climatic moment

MYSTICAL MELODY AND HENNA TURATH
DARK SUNRISE AND AMBER BLACK

WORKOUT FOR THE CLIMAX CUP

Henna Turath's mouth was set in a firm line of determination. The woman was dead set on winning the Climax Cup aboard Mel. Her talented three year old filly had been looking better and better with each race. The Climax Cup was huge, naturally, and not in terms of the field, but in terms of talent. With both the Triple Tiara and Triple Crown winners entered, Henna knew she would have her work cut out for her. However, she maintained hope. Mel had recently won the huge Handsome Mile against Furious Passion. They had beaten him once; they could do so again. Waiting for Sunny, their competitor and fellow racer in the Climax Cup, Henna considered how things were going. Both Sunny and Mel were blossoming right now, and starting to pick up the pace. Sunny was having a jockey switch to Amber Black in order for both her and Mel to run; luckily, it had gone smoothly, and nearly all kinks in the new partnership had been worked out.

As one, Henna and Amber turned their mounts to the rising sun and strode off at a dainty trot. All the while, Mel bounced with energy and excitement, while Sunny quietly trotted along, ignoring the energetic filly beside her. She seemed unusually focused today - not that Amber was complaining! A focused racehorse was one determined to succeed in mind at all moments. Mental preparation for a race was just as important as physical, and Sunny appeared mentally ready to go. Mel, on the other hand, was acting like a yearling, as per usual - but she always quieted and focused at the last moment, just before the gates opened. Running focused Mel, while Sunny could be focused at basically any moment.

After about a half mile, Henna said one word; Ready? Amber nodded at her side, replying with her own Yes. Both women readied their horses, preparing to stick to their saddles as the speed of their mounts nearly knocked them off. Smoothly, they entered into a gallop, and off they went. They were only working four furlongs - the race was twelve - and that was all they needed to prepare for it. Amber had full confidence in their two fillies. Sunny may have gotten her butt kicked every time in the Tiara, but she had gotten better since then, and was ready to go back out and prove herself. Mel, on the other hand, had always been regarded as a slight underdog. Henna intended to undo this image, and make Mel as well known and good as her relations.

Into a gallop the two went. Mel instantly hovered slightly in front of Sunny, who was only too willing to let her have the lead. Settling back comfortably, Sunny was the perfect image of the predator waiting to pounce. As a furlong passed, she kept no more than a two length back between her and Mel. Henna, aboard Mel, waited for Sunny to strike. She was Sunny's usual rider; she knew how the filly worked. She would come up when they least expected it and blow them away. As such, she had to keep Mel on her toes, containing her energy for the spurt that would hopefully outlast Sunny's closing strike. Rounding the final turn, Henna prepared Mel for what was coming.

Like a ghost, Sunny appeared, madly sprinting on their outside. Henna waited until exactly the right moment to let Mel go, trusting her knowledge of Sunny's habits. Her intention was for Mel to get caught up with Sunny's stride and stick to it, and this was exactly what happened. Amber appeared slightly surprised at Henna's excellent timing, but she wasn't going to comment on that in the middle of this race! Working hard, she bent over Sunny and asked for more. The filly responded even as Mel did, and then some. Suddenly, finding the heart and focus for more, Sunny beat it out and managed to open up two lengths of sudden daylight on Mel. Not willing to be left behind, the three year old bay worked doubly harder, but by the wire was only able to cut off one length. More time would have worked the race to her advantage, eventually; however, they didn't have that time in this race.

Amber smirked at Henna as she pulled up Sunny, stroking the black filly's neck as she did so. Henna ignored Amber's smirk, resolving to have a rematch when they came together in the Climax Cup. There was no doubt that the two fillies would be at the top of their game for it, not after this workout.