standout

[S u N f r O s T ~]

FIERY TOUCH AND KRYSTAL YHATE

FIE'S WORKOUT FOR THE MAY MAIDEN DIRT

Fiery Touch was the type of horse whom Krystal would consider as part of a stream. Like water, she flowed over the stones, but could be stopped by a buildup of leaves. But eventually, the leaves decayed, and the water continued uninterrupted in its intended path. Fie was a stream. She was being set back right now by inexperience and no placings in the top three in her four career starts. She was currently the runt of the two year old crop, to put it in a very mean way. But she would overcome it. Being calm didn't mean that she was dispirited. Fie was anything but. She had racing spirit. It just didn't show until she was in the gate. Then, her half sister The Devil's Touch's temper and calculation showed through. She would break like she meant business and race that way too.

For her next start, there were eight other horses entered. It was a tough nine horse field, and Fie was breaking from the outside gate. This actually suited her racing style. Being a closer, Fie didn't need the inside rail. She thrived on distance and would eat it up. Krystal's strategy for the first part of the race would be to dive behind the pack of horses breaking on their inside and let them do the running for a bit. Then, they were going to close on them, and when the moment presented itself dive for the lead while avoiding the dreadful boxing-in that had occurred in her races. Fie did not function if she did not have running room. This was hardly surprising - she was only two years old, after all, and the knowledge of how to get through that came with experience. The jockey was only half of the equation in a race, so even if Krystal knew how her filly certainly did not.

But this would be their fifth try at breaking their maiden. Fie had experience in larger fields by now. She was getting better at negotiating the terrain. Krystal felt confident that in their next race, there would be improvement. She just knew it. As they rode out onto the track today, Krystal felt the sinuous readiness of the filly beneath her, and grinned. Fie felt good; the results of their workout would reveal more about her form, but so far so good. They jumped right into their warm up routine, wasting no time. Krystal had other horses to work today and a lot of other things to do. Fie was one of her priorities, but even priorities had to be dealt with quickly for her busy schedule today.

Deeming them ready, Krystal gave the cue, and they began to gallop. Fie galloped like a regular thoroughbred two year old would. She was excited right now, and tried for more speed. She was only just beginning to learn the meaning of restraint. She had gotten far enough on pure talent alone; now, some experience was beginning to shadow her thoughts, but this was a workout, not a race, and she was eager to stretch her legs. At races she was a bit more reserved due to the atmosphere, but right now she was just raring to go. Krystal held her in for a bit, reminding her who was in charge. But after a quarter mile, she let Fie go a bit faster. It suited their running style, after all.

Fie was breathing smoothly. She was in no great hurry now, satisfied to feel the ground underneath her hooves sliding past. Krystal continued to feed her rein. She grit her teeth as they went roughly through the first turn. At two, Fie was only beginning to get how to go smoothly through a turn. Right now, she wasn't doing that at all, but with time this would improve, Krystal hoped. In the backstretch, it was back to angelic smoothness. Krystal imagined their current position in the field. They would be in the back, named the trailers of the race by the announcers. But they would not be for long. Krystal wanted this one. Fie was the only maiden in the entire stable. They needed to prove that they had talent and will. Fie was the only daughter of Touch Up and Flash At Dawn actively racing. They had so much to prove.

The final turn reared its ugly head. Krystal grit her teeth and sat it out, kneading her hands along Fie's neck and asking for speed. At first the filly stalled for a bit, but then Krystal was rewarding with a rich burst of speed. They sprang forward, and as they entered the stretch Fie was pouring it on. Krystal continued to knead her neck urgently as they swept forward, and when they swept under the wire it was to imaginary applause. Pulling the two year old up, Krystal considered their chances. She hoped that they were good.