Sunshine Lollipops

[Millie Daveys]

Smarty's Dream ridden by Millie Daveys
Daydream ridden by Indey McCall

The sun shone down on the dirt brightly as it peaked through greyish cracks in the clouds. It was early morning. There was a slight chill in the air and the dirt was frosted over a little. It was begining to heat up as the light fog lifted off the ground and disappeared silently. Smarty was the first horse to step out onto the track. She had a new aura about her, confidence now filled her and Millie. Her new grade shift had been a great and long awaited achievement. Millie eased Smarty to a halt just after the track enterance. They waited for a moment, for Rea and Indey to arrive. Seconds later a figure of horse and rider could be seen arising from over the hill. The pair grew closer to Smarty and Millie and as they did so Millie called out, Hey, are you alright to crack straight on? I have far too much to do today, numerous workouts and far too many yearlings to tackle! Millie chuckled slightly as she said so. Rae smiled, laughing she said, Yes, of course we can!

Millie took the lead she walked Smarty out onto the track, with Rae and Indey following closely behind. Smarty was energetic today and she looked great, her previous two consecutive wins and extra works were proving to pay off and she looked in great condition. As for Rae, the time off recently looked to have made a great impact on her. Her coat was gleaming and she really looked to have a new lease of life. She was energetic and fiesty, yet she had grown up alot, hopefully this would pay off come race day.

Smarty was urged into a trot by Millie. The four year old mare tossed her head in between her legs, kicking out a little. She flew foward into a speedy trot, with her head held high. Millie tried to soften her mouth on the bit a little. This was no dressage test, but Millie always demanded full control and attention from the horse. If she didn't have this she knew that they would get no where. Rae was similar, though they had different riders they were both trained in similar ways. Rae was always fairly responsive though, and ususally settled straight onto the bit.

After a thorough warm up in trot the pair of horses were pushed into a canter. Smarty had quietend down by now. She settled into a quick but good rhythm, with Rae hot on her tail. Rae was deffinately the quickest of the two horses, being a sprinter. But Smarty had much more stamina, being a router runner. Indey and Rae pulled up level with Smarty and Millie. The two horses began quickening a little. The pair were both fiesty mares who would fight till the end. This run should be interesting to say the least. Three furlongs!? Millie called out to Indey to the side of her. Indey nodded. The starting post grew closer by the second.

They flew past the marker! Both horses shot forward into a speedy gallop. Both being front runners, this really was going to be a race to the death. Both jockeys would have to be on their toes and know how to get the best out of their rides today. Rae and Smarty were chomping at the bit, see-sawing for the lead. This just showed how fierce both ladies could be. After a short while, both horses settled side by side, with Rae eventually settling half a length behind. As they settled into a nicer and much calmer rhytm they passed by the furlong marker.

The horses were running nicely by now and their jockeys were really getting the best out of them. Smarty was bursting with energy and it was really showing through as she held her place in the field firmly and confidently. As they flew around the corner, the sun shone brightly in the rider's eyes and the dirt flicked up behind the horses as they galloped furiously around the turn. The pace began to quicken as they flew back around onto the final straight. Rae and Indey began to make their move from behind. Millie saw them begining to make their move. She also urged Smarty on. Smarty's ears pricked up and she flew forwards. Indey knew that if Rae worked hard then they would have this one in the bag. Rae was built for speed and the distance they had run should suit her alot better than Smarty. Though Smarty's brimming confidence would give her a slight advantage.

The fiery mares fought it out in the last half a furlong. They see-sawed for the lead continuously. They were head to head through out, before Rae managed to pull away at the final moment of the race. Winning by a head. Really, it was to be expected she was built for this and Smarty was not. However, it was a very successful race for both horses and was a great prep for their upcoming races!