Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Feb 2, 2015 19:30:34 GMT -5
ATHENA'S DESIRES AND HENNA TURATH
TRINITY AND CHRISTOPHER BLACK
Green eyes gazed into green eyes, one calm and the other bordering on the edge of quiet panic. Amber Black was calm, but her young cousin Christopher Black was anything but. The slim nineteen year old was as old as Valencia had been when she'd started jockeying, but he had none of her outgoing personality. He was quiet, shy, lacked a lot of confidence - but Amber had been developing his skills over the past year. He had ridden the most quiet of horses, the most prized, hard-to-handle horses that would not have let him stay in the saddle if he had not been a competent rider. He had helped Kylie Silverstar train some of the yearlings, and they had done a damn good job if the results of the first set were anything to go by. And he was ready for this, ready to ride what could be the world's most unacknowledged star. Trinity was a match for Christopher in everything - shyness, quiet brilliance, the most fascinating drive to get the job done and please. Christopher had been riding the filly ever since the Breeders Cup. They had developed a close bond quickly - it was not surprising, considering how similar the two of them were. But Christopher had doubts about riding in his first ever race with the filly. Amber knew it was risky switching jockeys at the beginning of a classic season...but Trinity would work best with Christopher, and Amber just knew her cousin could have a break-out year with the young filly.
Amber smiled reassuringly. It'll be fine. You'll be good. I'm not worried about you messing up...Trin will take care of you. You just do your best to take care of her. Christopher gnawed his lip but nodded. He knew that somewhere, Trin was ready and waiting for him. She had probably been tacked up by a groom - she was a big fan in the barn because of her gentle nature. He should really head out to her. With a quiet nod, he was off. Amber watched him go thoughtfully. Trinity was well matched in the turf race she had thrown her in. People may not know it...but Trinity was an absolute powerhouse over the turf. Just look at the field she had defeated in the Gorgeous George Stakes. Girl Talk had won a turf stake in the Island Fashion Stakes next time out. Refute had won the AJC Sires Produce Stakes, a leg of the Turf Challenge. Taboo had been a two-time stakes winner over the turf. Eavesdropper had won the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Turf. Truly, it had been a clear indicator of Trin's quality that she had beaten this field...and the field she faced next would do well to remember it.
Henna Turath was already out and about on her mount. Athena's Desires has taken the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in thrilling fashion, defending the honor of the Deadly Desires family by taking the race her half-brother Demonic Desires had won. As a three year old, Athena had only gotten faster. She broke the fastest out of the gates than any other horse on the roster and perhaps had the most pure speed at the moment. The turf here had become a second home after the Breeders Cup, and Athena had been working well for the past couple of weeks. She would start back in an undercard in preparation for the Rush Stakes afterwards and staking a claim among the turf sprinting greats. Right now, Athena was top ranked off of her Breeders Cup win, but that could change after one race. Her next start was important to keeping herself top ranked and respected among the three year olds. Henna knew her filly and knew that every dial was set to go right now - Athena just felt fast. She had the speed her sire had had at this age, perhaps even more so. Her first start back could be devastating. Henna did hope Trin was prepared to hold at least a candle to her filly, because Athena would be taking no prisoners.
Athena stalked like a deadly predator even at the trot. Trinity was quick to join them, shadowing the smaller black filly but seeming smaller due to the aura about her and the aura of her rider. Christopher appeared thoughtful, and indeed her was. He was still learning Trinity even now, how to make her work, what made her tick. Trin acted intimidated slightly by the small black Athena, but was still willing to do what was asked of her and get the job done. Christopher admired her spirit and felt like Trin was really liking the surface as well. She glided over the turf with lithe grace, Athena with power. The two fillies warmed up side by side even as Athena's cold aura unnerved Trinity slightly. But the three year old filly had developed more of a backbone than she originally had in her juvenile season, and was not as deterred as she once might have been by Athena's horse equivalent of a glare. Perhaps this increase in confidence would lead to an increase in consistency too. Henna noted the way Trin moved, the graceful power of her stride, and grinned. Perhaps Trin would provide Athena with a challenge indeed.
The two horses veered off from one another suddenly, cantered a circle, and then both riders leaned forward and let the horses fly. Athena took the lead commandingly. Christopher swerved Trinity around to trail the powerhouse black filly streaking away from them. He needed to keep Trin focused on the task at hand, within striking distance so she didn't get discouraged. Trinity moved within her own power, well in hand and focused. She knew the racing game now. Amber, watching from the rail, noted how the filly was moving more easily than last year, just as fast. She made things look effortless and had a new air of professionalism around her. But Athena was just as murderously fast as ever, perhaps even moreso. Henna Turath relished the speed, gloried in it. Her filly was only getting faster as the years went on. The Breeders Cup win had boosted Henna's ego, but it had made no difference in Athena's development. She had proven herself, and that was all that was important to her. A victory was a victory - regardless, Athena would light the track on fire with her speed.
Athena was leading by five and not letting up. The gap continued to increase, length by length, until by the quarter mile mark Athena was nearly ten lengths in front and putting on an exhibition. Christopher frowned - he had been so observed in making sure he was riding Trinity correctly that he had let Athena run away from them. He frowned, hoping the workout was recoverable. Amber would not be happy with him. He let Trin out a notch. The filly responded, lengthening her stride and zeroing in on her target. Christopher felt the sudden, heightened awareness of his filly, and suddenly he decided to throw caution to the wind and just let her fly. He let the reigns slide through his fingers and suddenly Trinity let the turf on fire. The dark bay was done taking this treatment, done letting herself be defeated...time to show the world. Christopher marveled at how naturally Trin scooted over the turf, how fast her acceleration was, how her focus was like an arrow pointing at a target. Athena was fast but Trin was determined, and they were closing the gap now. Five lengths, three...Henna glanced under her arm and did a double take around the final turn. Trin was getting ready to swarm them, but she had caught up in an impossibly fast fashion. Time to return the challenge posed. Henna turned and let Athena fly, and the black filly acknowledged the release contemptuously. She took all she was given in a sudden spurt of additional speed...but somehow, the presence of Trin behind them remained.
The two three year old fillies were squared in conflict throughout the stretch. Athena led by two lengths, and Trin ate into that lead by centimeters with each passing stride. Trin did not have Athena's raw speed, but she had all the heart that was required to get her within a length of her competitor by the wire. The two flashed under it, Athena triumphant in her victory but frustrated by the sudden appearance of her competitor. Trin, on the other hand, whinnied shrilly, tossing her head. The run had tired her, but Christopher was proud of her if the vigorous patting on her neck was any indication, and that was all she needed to know she had done a great job. Amber eyed her two three year olds, the grin making its way up her face. Two shining horses, ready to hit the classic trail. She could hardly wait.
