As much as Kinane had researched his adversary, he was stunned at the sight of the bold jumper attacking the hurdle. He knew that the brush was child’s play for the steeplechaser, but he didn’t expect the elan and flair exhibited by the monster as he effortlessly took to flight. The flat man didn’t panic though, he eased the mighty Yeats into the first, intent on just easing the horse into this new game. On landing, he found himself some four lengths adrift. Through the cutting and onto the course proper they bowled, Kauto Star in command, Yeats inching his way back into contention, due to what appeared to be superior flat speed. Drawing to the second, a ditch at the furlong marker, Kauto took to the air and stole a length as Yeats put in a bold effort. After just two jumps it became all too clear that it was going to be a test of fencing versus flat speed and stamina. Past the post the first time, Kauto Star held an advantage of about three lengths on Yeats. As they worked around the long bend and then started downhill towards the twelve furlong post where the first of the steeples awaited them, Yeats made incremental ground. Kinane was patient. He allowed the stayer to just slowly creep onto the leader’s tail by the time the fence was reached. As they drew toward the fence, Ruby reined up the might jumper and let him loose at the flight. He desperately wanted to take full advantage of his mounts abundant talent. He also didn’t want the pace of the contest to slip. If he was to take down the star of the flat, he had to drain as much energy from him as he possibly could, each and every time they left mother earth. Like equine poetry, Kauto Star stepped into the shy and pinged the fence like a spring heeled gazelle. Yeats on the other hand made a fist of it, but his efforts were not unlike Rolf Harris’ 4 inch brush paintings, when compared to to the majesty of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Walsh suspected as much going in, but now he knew for certain, and he didn’t like it one little bit. Kauto Star just didn’t have the natural leg speed of Yeats. Whatever he pinched over the obstacles, he lost on the flat. Half the jumps gone, the next just three furlongs away, and he led by a bare two lengths. Ruby had to work the horse. He needed to take advantage of the animal’s three mile strength. He pushed his mount along as they raced towards the fourth, a hurdle, nine furlongs from home. For the first time, Kauto Star extended his lead between jumps. As they fell upon the brush, the fencer had strolled to a four length break. Again the rider pushed the leader into the small impediment that stood in his way. Once more he sailed over with great dash. He stole more ground. He needed it. Now leading by six, and with two real leaps before them, Walsh gave himself a shout. He risked a quick peep. He wasn’t too sure that he liked what he saw. The bold going Yeats was still travelling under double wraps for the grand old man of the plate, Mick Kinane. The two men, among the best to ever throw a leg over a saddle, knew full well that once they had cleared the next, it would be on for young and old. The penultimate jump, a ditch placed six furlongs from the line, would be where the real action would begin to unfold. From this point on, there would be a half mile battle across open ground, that in all probability, would ignite the catalyst that would eventually bringing one of the combatants undone. And so it was that descended upon the ditch, now but two and half lengths between them. Yeats coming on like a train. Kauto star flung himself over the hazard and quickly set sail across the wide open spaces. He was out to make every post a winner. Ruby was into the wonder horse. He gave him a tap with the stick, to keep his mind on the job at hand. In his wake came the thundering hooves of Yeats, the legend of the flat, as he cast them down with gay abandon. He and Kinane were on a mission. With giant ground consuming strides, the multiple Ascot Gold Cup winner hunted down the Cheltenham champion. It was on in earnest as they careered towards the bend that would spit them into the straight. The moment they started to swing, Kauto Star shifted slightly from the rail. He was flat to the boards and beginning to feel the pressure. As quick as flash, Kinane shoved Yeats up the inside and in a couple of strides, he’d joined the leader. Champions rarely go down without one hell of a fight though. The moment Yeats stuck his head in front, Kauto Star kicked down a gear. He ranged up alongside his foe and as the pair went at each other, they flattened out for the run to the last, a fence still a furlong away. Kinane **** himself at what he saw. It looked like Hadrian’s Wall. He knew the quality of Yeats’ engine, it had been tested in the extreme and not been found wanting. But this was all together different. Yeats was a genuine twenty furlong horse, but he’d never before had to run eighteen, over obstacles, and then somehow scale what looked for all the world like K2. Under hard riding, he shook off Kauto Star and attacked the fence with great gusto. It wasn’t enough. He smashed his way over the top. His exhausted legs went in all directions as he staggered on landing. It took all of Kinane’s brilliance to avert being heaved out the side door. Both horse and rider survived the ordeal, but only just. In the process, Yeats had managed to wash away almost all of his momentum. As Kinane pulled Yeats together, Kauto Star put in a ball tearer. He skied the fence and blasted past Yeats who by now was starting to again find his stride. Once Yeats had been balanced, he once more began to grind home. Ruby pulled the persuader on Kauto Star. The rider had a length and a half up his sleeve, and he knew he’d need every last inch of it. He could feel an ominous presence as he desperately coaxed his mount into the final furlong. Yeats was coming, and he was coming at a rate of knots. As Ruby threw everything bar the kitchen sink at his champion, his heart began to sink. Yeats joined him within a half furlong of the line. And try as they might, Ruby and the great horse had no answer to Yeats. As they crossed the line in victory, Mick Kinane could have been forgiven for standing high in the irons and punching the air. But as he pulled his mount to a stand still, all he felt was sadness.
This is the biggest pile of bollocks I have ever read. I mean seriously? I think you've lost the plot. This is all utter rubbish. Kauto Star would win every time . . . As you yourself say: I'll go for the "crack pot idea" on this one! Are you "a man languishing in a cell, due to a theory being proved (un)true"?!
Thank you folks. I thought about getting Kauto to the line in front. I think most race fans on here would have preferred that. It was a toss up, do what I thought the result would be, or cater to anyone who took a read. I think I made a mistake. It is fantasy after all. I should have had the finish the other way around. Ahhh well, always next time.
Cyc I think you'll find Yeats was running with a prohibited substance and was subsequently disqualified
You da man Dex. Wiki is up and running Nass. Thank God for that. Now instead of looking a complete idiot, I will only look a fool.
