sillenia's wings

[S u N f r O s T ~]

ACTUALLY STARTED WRITING OCTOBER 24, 2012
SILLENIA AND KRYSTAL YHATE
FLASHY WINGS AND HENNA TURATH

The two classiest bays in the barn, at least by grade, were to be worked together this morning over the illustrious turf track. That fact alone was enough to put butterflies in the hearts of all the SOPS staff. Valencia was just excited, Amber was more than excited and the riders themselves were attempting to regard the workout with nothing more than efficiency despite the rising passion in their hearts. Sillenia versus Flashy Wings. The two grade ones in the barn prepping for a face off they would benefit so much from. Both were running fantastic seasons and their riders were content so far with how things were going. Sillenia was making her bid for top turf horse and Flashy Wings for overall Horse of the Year if he could get that far. He was their contender for the Classic and he was going to win it this time around. Sunset Crusade would be there to defend his title but Henna knew from the fiery passion burning in both her heart and Flash's that they weren't going down without a fight.

Sill was headstrong today. Her recent win in the Rising Fury Memorial Stakes over Executioner's Apprentice had set her buzzing and she was looking to hit the track again. She was the barn's nominee for the Twilight Stakes at the Wire track and this would be her first prep for it, though not formally by name. She was simply out here to pick up on some class from Flash. The Twilight Stakes was likely to be a difficult field full of the top class older turf horses and Sill was running to be counted among that number. She had an all top three record and a title to defend in the Filly and Mare Turf and she wouldn't get there unless she picked it up just a little bit more. All of the big turf races were beckoning her name and Krystal was excited to show Sillenia off as the turf queen.

Flashy Wings was, as per usual, a prideful creature. He strode with the arrogance of the world in his hooves and his gaze was nothing less than playfully cunning. Some seriousness had begun to edge in to his temperament as the bay matured but right now he was a top horse on the tracks. He had won seven of ten races this year, losing three, and he had beaten Sunset Crusade on their last two encounters. So naturally, Flash was riding high and proud and he was looking to expand his resume. If he continued as he was Henna Turath wanted to nominate him for the Hall Of Fame one day. He had certainly garnered that approval based on his past record and, most of all, his current one. He would be racing the entirety of the Senior Superstars Series. He had suffered defeat in the first leg, sadly, but he was looking for revenge in the next two. His next race was actually just next week and Henna didn't want to overwork him. Thus, the two were out for a simple mile gallop and four furlong blowout today, enough to get the legs turning.

Flash pranced sideways, arching his neck proudly and flicking his head just so the forelock lined up perfectly with his body. He nickered and tried his hardest to gain the attention of the five year old mare Sillenia. But the bay mare had other things on her mind as Krystal got her cantering down the turf track, warming her up. Sill knew what the track meant and she definitely wasn't out here to play games. Picking up on her aura of seriousness Flash quickly settled down as well. His eyes gleamed as he coasted on Sill's outside, settling to be a content half length in front. He wasn't even racing, but his instincts were fine tuned to set the pace when possible. Sill, naturally a closer, was content to let him lead - for now. They were only just beginning to warm up and the tension was crackling between the two grade ones. If they hadn't been competitive in some way, they wouldn't have made it this far.

It wasn't too long before they had lapped the track once. Now they started their gallop, and the flames burned as Flash essentially leaped forward and, with youthful energy, carved a three length lead early on. Sillenia had shifted gears into the gallop with careful casualty. Now she stalked her prey from behind, eyes fixed on the black tail flying within three lengths of her, legs churning and waiting for the call to glory. Flash was just roaring away up there, letting himself show his more energetic side. He wasn't out here to loaf about and Henna didn't want him to either. But it was important to limit him, and thus she took him under careful rein as they obliterated the first quarter in twenty two flat. Sill was five lengths behind, but as they slowed she ghosted up and settled just off of their flank, Krystal smirking as she realized what Henna was doing. Henna was smiling as well. She hoped Krystal would be lulled into a false sense of security. This easy workout was quickly becoming a race, of that she was certain.

The half went by in a forgiving forty seven. The pace had dropped yet Flash was now keen again to go on, and demanded the speed from his rider. Henna fed out one knot, feeling the engines fire as the bay ate it up and increased his pace again. Distance barely mattered to this colt. He had won the Belmont Stakes, after all. Stamina was natural to this colt who was a rarity among this kind. He had started out a champion and was running his best season yet. The seniority of his workout partner would not stop him from continued success. So he continued to run on, and Sillenia continued to coolly stalk him as his lead increased. Two lengths, three, four and then Henna took him in hand again. The real blowout was coming up in just a furlong and he would re-break again just then. Sillenia was beginning to sense the fast part approaching. Her pace imperceptibly grew faster.

The two horses raced past the appropriate marker and then the blowout began. Sillenia dug in and, in true closing style, swooped up the track after her prey. Flash buffeted her with sudden speed as he finally got to sprint. He at first left the bay mare behind, but the game Sill recollected herself and lunged at the distance separating her from victory. Two strides, three, a furlong, two furlongs. Sillenia ate at that lead and Flash felt the pressure. The blood bay dug in stubbornly, even as Sill ghosted up alongside. The four year old and five year old faced off in a final battle, and showing enormous heart and strength they both tied for the winning position. And as they pulled up afterward, the fire crackled between the two grade ones, and both riders knew that this battle was far from done.