Post by Kenren on May 25, 2015 22:22:07 GMT -5
Baciami & Halexia Suhail for the Dr. Fager Red Mile
Shenanigans & Tigris Greenfire for the Queen's Plate
Shenanigans & Tigris Greenfire for the Queen's Plate
Cole had made a gamble, and it was almost time to find out whether it would pay off. He knew, and so did everyone else, that Shenanigans would have been a major threat in the Triple Tiara if she had run. He was even confident enough to say that there may not have been a triple winner at all if the black filly had made her bid - or, if there had, it could have been a very different horse. But he truly believed that she had the ability and the drive to knock all of the boys on their asses if she showed up in the right form in the Canadian Triple Crown. She'd done it before, and she could do it again. But he also knew it wouldn't be easy. Did Cole hold real hopes of a triple winner in her? No, not especially. It was a tough season with tough competition, and he was definitely one to look at things on the pessimistic side of realism so he wasn't later disappointed. Especially in this sport, when things were so influenced by luck. But seeing Tigris trot the tall black filly by, he knew he'd made the best choice, for better or worse. She was maturing as the season went on, and she'd won her last out in strong fashion. She was big-boned nearly coltish in her musculature, and looked so incredibly like her half-brother Abastor as she got older. And with him having such an amazing year so far, it was showing how much there was to come. Shanna tossed her head for seemingly no reason as Tigris guided her onto the track under a very loose rein. He gave her an absent pat, steering her widely with the reins as not to pull on her mouth unnecessarily. The filly was so sensitive to force, and even a small gesture could rub her the wrong way. It had been a long time since her last explosion, though - watching the horse and rider move together as they had for over two years now, Colt felt an immense sense of pride in his son and the jockey. You couldn't even tell that the filly was a ticking time bomb, Tigris knew her so well now. When the boys had first started working with the Bucephalus filly, it felt like they were making all of the wrong moves. Tigris had broken his wrist in a bad fall off of her as a yearling, and they all had sported bruises almost constantly. It was to the point that Cole had nearly pulled the plug just based on safety. However, they started figuring her out. Don't pull, don't push, just appeal to her sweeter nature. The trainer himself knew he couldn't have done a better job, and looking at her now... well, everyone had matured during the experience.
Movement behind him caused Cole to turn and look over his shoulder. Ah, there was one he was sure would never mature. Not the horse, of course - Baciami was a brilliant animal despite his most recent performances. No, it was his rider that was simultaneously too mature and too immature for overall function. However, she still managed to do a damn good job on the track, and he'd told her as much after their disheartening triple crown campaign. They'd all known it was a longshot, though it was a little bitter to swallow after the initial ray of hope after his Kentucky Derby placing. However, Cole was much more optimistic about their plans moving forward. Baciami had shown his best in the shortest of the three races, so he thought it was an altogether solid plan to put him in the miler series. He'd had two weeks since the Belmont, so he was looking just as fresh as ever, boldly striding as if he had never lost a race in his life. His eyes, his movements, his rider were all so confident, and it was somewhat infectious. The colt was already more than they had dreamed - it could only get better from here. "Don't let them tear each other up out there. They need to save that for later. Shanna's been doing better, but if she gets headstrong, keep Ami off of her." Hal looked at him and then gave a decidedly unladylike snort. "Yes, because I have the slightly lesser demon. He won't stop dead and throw me off, but he will give me one hell of a fight." Cole shrugged. Plus, it wasn't quite true. Ami had been doing a lot better as well, so both horses would have to be in an equal mood to make this a problem. And even then, he had confidence his riders could handle it.
With a bemused half-smile, Hal urged Ami out. She posted his fluid strides, quick and eager when he spotted the black filly already warming up. He whickered eagerly, neck bowed and steps prancing. "Handsome stud," Hal crooned, petting the pretty bay's neck. He didn't even flick an ear to her, so she sat back, attention turning to their 'competition'. She steered Ami alongside the taller black, checking him when he looked ready to reach out for a sniff. Shanna wasn't predictable, and sometimes she highly resented others. "Getting nervous?" Hal asked just before they moved them into a canter. Shanna flicked an interested ear toward Hal's voice, but remained relatively focused and very eager. Tigris shrugged one shoulder, momentarily distracted by the light checks he had to use to keep the filly from going too fast. For the most part she seemed happy enough keeping Ami's pace, though. "Not too bad. Not nearly as bad as the Tiara last year." The year before he had ridden National Treasure in the first two legs of the turf triple tiara, and had come away with a win in one. That had been a brilliant week for the farm - a sweep of the turf triple legs, one with National Treasure and one with Dare To Impress. He and Minske had been stars together, if only for a moment. Life kept moving, and Tigris was eager to reclaim that triumphant feeling. Hal was simply doing her own thing, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't want it - especially after nearly tasting it in the Derby.
Cutting the talk for now, the riders took their mounts to the rail, Ami taking the inside and Shanna happy just alongside. Hal let Ami jump into a gallop first and the colt took the slack with youthful enthusiasm, only egged on when Shanna leaped after him. They were going four furlongs, so the riders weren't tempering their speed much - just keeping them from being ridiculous. Shanna wasn't the type of horse to intentionally press a pace, but she enjoyed a brisk gallop and seemed to enjoy chasing Baciami. They went with easy speed, and Cole couldn't find anything to be upset about. Even with Shanna sitting close, Ami seemed to have his head and Hal wasn't having to stand in her stirrups to keep him on pace. They rolled around to the last furlong and both riders let out another notch - not all the way, but enough to give the horses a finishing kick. They accelerated together, Shanna inching painfully up the outside until she was nearly even with the colt. It was about then Cole noticed the filly getting an air about her - a bunching of the muscles, a pinning of the ears. She was about to give a hell-if-I-don't burst of speed, which would be great in a race but misplaced here. Cole hurriedly let out a piercing whistle, which was able to be heard over the roaring of hooves. Tigris had obviously noticed his filly's predicament as well, but with attention drawn Hal noticed it too. She started pulling Ami up just before their planned finishing point, starting his gallop out there and letting the black filly breeze past them. Instantly her demeanor changed, and they all knew they'd avoided a counter-productive face-off, but were excited nonetheless - these horses were absolutely primed for race day, and if nothing else they'd give them all hell.
Movement behind him caused Cole to turn and look over his shoulder. Ah, there was one he was sure would never mature. Not the horse, of course - Baciami was a brilliant animal despite his most recent performances. No, it was his rider that was simultaneously too mature and too immature for overall function. However, she still managed to do a damn good job on the track, and he'd told her as much after their disheartening triple crown campaign. They'd all known it was a longshot, though it was a little bitter to swallow after the initial ray of hope after his Kentucky Derby placing. However, Cole was much more optimistic about their plans moving forward. Baciami had shown his best in the shortest of the three races, so he thought it was an altogether solid plan to put him in the miler series. He'd had two weeks since the Belmont, so he was looking just as fresh as ever, boldly striding as if he had never lost a race in his life. His eyes, his movements, his rider were all so confident, and it was somewhat infectious. The colt was already more than they had dreamed - it could only get better from here. "Don't let them tear each other up out there. They need to save that for later. Shanna's been doing better, but if she gets headstrong, keep Ami off of her." Hal looked at him and then gave a decidedly unladylike snort. "Yes, because I have the slightly lesser demon. He won't stop dead and throw me off, but he will give me one hell of a fight." Cole shrugged. Plus, it wasn't quite true. Ami had been doing a lot better as well, so both horses would have to be in an equal mood to make this a problem. And even then, he had confidence his riders could handle it.
With a bemused half-smile, Hal urged Ami out. She posted his fluid strides, quick and eager when he spotted the black filly already warming up. He whickered eagerly, neck bowed and steps prancing. "Handsome stud," Hal crooned, petting the pretty bay's neck. He didn't even flick an ear to her, so she sat back, attention turning to their 'competition'. She steered Ami alongside the taller black, checking him when he looked ready to reach out for a sniff. Shanna wasn't predictable, and sometimes she highly resented others. "Getting nervous?" Hal asked just before they moved them into a canter. Shanna flicked an interested ear toward Hal's voice, but remained relatively focused and very eager. Tigris shrugged one shoulder, momentarily distracted by the light checks he had to use to keep the filly from going too fast. For the most part she seemed happy enough keeping Ami's pace, though. "Not too bad. Not nearly as bad as the Tiara last year." The year before he had ridden National Treasure in the first two legs of the turf triple tiara, and had come away with a win in one. That had been a brilliant week for the farm - a sweep of the turf triple legs, one with National Treasure and one with Dare To Impress. He and Minske had been stars together, if only for a moment. Life kept moving, and Tigris was eager to reclaim that triumphant feeling. Hal was simply doing her own thing, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't want it - especially after nearly tasting it in the Derby.
Cutting the talk for now, the riders took their mounts to the rail, Ami taking the inside and Shanna happy just alongside. Hal let Ami jump into a gallop first and the colt took the slack with youthful enthusiasm, only egged on when Shanna leaped after him. They were going four furlongs, so the riders weren't tempering their speed much - just keeping them from being ridiculous. Shanna wasn't the type of horse to intentionally press a pace, but she enjoyed a brisk gallop and seemed to enjoy chasing Baciami. They went with easy speed, and Cole couldn't find anything to be upset about. Even with Shanna sitting close, Ami seemed to have his head and Hal wasn't having to stand in her stirrups to keep him on pace. They rolled around to the last furlong and both riders let out another notch - not all the way, but enough to give the horses a finishing kick. They accelerated together, Shanna inching painfully up the outside until she was nearly even with the colt. It was about then Cole noticed the filly getting an air about her - a bunching of the muscles, a pinning of the ears. She was about to give a hell-if-I-don't burst of speed, which would be great in a race but misplaced here. Cole hurriedly let out a piercing whistle, which was able to be heard over the roaring of hooves. Tigris had obviously noticed his filly's predicament as well, but with attention drawn Hal noticed it too. She started pulling Ami up just before their planned finishing point, starting his gallop out there and letting the black filly breeze past them. Instantly her demeanor changed, and they all knew they'd avoided a counter-productive face-off, but were excited nonetheless - these horses were absolutely primed for race day, and if nothing else they'd give them all hell.
