his competitors, and there was a deadly sort of purpose to him.
Amber got her chorus of yeses and smiled, striding to the track gap. She was meant by James Greyson, her full-time youngstock trainer, and his apprentice, Kylie Silverstar, who had also quickly risen to be one of her best jockeys. Said girl had, after all, won the Turf Triple Crown with Pandora, and only last week the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf with the mare as well. They had played key roles in training this group and doubtless wanted to see where they would go.
Things were civil at first. The horses lined up, jogged, cantered, and were then released. Kallisto, unsurprisingly, leapt for the lead. The light, willowy filly put on a spurt of speed, drawing off to lead by two, and then settled under Krystal's coaxing hand. Krystal knew how to temper speed, had been doing so for seasons with crazy horses, and now that she was settled Krystal allowed herself to relax and pay attention to the horse. Kalli really did have a high cruising speed, and it promised more speed the longer the race went on. Her parents were both sprinters who had proven themselves at the lower miler range - heck, her sire had won the Breeders Cup Juvenile even though he was definitely a sprinter - and it seemed as though this tendency had passed on to Kalli. She was shadowed by Swe and Spell, the two horses glued to each other's sides and refusing to give an inch. They thought little of the tiny gray filly in front for now - they would care more later, but for now all they wanted to do was prove their dominance to the other. Odin brought up the rear, having picked up on the speed up front from the outset and tactically setting himself up to run them down later. The chestnut had the most stamina of the group, from what Amber could tell and expected, and it showed as he patiently bided his time. The chestnut was also the most flexible and could run in any position, based on what Wanda had told her, but for this race his chosen position was good.
Positions remained largely unchanged until the final quarter of the workout. Then, as though sharing the same mind, Spell and Swe were told GO and that they did, sweeping up to Kalli. The gray filly was swarmed, and to her credit did not drop. She fought back, finding speed that only Spell seemed to be able to match, refusing to give in. And while this battle took place, Wanda swung Odin to the outside and ghosted past, the chestnut stallion slamming some explosive speed into the dirt as he went relatively unnoticed...until he was leading by one. Then the horses in back reached in, refusing to go down without a fight even in this friendly, low-intensity workout. The acceleration was sharp and the heart was immense, but not enough to stop Odin from taking the race by an ever-diminishing half length over Kallisto and Sunrise Spell. Sweet Dreams had gotten squeezed on both sides and seemed none too happy about the race.
But Amber Black was plenty happy. Her grin was wide as the juveniles came closer to her side of the track, looking like they had had a chance to run a bit. They were primed and prepared for the first starts of their careers, and she was excited to see what sorts of performances they would turn in. This was the future of her stable in front of her, and she thought said future looked very bright.
Amber smiled as Sunrise Spell passed his half-sister on her exit from the track. He entered with the smooth, lithe grace of a professional, looking at the world around him and finding within it no surprises. This horse was the most fearless of his crop. The son of Mercurial Magic and Flash At Dawn was their latest edition, but he had adjusted so smoothly to SOPS that it was though he'd been here his whole life. Said horse packed a lot of explosive power in him and was one of the tallest of his year. He was slated for a first start in the Mighty Moose Stakes, traditional for any potential young milers that the stable raised. The horse made not a sound as Meredith Mahon lightly touched his sides, but everything he needed to say was expressed through his body language. He looked impressive as he accelerated to a trot, then a light gallop, staying smooth the entire time.
Amber's smile changed to a frown as another horse made his presence known. If her eyes weren't mistaking her, that must be Sweet Dreams marching his way out onto the track. Timothy Andrews was on board, and as Amber walked closer she watched his eyes light with competitive fervor and smug satisfaction as he spied Spell making his way around the first turn. Amber would have groaned out loud if she wasn't so close. Well then. It was the stable rivalry rearing its head. Sunrise Spell was essentially occupying the same space on the roster that had been reserved for Swe. Though both horses had their origins in SOPS blood, there was definitely a lot of stable rivalry going on between the two. Timothy clearly felt as though his colt was the best one. Meredith, of course, begged to differ. What complicated things further was that Valencia was essentially having to choose between her brother and her great friend in this fight, and whenever the Andrews siblings were fighting - even playfully - it was fierce. Of the two new rivals, Swe was the fiercest, though Spell refused to bow his head. The two would both be starting in January Week One, and Amber knew that their first races as well as all the ones following would serve to illustrate the tale of rivalry between the two for the entirety of the season.
Timothy tipped a mocking salute Amber's way before he touched his feet lightly to his colt's sides. Swe accelerated sharply, eyes already on the prize as he sighted the tail of his quarry. Amber let them go, frowning. She didn't want them going too fast, but they were just warming up right now and would return in a bit for full workout instructions. She turned her attention instead to the latest arrival. A chestnut colt, as tall as Sunrise Spell and as tactical as Sweet Dreams, was making his way down the dirt, eyes of both rider and horse excited for the workout ahead. This would be Odin, son of Instant Success and Atalanta, a very important horse for the stable's future stud program. He brought in fresh lines and fresh attitude - peaceful but commanding, usually nice and fairly intelligent. He had been a great pick for Wanda Brown, who usually liked these middle-horses and worked best with them.
Wanda's eyes were on the dirt track, a rueful but amused smile curving her lips. Should I come back at another time? I would hate to get in the middle of a Swe and Spell fight...they would be disappointed once they realized who the fastest one of them all would be. Amber laughed agreeably. She had always liked Wanda's positive and confident attitude. There was a reason she was no longer an exercise rider but a full blown jockey. She was light of hand and touch, and that approach was perfect for Odin, who did not take nicely to being commanded like some others needed to be. Nope, you should stay right here. Go warm up. You'll have fun, I trust. Just make sure nobody goes too fast. Wanda nodded, eyes alight. Amber didn't even see what signal she gave Odin, but in moments horse and rider were off. Odin moved like a machine, smooth strides swallowing the dirt. He easily had the most ground-covering stride of the group. He was lean while the other two were more stocky and muscly. Amber could see a bright future for the horse at the longer distances. He was, after all, their Canadian Triple Crown prospect.
There was just one more dirt horse needing to be worked in this set...Amber was curious to see if said filly would arrive on time. She got her answer when a loud neigh trumpeted through the morning air. It made Amber feel nostalgic, and she turned with a smile to welcome the lightly built gray filly who had made a sound reminiscent of her sire. Kallisto, daughter of Forbidden To Fly and Mystical Melody, floated onto the track and vibrated with visible energy. There was no mistaking the fond smile on Krystal's face as she let the filly barrel through the gap in the rail. She noticed Amber's look of surprise and sighed fondly. She was getting very excited. I had to hand off Sina to somebody and get on her back before she tore the barn apart. Amber laughed. Hardly surprising. Well, the rest are already here and warming up. Your filly's going to be speed of this workout, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. Krystal nodded her agreement, eyes shining, and went off to complete the filly's warm up.
Within ten minutes the group had gathered in the stretch, some circling and others jogging up and down. Amber recognized her moment when she saw it and strode across the dirt, excitement churning her stomach. She had some idea of how good these horses could end up being based off of pedigree and their readiness to race during the very first week, but first official workouts gave her an even better idea. All right everyone. I'm looking for a six furlong breeze from everyone. Nothing fast - save that for whoever shows up to take them down. There was a smattering of laughter at that. I have some idea where these horses are likely to place themselves. Let them. Don't try to do anything more than position them well wherever you do end up. I'm expecting solid fractions but, once again, nothing crazy. Got it?Swe and Spell were eyeing each other up and Kalli was vibrating excitedly. Of them, only Odin stood calmly, and even then his eyes were on his competitors, and there was a deadly sort of purpose to him.
Amber got her chorus of yeses and smiled, striding to the track gap. She was meant by James Greyson, her full-time youngstock trainer, and his apprentice, Kylie Silverstar, who had also quickly risen to be one of her best jockeys. Said girl had, after all, won the Turf Triple Crown with Pandora, and only last week the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf with the mare as well. They had played key roles in training this group and doubtless wanted to see where they would go.
Things were civil at first. The horses lined up, jogged, cantered, and were then released. Kallisto, unsurprisingly, leapt for the lead. The light, willowy filly put on a spurt of speed, drawing off to lead by two, and then settled under Krystal's coaxing hand. Krystal knew how to temper speed, had been doing so for seasons with crazy horses, and now that she was settled Krystal allowed herself to relax and pay attention to the horse. Kalli really did have a high cruising speed, and it promised more speed the longer the race went on. Her parents were both sprinters who had proven themselves at the lower miler range - heck, her sire had won the Breeders Cup Juvenile even though he was definitely a sprinter - and it seemed as though this tendency had passed on to Kalli. She was shadowed by Swe and Spell, the two horses glued to each other's sides and refusing to give an inch. They thought little of the tiny gray filly in front for now - they would care more later, but for now all they wanted to do was prove their dominance to the other. Odin brought up the rear, having picked up on the speed up front from the outset and tactically setting himself up to run them down later. The chestnut had the most stamina of the group, from what Amber could tell and expected, and it showed as he patiently bided his time. The chestnut was also the most flexible and could run in any position, based on what Wanda had told her, but for this race his chosen position was good.
Positions remained largely unchanged until the final quarter of the workout. Then, as though sharing the same mind, Spell and Swe were told GO and that they did, sweeping up to Kalli. The gray filly was swarmed, and to her credit did not drop. She fought back, finding speed that only Spell seemed to be able to match, refusing to give in. And while this battle took place, Wanda swung Odin to the outside and ghosted past, the chestnut stallion slamming some explosive speed into the dirt as he went relatively unnoticed...until he was leading by one. Then the horses in back reached in, refusing to go down without a fight even in this friendly, low-intensity workout. The acceleration was sharp and the heart was immense, but not enough to stop Odin from taking the race by an ever-diminishing half length over Kallisto and Sunrise Spell. Sweet Dreams had gotten squeezed on both sides and seemed none too happy about the race.
But Amber Black was plenty happy. Her grin was wide as the juveniles came closer to her side of the track, looking like they had had a chance to run a bit. They were primed and prepared for the first starts of their careers, and she was excited to see what sorts of performances they would turn in. This was the future of her stable in front of her, and she thought said future looked very bright.