Amber Black really couldn't help contemplating the juvenile colt that strode out onto the turf like a battle-hardened warrior ready to take punches from any side. This was Wrathful Curse, perhaps one of the quickest - but most aggressive - turf sprinters she had trained for a long time. He reminded her somewhat of Demonic Desires in terms of his attitude. Amber could see echoes of his siblings in the colt. His big sister Amaris was tall and light gray, but her strides also thrummed with the power that hummed in this one's movements. She could even see slightly older sibling Everlasting Gift in the colt, in terms of both stature and utter brilliance from the start. Wrathful Curse was related to Amaris through their shared dam, Hall of Fame inductee Axis Mundae, and to Everlasting Gift through granddam Little Miss Innocent, though Ever was out of Innocent Passion. Regardless of the source, the relationship was remarkable. Amber couldn't help but admire the way that new apprentice jockey Violet Mereficus handled the lithe bay as he glided down the track. Her hand was light but firm; she anticipated his aggression and thoroughly countered it.

Wrath was alone as he glided along the turf, and he was better for it. Ever the loner, the staff had learned early on to leave the colt be. Training had been a nightmare to start and easy to complete, as Wrath had figured out that the best way to revert to his loner status was to let the humans do what they wanted and learn what they wanted as quickly as possible. Violet was perhaps the only human that he tolerated anywhere near him. Amber hoped he would grow out of his loner personality over time, but for now he firmly preferred his own company. Amber held her breath as Violet cued the colt to canter. The run would be coming shortly after.

Violet felt slightly pressured as she guided the powerful colt through a warm-up canter. She was brand new to the barn and had only just received her apprentice jockey license. Despite that, she had been gifted the kind of mount that could rocket her to the top. Wrathful Curse was by Fireworks, an incredibly well-bred and accomplished sire, and out of a Hall of Fame inductee in Axis Mundae that had already stamped her mark in the breeding shed via champion turf sprinter Amaris. Wrathful Curse had a lot to live up to, but from what Violet could tell he should be well up to the task. The animal was just classy; he moved effortlessly, covering ground fast despite his smaller size. Violet exhaled as they finished a quarter at the canter and she cued him to gallop. Wrath accelerated like a bullet, blitzing the track with his early speed. She reined him in slightly as they passed through a first quarter that was likely too fast. Wrath obeyed her slight hand, sensing that more running would come along the way. That was the thing with Wrath; his speed was incredible but containable if covering a longer distance. They would either let him blitz at the front or close from behind for a longer race, containing all his speed for that incredible last moment.

Like now. Violet exhaled again, leaned forward a bit more, and twitched her fingers. Wrath woke right back up from his current pace, the world blurring around them as he surged forward. He didn't need a workmate to run fast; he just was. Violet knew that Wrath was the special kind of horse who would run his last quarter the quickest, and he demonstrated that now as he went straight for the wire with everything he had in him - well, not quite everything, as he would be starting soon, but enough to get him on his toes. Violet's grin was massive as they swept under the wire. She honestly couldn't wait to start this colt out on the track.

Violet was far from the only person to feel that way. Krystal Yhate appraised the lithe bay colt sweeping under the wire from where she sat firmly on the back of Perseus. Here was another bay colt with the breeding to do something great. Unlike Wrath, however, Percy was massive. He would likely stand at seventeen hands high before he was fully grown. That was part of the reason why he was starting a bit later than the other juveniles; Amber wanted to let him grow into his legs a bit more before fully starting him. Krystal had agreed with Amber on that prognosis. Percy was an immensely talented animal, and there was no reason to rush him. He was hotly anticipated in the barn, being by Anarchi and out of Italian Ice. The union of Impressario and Anarchi lines into one horse had made Percy hotly anticipated by everybody in the barn. Krystal thought that you could see Anarchi in the fine, elegant crafting of Percy's head; he looked just like his sire from the side. He also possessed the same cold attitude. He was distant, yet brutal when provoked. He seemed to exist in another dimension, just like Incognito, but unlike Nero he was aggressive when brought out of that other place.

Percy's death stare was already famous around the barn. It was certainly on full display now as Krystal cued the colt to move and they passed Wrathful Curse on his way out. Wrath's stance shifted, screaming aggression, but Percy just fixed a single look on the other bay and otherwise didn't react. It was unnerving, but at the same time Violet was grateful for it. There was enough going on in the insanity of the new year; they didn't need two fighting colts on top of all of it. Percy moved like liquid mercury, all quick and flowing speed as he began to jog, then canter. He went about the workout with an attitude that almost bordered on cold and uncaring, but Violet knew better. She could see the way his ears showed he was paying attention, the way that he was hyper-responsive to every shift in the saddle or reins. When she finally leaned forward and twitched her fingers, he took off smoothly, accelerating into a gallop.

Every stride exuded class and readiness. Violet felt like she could ride this colt until death did them part. He had a sure, confident, fluid way of moving that drew the eye, and she could feel the power he was bringing to bear. She smirked into the wind and let him go, her heart leaping even as he accelerated even more. She couldn't wait for this one to hit the track for real.