destiny flames

[Sunfrost]

FIRE DANCER AND KRYSTAL YHATE
CONSUMATO DERBY WORKOUT

The dirt grounds of Intrepid Racing greeted Krystal's excited eyes. The woman grinned as she mounted atop her tall and lean racing machine and walked her out towards the dirt track. They were back for the Risorgimento Cup, and unlike some other horses here they had been here before for the initial running. She had won the Novizio Derby, her biggest victory from last year, and even placed fourth in the big Risorgimento Derby to start off the year. Fire Dancer had grown since then to be grade two and the winner of six races this year, more than what she had won in the last two seasons combined. She was growing better as she got older, and at four years old was a seasoned veteran of the racetrack. Krystal had been aboard her for three glorious years and Fire just kept getting dearer and dearer to her heart.

The Consumato Derby had drawn a small field, very small, but Krystal wasn't letting that make her overconfident. Fire was in good form, and she loved this racetrack. She would count her blessings and hope everything came through for them on race day. The rangy and muscular bay had a month's rest behind her and would come out firing on race day. The eleven furlongs beckoned their name and the conditions would be perfect for them. Fire had not won since July. That was an issue Krystal was hoping to resolve. If they could climb to grade one by the start of next year she would be ecstatic. As it was they were finally beginning to garner some respect on the racetrack.

Smoothly and powerfully they began to walk, then trot, then canter along the dirt. Fire recognized the sights and snorted, her nostrils flaring as she inhaled the scent of track into her nose. She was entirely ready to go and Krystal was happy to let her do her thing. Fire knew the warm up routine and shortly they were done with it, ready for the fun part. Krystal breathed deep and then eased Fire out. The tall mare took each knot of rein with stride, her legs beginning to fly as she was unfurled like a scroll being unrolled. It was time to get going and Krystal felt the earth fall away as Fire gobbled the reins and threatened to burst into full flight. But the well tuned thoroughbred knew her limits for now and hovered only at the brink, teasing and tempting Krystal with her speed.

They galloped for a full three furlongs before Krystal gave in and let Fire out. The bay turned it up immediately, snorting in contentment once before really settling into a sprinting stride. Fire wanted to burn the track again. No races for a month had left her sizzling for competition and desiring of more. She was off and intimidating in form as she hulked down the backstretch and through the final turn. The greeting of the homestretch was all she needed to turn it up more, and Krystal greeted the air as it caressed her face and flew down her throat into her very being. They were flying, and Krystal felt it was almost destined that they would bring a good fight to the Consumato on race day.

She slowed Fire as the workout came to an end and the mare dropped pace. She drew up to her full height and arrogantly trotted down the dirt now, head tossing, full of energy and barely exerting herself. She was controlled in motion and in flight, and she was totally ready to go.