naturally striking

NATURALLY CHARISMATIC AND STRIKE A POSE WORK FOR BEAUTY CUP

FINALLY. Finally it had happened. Naturally Charismatic had won for the first time this season. Strike A Pose had been the same, and had now won twice this season. With both fillies in great form, coming off wins, the Beauty Cup was looking to be a good race. Sarah desperately hoped Charis would win it, and was feeling confident after their last race together. Naturally Charismatic had been a different horse after finally winning after all those losses, and her times had improved dramatically these past two weeks. Strike A Pose had improved similarly, but not as dramatically. Her times had also improved marginally, and the G4 filly would hopefully prove to be a great contender in the remaining races of this season.

They began their warmup with the usual trotting, then cantering a lap. Sarah didn't want to push them too much right before the race, which was two days away, so a quick four furlong breeze was perfect for them. Blaze rode by her side on Poser, who Sarah remembered to have quite a smooth, long stride. Naturally Charismatic's stride could be bouncy at times, but at this moment she went along nicely.

Sarah's thoughts turned to the race ahead. They would be running in the Beauty Cup, which was a ten furlong fillies race for maidens, grade fives and grade fours. There were some good horses entered, some older, some younger, some more experienced and some less so. Ray Of Sunshine from Silver Stride Stables would start from gate one. She hadn't placed in the top three at all this year in nine starts, and didn't look to be a big contender. Grade four filly Wild Kiss from Stride Of Perfection Stables would break from gate two. She was having a good season, although she hadn't won since the end of January. She was going to be a contender.

Gelli Aur Stables had sent two fillies. The first was two year old filly Dazzling Dame, who was running a good season so far with one win and most of her starts in the top three. The second was Tsubasa's Dream, who hadn't yet had a race this year. Finally was Terror Smile, from one of the newer stables, Triple Krown Racing. The young mare had had a good start to the season, with a win, place and a show in as many starts.

They reached the four furlong pole, and immediately broke into gallop. Naturally Charismatic sprang forward, which Sarah was really pleased to see. Somewhere, in all her losses, the filly had kinda lost her competitive side. But with her win, it had all come back to her. Strike A Pose wasn't about to let her have it, though, and quickly matched her stablemate for speed. They rounded the turn, and accelerated into the straight.

Naturally Charismatic had pulled ahead slightly on the turn, and was half a length ahead of Strike A Pose. But Poser was very competitive, and wasn't about to lose. She switched leads and lengthened her stride, and surely began to gain on Charis. The bay filly fought hard, but by the time they arrived at the wire, she had relinquished her lead by barely a head. Sweat darkened their necks as they slowed back through their paces, and returned to the gap in the rail. Blaze was grinning, talking to his filly excitedly. Despite losing this time, Sarah grinned. Naturally Charismatic was definitely back.
And ready to win in the Beauty Cup.