Post by Ripley on Dec 15, 2014 7:54:38 GMT -5
The Witch's Love Spell
featuring: Dirty Diana & Nirvana"Well, my darling, we have been reunited for the biggest workout of your career." Nirvana snorted out of her pink nose, eyes rolling as if she wasn't fooled by his sweet talk. Brookson Wells enjoyed the honest nature of Nirvana. She had an air of niceness that most of Witch Creek's horses did not like to reveal to often. Always the hard trying competitors, there never seemed to be a downtime in the three year old stock. Nirvana was a relaxing mixture of calm and wisdom and reminded him of Flawed Princess when she had been on the racing roster. Most horses were just born with those innate traits. Nirvana was living proof that a horse could be a fighter and a kind hearted animal.
The strong bay filly stood still on the dirt track, her brown eyes traveling over its expanse. So far things hadn't been as busy on the dirt, though the turf was proving to be quite busy with Stride of Perfection's horses turning in final workouts. Nirvana took everything in, took a deep breath and glanced toward Ripley as though she had read the situation. Brooks laughed, patted the filly's brown neck. "You're so delightful, little mare."
Ripley grinned up at her partner in crime, patted his jean covered leg. "Don't go cheating on me Brooks. She's not as much of a spitfire and a lot less complicated." He snorted, looked up as Laura DeComte rode toward them aboard Dirty Diana. "Shh, Miss Marsh. Here comes trouble." Ripley followed his gaze, her green eyes sparking at the sight of the gray mare and wiry jockey. "Indeed."
Laura ignored the gazes of her bosses and planted her mare right in front of them. Dirty Diana let out an ear bursting whinny, nostrils quivering in mock anxiety. Her skin twitched and she couldn't quite keep still, hooves flicking through the dirt nervously. Diana was just a fool sometimes, but she knew this track like the back of her hoof. Her last win, her grade one victory, had placed her in this position to be counted among the Breeders' Cup starters. She would have a tall task in defeating Ventura and Allouette Divine, but she would give it her all. She was a tough one in a dog fight and was as lucky to win as to gut the winner trying. Laura was immensely happy with the progress. In her career she had ridden three low grade horses to grade one victory and she would give an impressive account of herself. She was a dangerous rider and skillfully becoming one of the best young ones out there.
Nirvana touched noses with Dirt Diana, but she didn't seem to care so much for the flighty horse. She looked away as if in embarrassment when the gray screamed her problems again. Brooks chuckled, but was pleased when the bay didn't budge an inch. She was as stubborn as any woman. "So what's the plans, before Diana complains again?"
Ripley patted Diana's silky gray neck, keeping one eye on her hooves. "A five furlong workout. They're both awfully fresh and I need to chip away some energy. Try not to go faster than 1:00 please." The riders nodded, waited for Ripley to cross back through the gap before they began.
Nirvana and Diana skipped into a quick jog and then ground eating canters. For all of their temperament differences, the fillies were strikingly similar. Nirvana already stood at the same height as the gray, but possessed that same powerhouse stride. Both fillies ran with their heads low and bodies stretched to cover the most ground. Both of them had more brains running than most. Diana was a flight risk when she wasn't racing, but now she was as confident as the most elite horse. Laura kept her hands light on the reins as All For Glory horse rounded into the backstretch with pointed strides. She thrilled at the glory of having another Breeders' Cup mount, for having two horses in the form of Nirvana and Dirty Diana.
Nirvana coasted along at the rail, keeping pace with the older horse quite easily. She was a special filly, one that Brooks had become fond of in morning gallops and workouts when Laura was needed elsewhere. Nirvana had the brilliance of a young horse with the mentality of a mature runner. She wasn't an intense runner, but she could battle to the death down the stretch. She kept slightly back from the lead, allowing Dirty Diana to dictate pace. The gray didn't mind, it emboldened her. She would not be loss in the face of no pace. Laura kept the fractions strong, but made sure that they didn't go too fast too soon.
Ripley liked what she saw as the fillies cruised into the turn. Nirvana looked well represented in this workout match and didn't seem to care to be stuck inside of the older mare. She was intelligent and the other two year old fillies had had a hard time keeping hold of her all season. She was hoping that the break would give Nirvana her edge for she easily had the best closing kick of any horse on the Witch Creek campus.
Laura and Brooks shook the horses loose off the turn, going two and three wide with their long striding mares. The pair rumbled down the course, dirt flying behind them as they battled one another for the wire. Diana remained stubbornly in front of her foe, ears pricking three hundred yards out. She had the measure of her younger competitor and she knew it, but Laura kept her at that consistently strong pace rather than ask for more. Both fillies had to get something out of this workout and a pitched battle was likely to fan the flames.
Nirvana drew within a head of Diana at the wire and galloped out powerfully alongside the gray. Her eyes were bright and she looked more enthused than ever. She'd missed racing and would enjoy breaking from those gates more than most. Her future looked brighter than ever while Diana looked forward to going out in style. Ripley was eager for Breeders' Cup day to get here to show off her stubborn and talented crew. She was proud of her workmanlike fillies and more than ready to let them have their time in the spotlight.
