to the future

[S u N f r O s T ~]

AXIS MUNDAE AND AMBER BLACK
SUGAR JAYDE AND HENNA TURATH

AXIA'S WORKOUT FOR THE ROSE MILE CUP

It was a brave and bold decision to go ahead with Axia's entry into the Rose Mile Cup. Henna had withdrawn Sugar Jayde as soon as White Chocolate was entered, not wanting to run Jayde against competition like that when she was at such a disadvantage due to her age of two. Axia herself, being three, wasn't too classy. She hadn't truly won any huge races and was running a fairly average season. But Amber knew something that the world didn't. Axia was anything but average. With every passing month, something new about the filly revealed itself. As a two year old, Amber had considered the filly to be a slowly maturing miler and sprinter. She had talent, there was no doubt about that, but it was taking a while to develop. They made grade four by the end of the season and then started looking ahead.

The season had started off with a win in the January Turf Stakes. So far, their top performances this season had been their second in the Unicorn Horn Turf Mile and their third in the elite Star Festival. It was nothing spectacular, but Axia was still maturing. While her twin sister Beltane was off and running this season, Axia was a bit slower in getting there. However, a horse with the strength of personality she displayed couldn't go doubted on race day. She wasn't afraid to take defeat and would bounce back every time, though Amber thirsted for victory with her. They had won a race about two weeks ago in the Alot to Live Up To Stakes Turf Sprint, and Amber wanted her filly to have more. They were grade three now, the grade of rising stardom. The time to show off their talent was quickly approaching.

As for their workout partner Sugar Jayde - well, Jayde was the top turf sprinter two year old, in Amber's and Henna's opinion. She had won every big turf sprint thus far. She made the ideal partner for Axia's workout because the fillies were both the upcoming turf sprinters. When Axia retired, Jayde would be her legacy. Jayde had an undying love of sprinting and was a complete sweetheart. Unlike Axia, she didn't throw her weight around, instead relying on sweetness to get what she wanted. Henna was smitten with the bay filly and was impressed with her performance. It could only be improved by working with her "sister", of sorts, Axia. Besides, Axia needed the work. Their chances of doing well in the Rose Mile Cup could depend on it. Amber wanted to do well. She wanted to show the field what they were made of.

Destined For Glory occupied gate three (the first two gates being held by SOPS horses). She hadn't had an impressive season so far either, but she was a closer. Axia tended to be a closer, though her racing style could vary. This made Destiny a potential running mate during the later stages of the mile long race. Winged Romeo occupied gate four. He was also a closer, another potential running mate, and he also hadn't had the most successful of seasons so far. Strike A Pose occupied gate five. Though she hadn't started out the season successfully, she appeared to be on a roll. She played the part of preceder, a speed conserving strategy. Indian Delight was in gate six. He was the speed of the race, a front runner, and this year Amber had started to notice the turf stallion more and more. He was a serious threat in this race. The fact that he was the only front runner meant he could play the speed to his advantage. White Chocolate, however, took the cake for the biggest threat in the field, and she was in gate seven. She was on a huge roll this year, and was full of talent, it appeared. She was fresh off of a second in the competitive Caulfield Cup and had been seen working for this race. She was a midpacker, probably positioned just ahead of the closers. Amber could only hope that they'd be able to get to the front before she did.

And that was the field. Considering the amount of closers, Amber was considering getting Axia to coast mid pack alongside Chocolate or to go up and be a preceder like Strike A Pose. They'd leave the pace setting to Indian Delight. Thus, she wanted to mimic this style in her workout today. Calling Henna and Jayde over, she outlined the plan to them and then separated. Both parties warmed their horses up. After that, the fillies were lined up side by side and then sent on their way for a mile long journey. As planned, Jayde set the pace, and Amber encouraged Axia up alongside her, having the black filly adapt to the quicker speed at this stage in the race. Jayde was naturally a front runner, or a preceder depending on the pace. Therefore, she was the perfect horse for Axia to mimic.

The furlongs passed by. With half a mile to go, Henna was letting Jayde out a little more, and Amber was mimicking them. She felt that Axia was definitely keeping to this pace with ease and had a lot more left to give. Finally, with only a quarter mile remaining, the women let their horses have complete control and hung on for the ride. Axia accelerated the quickest, though Jayde was not far behind. The black and the bay galloped side by side, challenging each other to the wire. At the end, Amber could have sworn that Axia claimed it by at least a nose. Grinning, she pulled the filly up. They had mimicked their racing style for the Rose Mile Cup to a tee and had come out with a victory. How much more prepared could they be? Amber only hoped that Axia was able to replicate this performance with flying colors come race day.