autumn wish

[Snowflake]

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.

[Snowflake]

EUPHORION, SILVERIANNA AND SUNSET CRUSADE WORK FOR AUTUMN CUP

Sunset Crusade was well rested, and very very hot on his toes. He danced, his neck arched, making a bit of noise here and there. He liked the attention to be all on him, and since he hadn't raced since The Handsome Mile, and hadn't won since the Seaspray Cup, he hadn't had his fix of attention lately. He was up against older horses in the Autumn Cup, but this didn't faze Marissa. She knew her colt was well up to the job. He was very much ready to snag his 12th win, and be just a single win from Grade One.

Silverianna was coming off an unfortunate fourth in The Handsome Mile. Before that, however, she'd won the Do Your Best Stakes. And before that, she'd won the Mother Goose Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks, beating rival filly Afterglow in all three races. Now she'd lost to Afterglow, and was absolutely determined to assert herself against the other filly again and win.

Euphorion had been the least successful this year of the trio. His last win had been in May, and he really needed this win to boost his confidence. The three year old colt was behaving in a similar fashion to Cruze. Silverianna also put on a fiesty dancing display, before settling into canter.

Euphorion and Silverianna were entered in the Autumn Cup Grade Three Dirt. They were up against Xalbadora, of Close Racing, Afterglow and Dark Charmer, both from Silver Stride Stables. Xalbadora wasn't very consistent, and hadn't won since the Spring Cup back in February, so they weren't too worried about her. Afterglow was an excellent filly, and had recently won the Seaspray Cup Grade Three and Four. Her record was 27-7-12-3. Dark Charmer however was the one they were worried about. He had recently beaten both Silverianna and Sunset Crusade in the Handsome Mile, and with six wins to his name this year, he was certainly one to look out for. Silverianna also had six wins, but Euphorion only had three.

As previously agreed, each of the horses broke into gallop at the six furlong marker. They were just going to gallop four furlongs easily, then a quick blow out on the final two. The huffing sounds of the horses breathing quickened, and their ears turned back from the rushing wind. As they rounded the turn and the straight stretched out before them, each horse naturally began to quicken their pace. Two furlongs to go! Stella glanced over at the colts. Cruze was aggressively gaining speed, pulling ahead rapidly. She cued Silverianna as Euphorion made a break for it.

It wasn't a race, but the horses sure were treating it that way. Each one of them fought hard for first place, but there wasn't enough time. They passed by the finish line with Sunset Crusade ahead by a half length, and the other two roughly equal. They were ready for the Autumn Cup.

[Snowflake]

IGNACIA AND INDIAN DELIGHT WORK FOR THE AUTUMN CUP

This was it. Indian Delight's last chance to become eligible to run in the Universal Cup. If he didn't get his Grade One win in the Autumn Cup, he wouldn't have the chance to run in the race. Unlike other races, there wasn't next year. The colt was four years old, and the Universal Cup was only open to G1 three and four year olds. Ignacia, on the other hand, also needed the win. The pair were entered in the same race, but Stella was sure Indie and Sarah would come out on top of them anyway. She had a feeling Ignacia may have peaked last year, because her race performance was lacking a little something this year.

They were up against Destined For Glory, of Close Racing, Worldbreaker of Stride Of Perfection Stables, and Alluring Assault, a surprise entry from Akita Rose Stables. Maybe Akita Rose was back on the scene. It certainly seemed that way, since a few of their horses were running in this weekend's races. Destined For Glory was a nice mare. She hadn't won in a few months, but she had beaten Indian Delight in the Dream Cup last weekend, so she would be one to watch out for in the race. Worldbreaker was having a decent enough season. He'd started seven times, for three wins, and hadn't won since the Summer Cup. Alluring Assault was a nice mare, or had been - she hadn't raced this season or most of last season, and hadn't won since she was three years old. She wouldn't be counted out though - clearly she was still showing talent if she was back on the track in this level of racing after so long.

Ignacia and Indian Delight themselves were practially in the same boat as most of the field. Neither of them had won since the Summer Cup, either, although they'd had a few tries. Hopefully this would be their weekend.

[Snowflake]

STUDLEY DUDLEY AND BORN TO SOAR WORK FOR AUTUMN CUP

Born To Soar was of course having a great season. Not fabulous, because her stablemate Vindictive Fury was having a fabulous season and had beaten her to the wire a few times. Nevertheless, Born To Soar had won her last three races, and was keen to go for a fourth straight win, which would be her seventh of the season. Studley Dudley was having an okay season. He hadn't done anything spectacular. Only one win, one second and many third places. He had probably peaked in his three year old season, and they probably should have retired him after his amazing win in the Melbourne Cup last year. But they wanted more from the young stallion. With fifteen wins, he was only just grade one. They wanted twenty from him, but Marissa was doubtful they'd get there. Oh well, they could try.

They were entered in the Autumn Cup G1 Turf. The only other entrant was three year old colt Executioner's Apprentice, who had nine wins to his name this season alone. He was a great colt, and would no doubt be tough to beat, but Sarah was confident she and Born To Soar could do it. Marissa was not so confident, but would certainly give it a shot. More red would look better on her stallion's record than more orange.

[Snowflake]

VINDICTIVE FURY AND BANK ON GREATNESS WORK FOR AUTUMN CUP

Both horses were extremely talented. Bank On Greatness this year had won four times and placed second six times in his ten races. Vindictive Fury had won nine and placed third in one of her ten races. Their next race was the Autumn Cup Grade One Dirt, and Marissa desperately hoped Vinny's incredible winning streak would continue and she would win for the tenth time this season. Sarah also really wanted the win for Vinny, but she definitely wouldn't be disappointed if her stallion won. He was the winner of three different Breeder's Cup races after all - he'd beaten the mare before, he would do it again.

They were up against Moondance and Flashy Wings in the race. Small field of four. Three five year olds against a three year old. This would be interesting. Sarah wondered if Flashy Wings was up to the challenge. His most recent start had ended in fourth, and he had been beaten by Born To Soar, Furious Passion and TDI Live This Lie. Surprising, because TDI Live This Lie wasn't usually a big contender. Moondance was a great mare - she'd won last year's Breeder's Cup Classic - but she hadn't won since the Summer Cup, months ago, so some wondered if she'd peaked last year.

The pair began their warm up with the usual trot, then canter, before breaking into gallop at the four furlong pole. Vinny aggressively shot ahead of Bank On Greatness, like the front runner she was, but Greatness knew all her tricks and kept up, evening pressuring the mare for more speed. They thundered around the turn, Sarah and Bank On Greatness leaning close to the rail behind Vindictive Fury and Marissa so they didn't lose ground. As the turn finished and they left it behind, Sarah began to drive her stallion on hard. Marissa did the same, noting the ferocious glare in her mare's eyes. She loved to win.

The rest of the breeze was a speed duel. Bank On Greatness inched forward, but lost to Vindictive Fury by a nose. The mare wasn't too happy about this, though, she liked wider margins. Marissa and Sarah slapped high fives, grinning widely, then slowed their horses back down through their paces. They were ready for the Autumn Cup.