A Dream, A Wish

[Kenren]

Valine & Clarimonde Tusaint for the Shining Stakes
^{in company with Alucard & Savita Tusaint}

It might be a last-second decision, but that didn't mean they weren't taking it as seriously as any other major series. Just because she'd missed the winner's circle most of the year didn't mean she wasn't a very capable animal - six of those finishes had been seconds, which could easily have been firsts under the right circumstances. She had only finished out of the money once this year, and that had been the first start for her this year. She hadn't had a ton of HOTY experience this year, but she'd done well in what she'd been entered in - two seconds and a third. Really, Valine's biggest issue just seemed to be finding that sweet spot to get her the win - however, with so many seconds of late, everyone knew the filly was going to get sick of it and make herself known soon. Really, she was, perhaps, not all that much weaker than her only competition in the first leg of the triple sprinter tiara - Siren Call. It was ironic, really, that they should come head-to-head with one of Valkyrie's own alumni. While they really wished all the best for such a lovely filly, they couldn't help but root for their own unblooded girl all the more. Keeping her focused would be key.

The filly was easily making herself known on the track, distinctive voice ringing out over the quiet. It was a trait that could easily stir up other horses, and often did. Her whickers and neighing was already drawing responding calls from the horses in pastures nearby. The only horse that was close that wasn't responding was Val's workout partner, Alucard. They'd reasoned that if they were going to prepare the filly, they couldn't take it easy on her. Alucard was the perfect, mature workmate to get her on her toes for her upcoming trial. Clarimonde steered the whickering Valine to the rail, allowing his sister to bring Alucard to the outside as they cantered down the track. "Keep him in front and I'll really get her chasing," he said, more outspoken with his own kin than he was with anyone else. "Ease him a little at the end if she's not catching though, because I've got to reward her if she's doing what I ask." Savita smiled, a cocky half-grin. "You want me to go easy on you, huh?" she quipped, and he pointedly ignored her. Really he'd rather do anything but that, but he needed to do whatever was best to prepare his horse. They were going two furlongs, and Alucard broke off into a torrentially powerful gallop first. Valine, never one to be left behind, quickly followed after.

She was a funny filly. Even now, when Alucard was older and entering his prime, she could keep up with him, big sprinter muscles surging beneath a bay coat. The biggest thing was that she hardly even seemed to be trying - at least, she wasn't straining herself. And this was a blowout. In the second furlong Savita urged Alucard to put on speed, and seemed almost surprised when the filly, a half-step slower, kept pace at the stallion's rump. Clarimonde hadn't planned on pressing the filly for speed, not unless she lost focus, but something in her eagerness drew him. Urging her with hands and voice, Valine responded powerfully, inching up the outside of the massive bay. The stallion put back his ears, and if Savita could have she would have done the same, what with the look she shot her brother. When they thundered by the wire Alucard was still in front, but only by a head and not under any easing. While Alucard refused to let her by just on pure will, Valine was also showing uncharacteristic vigor until she was finally able to pass up the older horse. Clari wasn't the sort to think things could change overnight - he couldn't expect a repeat performance just because it had happened once. But he'd felt something determined in the filly that he rarely had, and pet her vigorously when they slowed. He knew now, at least, that it was possible. He knew she could be something spectacular. And against a filly her own age? It could be enough.