be mercurial

MERCURIAL MAGIC AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
FIRE DANCER AND KRYSTAL YHATE
LYNARA'S KINGDOM AND AMBER BLACK
SWEET INFERNO AND HENNA TURATH

MERC'S SASKATCHEWAN DERBY WORKOUT

Valencia Andrews had been asked to saddle the nearly seventeen hand high bay hothead today. It was to be his first workout at the stable and Valencia was excited to experience the bay's speed - if she was the one who had been chosen to ride him. The thought made her palms tingle. Merc had been a talented two year old for former Battle Brook Stables. His biggest - and only - win had come in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile, and it had stamped him as a top two year old of his division. But then his stable had disappeared, and he had been sold off. Amber Black had always kept an eye on the bay colt due to the talent she saw in him, and now he was finally at SOPS and she wanted to make the most of his presence. Thus he was to be worked out today and Valencia was excited to see against who.

Merc was playing with her. She bent down to clean out his hoof and felt the impact of a brush on her back. She straightened up, shaking black hair out of her face, and flashed her light brown eyes to Merc. The bay three year old had swung his head around and met her gaze squarely without even a trace of guilt on his face. Valencia sighed and just turned and went back to work. She figured that if she ignored Merc he'd get less pleasure out of tormenting her. Her tactic didn't seem to work, though, as he snorted once and then turned around, no doubt thinking up his next tactic. Valencia found herself actually enjoying his antics, grinning as she went to fetch his tack. The morning air called to both of them and it was time to step foot on the track.

The bay was a tad unconditioned, but he sure was smooth and powerful as he walked. Valencia took note of every movement as she walked him to the track, where she met up with Amber. Merc had been getting more and more tense as he approached the track, and now greeted with the dirt he neighed and stomped with one hoof. He wished to greet the surface again with his hooves and Valencia was happy to let him do that. Amber greeted Valencia with a curt nod and jerked her head at Merc. Valencia hid her smirk and turned to the mounting block. She was to ride Merc in today's workout. That was great news for her. A hot headed colt with raw talent like this was right up her ally. In fact, he reminded her somewhat of herself. Especially the talent part.

There was a whinny of displeasure and the sound of hooves lifting off and then coming down to ground with a loud thump. Valencia had just settled into the saddle of Merc and from her vantage point glanced over to see none other than the gray Lynara's Kingdom fussing up a storm over on the track with Amber Black on board already somehow. Amber's face was tight and her lips pursed as she guided the gray through tight circles in a seemingly futile effort to get her to calm down. Lynara had been on a winning streak since January, but had suffered a loss two weeks ago and had been intolerable since then. She wouldn't be quite right until she ran that off. Valencia shivered. Lynara was deadly fast when she was mad, and they were to work out together. She hoped Merc wouldn't be left behind.

As she rode the bay forward she heard a quiet hi from behind her. She returned the greeting to none other than Henna Turath, who had just led out Sweet Inferno. The black was practically bristling with energy, and Valencia could feel her intensity from where she was, maybe ten feet away. That was a presence unlike any other. Sweetie was obviously going to be working with them too. The thought made Valencia shrug. Fine. Two domineering fillies. Merc could handle that, couldn't he? She turned in the saddle and trotted over to the dirt track entrance. Upon finally stepping foot on the track, Merc's excitement was uncontrollable. He was too happy to be back out here on the track, home of victories and rides, and it showed in his new manner. Valencia let him dance before firmly taking hold and guiding him forward towards a circling Amber and Lynara. She took note of Amber's hands, tight on the reins, and steered clear. Amber was clearly having a tough time with her ride.

One last presence revealed itself. As Sweetie trotted onto the track she was shadowed by the extremely tall and agile Fire Dancer. The Native Flame daughter was intimidating as always, and as soon as she caught sight of Sweetie and Lynara sparks flew. She was the oldest but still had her dominance challenged. That just made Valencia shrug. Three firecracker fillies. Could she handle this?

Merc was heavy on the reins as they warmed up. He was testing her at every moment, and bolted every now and then. Valencia found herself just catching him at such moments, and soon she grew used to his hotheadedness and was able to predict when he was next going to bolt. Meanwhile, Amber and Lynara were performing some kind of strange dance of moodiness as Lynara's temper flared every couple of strides. Fire was striding along imperiously as ever and Sweetie was copying the mare's arrogant nature with a swagger of her own. Valencia excitedly prepared herself to work against these fantastic horses. Merc could handle these fillies. She could feel the talent and fire flaring up beneath her even as they cantered through their warm up.

Amber suddenly drew up alongside aboard her moody gray and it was clear she was about to say something significant. I've entered him in the Saskatchewan Derby in three weeks, and you're riding him. She let the words sink in, a smart move considering the shock flying over Valencia's face. Her own horse to race, not just work as an exercise rider? What an amazing thought that was. You're up against some tough horses though. Midnight Thriller, Predator, Perfect Moment, Dawn Of Silence - this field couldn't have come up any tougher. You're going to go out there and see what he can do. He's got tons of heart and a lot of stamina. I can tell he'll be a front runner, or a stalker. Rate his pace and save it for the race. Valencia, still shocked, barely nodded, but her eyes were beginning to glimmer. This was an opportunity she had been working for.

They picked up the pace, all four horses and riders charging forward with renewed energy and zest. Merc stubbornly stuck his head just in front of the other four, proving those front running colors as Lynara stubbornly fought back, Sweetie ghosted into a pressuring position and Fire calmly hung back, her eyes fixed ahead of her and daring to challenge. They began to gallop, but the ranks did not shift. Each of the four horses felt a natural competitiveness to stay with each other and not too far apart as time passed. Valencia knew that they weren't working for more than five furlongs today and rated Merc's pace accordingly. She was beginning to get better at rating and controlling the pace, and in that way Merc was perfect for her. She'd have to learn those valuable skills or Merc would be messed up in races.

A gradual acceleration characterized the workout, and then a gradual deceleration afterwards. The four horses were slowly pulled up, neither moving in their ranks, sweat darkening their coats and eagerness in their eyes. Valencia felt ready to ride Merc in their race and looked forward to seeing what he was really made of on race day.