Post by Dante on Nov 21, 2011 14:14:59 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER[/b]
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They'd scheduled a workout with Executioner's Apprentice that was not at an ungodly hour. This was a miracle onto itself. However, they had to give it to him when weather was rubbish, didn't they? Typical. It was drizzling lightly on the tiny man and grey colt as they waited for the previous group using the turf track to finish. Eight furlongs - and easy distance for App, one he'd raced and worked at many times before. Now it was just polish, polish, polish. And see how he rain in the rain, but App was clever. He wasn't going to get worked up about raindrops, and was confident with the distance and track type, so the addition of water shouldn't do too badly on him, or his time. Besides, a little difference was good. No point getting too entrenched in a routine.
They were loaded into the gate without much worry, App was well used to it. He was shaping up to be a racehorse of great promise, and Tobias was not going to let it all slip past him. He was going to give App every chance the horse could to make him great. Really, and honestly, great. They'd practice, and the fact was, they both liked it. App's dark eyes were lit up, ears pricked forwards, every muscle primed for the run. This was a true racehorse. Smart, strong, and undoubtedly unique.
A moment of silence passed, when both were ready to go. Then the clatter of the gates, and off they went, to the races again. The turf threw up a little water at them, but Tobias was monitoring how well App ran. If he started to struggle, he'd pull the plug on the run - no point breaking a leg over this, but they went from the gates perfectly well, as fast as ever. The field they were next going to run in was big. A good start would be needed to keep them nearer the outside and near the leader, which was how he ran best. If they could get a good start in these conditions, they could get a good start anywhere their heart may so desire.
Number one was the only thing that App wanted. App wanted more of those red ribbons denotation first place on his stall door. He wanted more and more. The rain flew up in their faces, a spray that made Tobias swap through goggles at an amazing rate. Normally he wouldn't worry about running out. But each time he pulled one down, he worried if he might do that.
Head high, Executioner's Apprentice forged on ahead, trusting in Tobias's decisions, and in his own hooves. His dappled gray coat was wet, but that hardly seemed to bother him. They were six furlongs in - why quit now? Now was go time. Tobias gave App some head, but not all of it just due to the conditions. He wasn't Erin, after all. He did not have the weight to shift if he needed it, but App hardly seemed to care. He pulled and barred on along, just like he always would. Big field or small field, App knew how to work both, and so did his jockey. It was all a matter of practice now, and the Prison Hill Star got plenty of that – Tobias would make sure of it, no matter what that cost him. Who needed sleep? Or goggles. As they rounded the final turn, Tobias ran out, and was now running bare-eyed, which was making things very difficult.
They crossed the eight furlong mark just before the sky lit up with lightning, then thunder rolled in. App threw his head further up and Tobias just barely quelled a spook as the heavens opened, drenching them both. Skylark was waiting by the finish, fairly dry in his blue raincoat.
“Did you not hear me tell you to pack it in, you lunatic?!” Skylark shouted over the rain. He then burst into laughter. “You’re insane, but I timed you anyways.” He showed Skylark a stopwatch. “Not bad, huh? Now come on, before we get struck by lightning. Now is not the time to be the tallest one around. Sorry to burst your bubble, but get down and short, and let’s get into the barn before we drown!”-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 718
workout surface| Turf
distance| 8 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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