Post by Kenren on Mar 26, 2015 20:10:41 GMT -5
Santana's Legend & Vivien Charron
Sweet Mimosa & Tigris Greenfire
Sweet Mimosa & Tigris Greenfire
Santana's Legend, the filly from relative unknowns who had stunned everyone by becoming a major competitor in the juvenile turf division. No one, not even her owners and trainers, had expected the bay daughter of Black Legend to be so successful early on. However, in five races she already had two wins, one of them HOTY, and two seconds in HOTY races - all of the races being large and very competitive. But she'd risen to the challenge with gusto, and they'd had to totally rethink how they regarded Ana - she had the very makings of a champion, and they were going to cultivate that to the fullest extent. On the other side of the coin, Sweet Mimosa had been expected to break her maiden first, maybe second time out - no one had expected her to still be without a win going into summer. Not that the filly had done badly for herself at all - four seconds and a third in five races was nothing to sneeze at. Looking at her exceptional dam at this time in her career, Osa was actually outdoing her in terms of consistency. If they could turn some of those seconds into wins... Osa would be unstoppable.
Tigris was no stranger to horses seemingly shy of a win. Shenanigans had been incredibly volatile as a two-year-old and very hit-or-miss in her wins - given that Osa was from some of the same lines, it wasn't really surprising. And Tigris was the perfect person to work with her for the same reason. He knew what the females of that line were capable of - and he would do whatever it took to help her reach her potential.
The two fillies were being ridden side-by-side without any worry of backlash - they couldn't say that about many Valkyrie horses. But both of these fillies were pretty sweet-natured, and Osa had a flare for the dramatic that easily drew in the crowds. Even now, as they approached the track, even the slight murmur of the work-watching regulars had her strutting and bowing her neck and just overall making herself look pretty. The appreciative noises from the passerbys was all she needed to justify the effort to herself. Tigris couldn't contain a laugh. She was like a peacock, preening and fluffing for her admirers. "Show-off," he said fondly, running his hand down the crest of her mane with the pretense of smoothing it. Osa gave a light snort, as if she couldn't deny it but wasn't bothered either way. He looked over at Ana, who was curiously interested in everything around her, but didn't seem in the least bothered at the grand scale. Perhaps that's what was making her such a fantastic little racer - she wasn't afraid, not with Vivien on board to guide her.
And if anything was important out here, it was boldness. In looks, Vivien didn't really look like he'd be able to keep his own - slight build, long blonde hair, and a very pretty face leant him an almost feminine air. But when he was on the track, chasing down a leading horse, he had all of the determination and aggression as any other jockey out there. Like some of his horses, he was more comfortable with himself on the track than in everyday life. It was nice to see him have some confidence. Instead of commenting on that, though, he just told him they were going four furlongs. Vivien nodded, smiling his usual upbeat smile. They the two turfers onto the grass and warmed them up, Tigris working on getting Osa to focus on the task at hand rather than her 'admirers' on the sidelines. Ah, well. He loved her even if she was a diva.
The horses were moved from a canter onto a gallop on the rail, Ana about a half-length in front of Osa. Neither filly was a hot-headed sort, so though they set up a good, driving pace, they weren't fighting or expending unnecessary energy. They kept the horses sitting chilly until the last furlong of the work, where they almost simultaneously began sprinting out. Tigris got Osa up beside the other filly, but didn't push her for more. He waited, waited... the two went neck and neck up to the final strides, when he really asked Osa to charge. He was tired of her coming down to the wire and coming up short. He knew she got bored on the front end, but she needed to finish. Vivien saw what Tigris was doing, and didn't fight it. Osa seemed a bit taken off guard, but after a second of him pushing along her neck she responded and pushed ahead of Ana. Tigris immediately let up his pressure, rubbing the filly's neck in approval. For her, it was just all a big game. But it was a game she needed to win, in the end, and she would learn. She had all of the speed and stamina needed - she just needed the mindset. And this was a good start. Ana, to her credit, seemed none too pleased with the move, but she was much like Osa. Because Vivien hadn't asked her to chase, she hadn't done it. But Vivien knew if he had asked, and Tigris had as well, that both of these fillies would rather collapse than let their riders down. They both had very true marks of champions.
Tigris was no stranger to horses seemingly shy of a win. Shenanigans had been incredibly volatile as a two-year-old and very hit-or-miss in her wins - given that Osa was from some of the same lines, it wasn't really surprising. And Tigris was the perfect person to work with her for the same reason. He knew what the females of that line were capable of - and he would do whatever it took to help her reach her potential.
The two fillies were being ridden side-by-side without any worry of backlash - they couldn't say that about many Valkyrie horses. But both of these fillies were pretty sweet-natured, and Osa had a flare for the dramatic that easily drew in the crowds. Even now, as they approached the track, even the slight murmur of the work-watching regulars had her strutting and bowing her neck and just overall making herself look pretty. The appreciative noises from the passerbys was all she needed to justify the effort to herself. Tigris couldn't contain a laugh. She was like a peacock, preening and fluffing for her admirers. "Show-off," he said fondly, running his hand down the crest of her mane with the pretense of smoothing it. Osa gave a light snort, as if she couldn't deny it but wasn't bothered either way. He looked over at Ana, who was curiously interested in everything around her, but didn't seem in the least bothered at the grand scale. Perhaps that's what was making her such a fantastic little racer - she wasn't afraid, not with Vivien on board to guide her.
And if anything was important out here, it was boldness. In looks, Vivien didn't really look like he'd be able to keep his own - slight build, long blonde hair, and a very pretty face leant him an almost feminine air. But when he was on the track, chasing down a leading horse, he had all of the determination and aggression as any other jockey out there. Like some of his horses, he was more comfortable with himself on the track than in everyday life. It was nice to see him have some confidence. Instead of commenting on that, though, he just told him they were going four furlongs. Vivien nodded, smiling his usual upbeat smile. They the two turfers onto the grass and warmed them up, Tigris working on getting Osa to focus on the task at hand rather than her 'admirers' on the sidelines. Ah, well. He loved her even if she was a diva.
The horses were moved from a canter onto a gallop on the rail, Ana about a half-length in front of Osa. Neither filly was a hot-headed sort, so though they set up a good, driving pace, they weren't fighting or expending unnecessary energy. They kept the horses sitting chilly until the last furlong of the work, where they almost simultaneously began sprinting out. Tigris got Osa up beside the other filly, but didn't push her for more. He waited, waited... the two went neck and neck up to the final strides, when he really asked Osa to charge. He was tired of her coming down to the wire and coming up short. He knew she got bored on the front end, but she needed to finish. Vivien saw what Tigris was doing, and didn't fight it. Osa seemed a bit taken off guard, but after a second of him pushing along her neck she responded and pushed ahead of Ana. Tigris immediately let up his pressure, rubbing the filly's neck in approval. For her, it was just all a big game. But it was a game she needed to win, in the end, and she would learn. She had all of the speed and stamina needed - she just needed the mindset. And this was a good start. Ana, to her credit, seemed none too pleased with the move, but she was much like Osa. Because Vivien hadn't asked her to chase, she hadn't done it. But Vivien knew if he had asked, and Tigris had as well, that both of these fillies would rather collapse than let their riders down. They both had very true marks of champions.