Post by Snowflake on Dec 6, 2011 7:37:13 GMT -5
STRIKE A POSE AND IGNACIA
Strike A Pose's first start since July was coming up. After a minor injury sustained in the paddock, the filly had been laid off to recover and mature some more, and was now bigger, stronger and fitter than ever. There you go, Posie James said, stepping back from the chestnut. She let out a slight sigh, then turned to eagerly bounce onto the turf. Poser wouldn't do anything unless she got a hug from James. Weird, but true. Sarah steered the filly wide, avoiding fast workers, and nudged her mount faster to catch up to Ignacia and Stella, who were trotting just ahead. The pair were working together today, in preparation of Strike A Pose's race in the Sprinkler Sprint.
After they caught up, the pair spent a further ten minutes trotting on the outer rail of the turf track. Then pushed on into canter eight furlongs from the finish line. Poser would be up against five other fillies in the race. They included a couple three year olds, and the rest were her age. Specifically, she would be racing Quintessential, Sand Piper, Axis Mundae, Broadway and She's de Grey. As the four furlong pole approached, Both riders prepared to send their horses into gallop. Stella and Ignacia allowed Strike A Pose and Sarah to break into gallop first, as Ignacia was a closer, and Poser was a preceder.
Posie thundered close to the rail, eating up the turf eagerly. Ignacia galloped just off her chestnut buddy's flank, in no hurry. She would make her move in the last two furlongs. Poser started to try and put some distance between herself and the grey filly as they completed the turn, but the three year old wouldn't allow it, and instead began to gain, eventually drawing neck and neck. Sarah cued Poser to make her move, knowing that running right next to her competition really fired the filly up. But Ignacia wasn't about to lose, and the pair basically completed the rest of the distance nose to nose. When they flashed under the wire, it was too close to call, just as planned.
Excellent, that was perfect for Poser. She doesn't want to stop... she'll be very much on her toes come race day. Sarah commented, grinning. Stella grinned back, the same went for Ignacia, except the filly wasn't scheduled to run at the moment. Strike A Pose was ready to sprint in the Sprinkler.
