BOLD as BRASS

[S u N f r O s T ~]

I trotted out atop Ario, my hand raised to signal to my companion. Krystal Yhate came out after me, her expression determined as she sat astride a flashy black filly. We entered the turf track quietly. My mount jittered excitedly as we entered, but at a pat from my hand he calmed down and moved out smoothly. Behind me I head Krystal speaking soothingly to Onya, and hoofbeats that suggested the filly was running towards us. They passed me and Ario, and Ario automatically accelerated, but Krystal gained control and slowed her mount. Ario brushed past them in a light gallop before easing up, preferring to lead. I twisted around in the saddle to grin at my new exercise rider.

You've gotten better I said approvingly, my tone warm. Just a while ago I would have been yelling at her, but ever since I had sold Passionate Class to her she had been improving in her rides. I had assigned her On To The Spotlight as her newest ride, and knew she was hoping to lease her. The two were getting to know each other fast, but bonding was a bit hard as Onya was different from Classy. I hoped they would succeed.

I pressed my heels lightly to Ario's barrel and we were cantering at a leisurely pace, beginning our warm-up lap. I heard Krystal speaking behind me, and soon another set of smooth hoofbeats joined my colt's. Onya was a nice, smooth mover, great for the longer distances, but Ario preferred races around a mile, so his legs moved a bit faster then hers.

I grinned as his familiar canter made me relax. Before long I was moving smoothly in time with him. We were around the rail and down the backstretch, and then I heard the pounding hooves as Onya accelerated and drew up alongside, prepping for what would be her move. Krystal made a small attempt to slow her, but even she wanted a race with my colt. Impressario snorted as if to say are you challenging me? pah! and sped up so he was once more flying ahead of the pair.

I yelled loudly into the rushing wind Mock race them at the wire! If Krystal had heard me she gave no sign, but I heard her humming in time with her Onya's canter. As we rounded the turn before the wire I noticed her hum was going faster, as if Onya was getting faster. Taking heed of an advance warning I pushed Ario on into a very fast canter.

As we all came off and entered the stretch, we all went even faster. Onya was drawing up alongside now, her ears pinned with unhappiness as Krystal struggled to hold her in to a canter. I, too, was struggling with Ario, but he trusted me enough not to pull too hard. And, flying under the wire, we both let out mounts go.

Now came the fun part. Ario flew into a fast gallop, hooves pounding, without waiting for my signal. I couldn't hear Onya panting at all; she was full of stamina and good to go. Ario was panting quietly, but he was still full of energy. I concentrated on conserving his speed as we came for the turn.

It hit me with brute force; his body suddenly curved brutally, no gradual build-up, and I gasped, not really used to the two year old curve yet. I didn't hear Krystal gasp at all behind me, and risked a glance to see Onya gliding smoothly into a curve to hug the rail. What a talented horse already! Not that Ario wasn't, of course, but Onya's progress, without any real huge effort and no races, was amazing.

Ario maintained his lead around the turn. I had already pictured his stalker or front runner type running styles, and I could see that Onya was a good old closer. Ario enjoyed the front, loved not seeing a horse in front of him; it made him feel powerful. But I had to expect some trouble. Sure enough, as we quietly blew away half of the backstretch I heard quiet panting, horse hooves, and humming timed to the strides. A black blur caught my eye as Onya surged past.

For a second, Ario stayed at the same pace, and I could see Krystal visibly relax ahead, pulling her filly in for the turn. That was when Ario made his move. Lengthening his strides, he pistoned forward, going wide around the turn but matching Onya stride for stride as the smooth stretch loomed ahead of them. The funnest part was upon us.

I let him go completely, and was rewarded with a burst of speed. Of course, Krystal was going at it with Onya too, her hands kneading her neck, and the filly was responding. She was lifting her legs high like a show jumper and bringing them down hard on the green turf. Ario was going full out, his body stretched to snake length, muscles straining, legs churning, but it wasn't enough. Onya slipped past us to win by a head as the wire came along.

Slowing Ario down, I shook my head in disbelief. Ario himself was upset. The Merry Bay King son was going crazy, stomping his hooves on the green turf and throwing out his neck this way and that. I pat his neck consolingly, but a scowl had fixed itself on my face. Nobody beat my Hall Of Fame lined colt and got away with it. Nobody.

Onya, however, was gloating. She showed off at a trot, arching her neck and whinnying repeatedly in Ario's direction. Impressario coldly ignored her, swinging his head around to glare angrily at me. I glared right back, sharing his pain. Krystal was beaming, but looking at the expression on my face she quickly cantered Onya off. I fixed my face into a pleasant look and trotted Ario off. Ario could not keep his feelings to himself, though. He bugled loudly and snorted repeatedly, venting out his anger verbally, but I fixed my gaze on Onya and Krystal.

Two future stars. I'm sure of it.