flash those wings!

<sub>Axis Mundae & Flashy Wings

The now two year old filly looked out at the turf track, where she had worked many times as she grew older in order to prepare for what was less than a week away; her first start on the racecourse. The daughter of Little Miss Innocent and Warlock looked pristine as she examined the track, looking it over as though it was seeking her approval. At long last, Axia snorted and moved out, all sixteen and a half hands of her. Amber cued the filly for a trot, grinning at the sudden acceleration and rush of speed as the filly entered the asked pace and seemed to be asking for more. She was usually bold and daring, very masculine in her actions, but with Amber she became quite playful. That was how she was now, tossing her head and then trotting sideways, purposely ignoring the cue Amber was giving her that told her to go straight. Amber smirked, a little annoyed by the filly's actions but proud of her nonetheless. She was looking to make waves in her first start that season.

Henna smiled as she patted her attention-getting colt. The blood bay was already known, having won the GHF Next Top Racehorse series. Axia had placed third, so was known as well, though Flash was different. Flash had something Axia didn't have yet, though; presence. One couldn't help but look at the colt, with his black points accenting a lovely blood bay body. Flash's will to win and succeed also drew eyes; when one saw him trying as he did during every endeavor, it was impossible to get him out of his head. Because of her past success with foals of Forbidden Wings, Henna had been assigned the mount right off the bat, and they had gotten along splendidly. Their partnership had grown through yearling training, and Henna was beginning to really like the colt. He wasn't hyper like his half brother Pegasus Wings, or silent and deadly like his half-sister Silent Wings, but Flashy Wings was willful and proud, and came with that presence that she just couldn't ignore.

Amber had wanted to work these two year olds on the SOPS track before their first start; Henna disagreed. She thought it was important that they get acclimated to the GHF racecourse; however, Amber had argued that what it really came down to was talent in the race, not how acclimated one's mount was. She wanted to work them comfortably in an environment they knew, and she wanted to work them fast. She had decided it would be best to do that at the home track, and who was Henna to argue? Of course, she was beginning to know the racehorse game, but she had to admit that Amber had had a point in her reasoning. Thus, Henna went along with it, and hoped that Amber was right. Both horses were entered in races in the Akita Rose Newcomers Series, and those races were always fiercely competitive. Both women for hoping for wins from their mounts, and both knew that their mounts were capable. It just came down to the race.

Amber began to canter Axia, letting the filly stride it out and warm up for the race ahead. The filly allowed herself to just loaf along on the turf, not really paying attention, more focused on the fact that a bay colt had joined her on her outside. Flash held his head high and let his black tail stream behind him proudly. Amber let herself examine the colt with admiration, tracing the well shaped barrel to the fine head with eyes blazing with determination. It seemed Flash already knew that something was up; he could taste racing in the air. He pulled at the reins impatiently, wanting to beat the filly at his side. Henna grinned and held the colt back. She, too, was eager. While Axia had the better lines, Flash had the better record in prospect races. It would be interesting to see how the two did.

Let's start rolling at the half mile pole. Race them four furlongs Amber instructed. Henna nodded, and prepared to feel Flash's speed. Flash worked best in the position of stalker; he liked to see where the leaders were, with the other horses behind him so he could focus solely on the amount of ground he needed to make up to get to the wire. Axia, however, would choose to run in virtually any position, depending on how she felt and slightly on what her jockey told her. Amber was working on being able to read Axia better so she could choose the filly's running position. Axia, being bold and rather daring, would sometimes pick the front and run away with the lead. Sometimes, she'd be more reserved and take a closing position. Other times, she wanted to be in the thick of the action, and picked a midpack or stalker position. Either way, Amber knew she would be successful.

The two reached the half mile pole, and their riders let them go. Instantly, Axia refocused and took the lead, dashing away, heedless of Amber's quiet cues to slow down. Flash seemed to like this, taking a position two lengths behind the runaway black thoroughbred, Henna guiding him slightly outside so they could prepare to pass her. Axia continued to run at a breakneck pace, flashing amazing speed, with Amber perched on her back and slowly getting the filly to slow her pace. Axia, after about a furlong of flight, slowed her pace to a reasonable one. This was right before the final turn. Henna seized the opportunity and asked Flash to go and get her. The blood bay accelerated and made up ground. He was about a length away when Amber reacted.

Amber saw them coming and signaled Axia to go. The filly happily responded, accelerating very quickly and just managing to keep Flash off with the new speed. Amber angled her sharply inside, scraping the paint as they rounded the turn. Henna had Flash on the perfect position outside, and as they came off the turn she had Flash burn the ground. The thoroughbred colt coasted forward, comfortable with his speed, intent on catching Axia. He drew up alongside, and it was then that Axia fought back more than Amber had seen her. She dug in and shot forward with new speed. Henna hadn't been expecting it, so she didn't react quick enough before the wire. Axia coasted across the finish line a length in front of Flash. Amber grinned as she slowed her filly down, and flashed Henna a sly smile. Henna shot a smaller smile, still friendly but smaller, back as she slowed down her colt. She was secretly glad that they wouldn't be facing Axia on race day. However, given more time, the race would have been Flash's. Of that, Henna was certain.</sub>