spitting distance

SPITTING IMAGE AND STREAKS OF PASSION WORK FOR SPRINKLER SPRINT AND IAISIS STAKES

Image hadn't raced since July, so it made sense to put her in a race a few weeks before the Breeder's Cup to ensure she was on her toes. Streak, on the other hand, needed more experience. The three year old colt hadn't raced very much at all, and would certainly be racing harder next year. The two bays warmed up at a trot, their riders discussing their upcoming races.

What do you reckon of Image's chances of winning the Sprinkler Sprint? Blaze asked Olivia curiously. The pretty young blonde glanced at him, surprised. She hadn't been riding for Star Thoroughbreds long and didn't know a whole lot about Spitting Image or the horses she would be running against. She blushed slightly and looked away quickly. She thought he was cute, and a genuinely nice guy. And, he was only a year older than her. Umm, I'm not really sure who she's running against.. Olivia replied, her face feeling warm. Why couldn't she just stay cool around him? They'd known each other for several weeks now.

Okay, um.. well, the other entrants are Unbridled Mystery from Gelli Aur Stables, Broadway from Close Racing and Feline Frenzy from Silver Stride Stables. Unbridled Mystery is four, and her record is 20-2-4-3. Broadway is three and her record is 35-2-0-3. Feline Frenzy is two, and her record is 9-1-0-2. He paused, rubbed Image's neck, and said Image is two, and her record is 12-3-7-1.

Olivia nearly raised her eyebrows. She couldn't figure what he was worried about. It sounded like the win was already his. Sounds to me like Image should blow to competition away. She replied, grinning. Blaze grinned back. He agreed with her, but the fact that there were older fillies in the field worried him. He let it drop, and they rode in silence for a few minutes, breaking into canter.

Meanwhile, Olivia worked up the courage to talk to him again. What do you think of Streak's chances in the Iaisis Stakes? She asked finally, after what seemed like hours. Blaze didn't reply right away. Honestly, I think he could take it. Chicago Blues is older but he's not very consistent at all. Ford Model T is the same age as Streak and he has one more start than him and one less win. It was better than Olivia had expected. Streak was a good colt, and if she rode him well she knew now that they had a shot.

She smiled at him happily, holding his gaze for just a moment longer than she should. When she looked away, her face started to heat again. He was just so cute.. she really hoped he liked her too. She was pretty, people always said so. She risked a glance over at him and caught him looking. He looked away quickly, smiling again. Gaining confidence, Olivia straightened up a little bit, raising her head to look at the track ahead. They were just twenty metres from where they'd been told to gallop.

Olivia and Blaze steered the horses closer to the inner rail, then cued them to gallop. The thoroughbreds burst forward and quickly rounded the turn into the stretch. They weren't supposed to be racing or anything, but the horses were competitive and they continued to accelerate until they reached their top. They stayed nose to nose practically the whole way, but it was Streak who managed to get a whisker in front, as Image pulled her head up too soon.

Slowing down, they galloped almost another furlong before dropping back to canter, then trot. Blaze smiled at Olivia, holding his hand out to high five. She raised her hand to slap his, grinning. Good race. Blaze said. It had been extremely close, and next time Image wouldn't lose. She was within spitting distance of grade four and he wanted to be there before the year ended. Preferably, by the end of Image's next race.. They were ready.