Post by Snowflake on May 17, 2012 6:16:14 GMT -5
NATURALLY CHARISMATIC, STRIKE A POSE AND SILENT FURY WORK FOR AUTUMN CUP
They were the trio who didn't start winning this year until the last couple months. Silent Fury had been the first to break the dry spell, winning the Preakness Champion Stakes and then the Belmont Turf Classic. He'd been so close to winning the Turf Triple Crown, but his second place in the first leg of the series let that dream down. He hadn't raced since the Belmont Turf Classic, and was itching for a good race. Strike A Pose had been next, smashing her way through an enormous field to win the Summer Cup Grade Five Turf. The filly had won three times since then, and was now on the verge of breaking into grade three, and hadn't lost a race since May Wk3, in which she was second. Naturally Charismatic had been the last to get her first win of the season, and had finally won in the Exhilaration Stakes just over a month ago. She'd raced since, for a third place in the Beauty Cup with Strike A Pose.
Now, they were preparing for the Autumn Cup. Silence and Poser were running in the same race, the Grade Four Turf, and Charis in the Grade Five Turf. Blaze and Marissa were both going for the win that would catapult their horse into Grade Three. Strike A Pose was going for a fifth straight win, Silent Fury a third. It was a competitive field though - both of them could lose, but both of them could not win. Sarah was definitely hoping for a win with Naturally Charismatic. The field was a good size, the competition average. If they could win here, it would certainly boost the filly's performance in future races.
Each of the three horses cantered energetically, all of them keen to really run. The four furlong pole was ahead, and that was where they would begin their gallop. A die hard frontrunner, Silent Fury already had his nose in the lead. Strike A Pose and Naturally Charismatic were equal. Their riders crouched low over their backs and necks, prepared to release their speed. The countdown began. Each with a handful of mane, the riders counted down the metres till they could cue the thoroughbreds to gallop. Twenty metres. Fifteen. Ten. Five, four, three, two.. blast off!
The three thoroughbreds were away, accelerating up the remainder backstretch and into the turn. Silent Fury had already asserted his lead, and was inching forward on the rail, even more so as they rounded the corner. Strike A Pose was on his flank, fighting hard to keep up. Naturally Charismatic was at her shoulder, and hadn't really even got going yet. Sarah drove her harder as the turn ended, and the stretch straightened out before them. The filly switched leads and found a new gear, charging forward with renewed speed. Silence and Poser had done the same, and their positions barely changed. The Rising Fury colt found a final burst, and ferociously claimed the win.
Marissa's fist shot into the air, a grin on her face. He'd been off racing for over a month, but the colt definitely hadn't forgotten how to do it. Strike A Pose and Blaze weren't too happy, but Blaze was competitive, and managed to pull a grin. See you in the race Marissa.. Poser won't lose again! He challenged. Marissa laughed. We'll see about that!
Sarah smiled to herself, feeling quietly confident of Charis's chances. That had been fast, probably one of the filly's fastest four furlong breezes yet. She slowed Charis back through her paces, rubbing the filly's neck affectionately. She'd make a champion out of this girl yet. They were ready for the Autumn Cup.
