Post by Dante on Dec 22, 2011 1:43:38 GMT -5
-------------------------
EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf
workout III[/color]
-------------------------
[/center]
[/color][/b]
This was it. The last one before the race. Tobias was confident, but not cocky. He knew they were up against some tough competition. He knew that the pressure was on, and he knew errors would cost both Executioner's Apprentice and himself dearly. He also knew what could be gained by such a win. "You ready, bud?" The jockey, who was barely the size of a 12 year old, asked his ride. App snorted and chewed the bit, relaxed and eager to begin. "I guess so." Tobias grinned. "Let's make this perfect." Skylark was already in the stands, waiting with the stopwatch.
App trotted to the gate, and was loaded in without a complaint form him. He knew the drill. Eight furlongs, along the turf. It was nothing new by any means of the word - a distance that he had raced upon many a time before. He had no fears. Tobias pulled down his goggles and shifted a bit in his stirrups, taking a shorter rein and getting ready. An imaginary field shifted around him, a field that was soon going to be very real indeed. They started him slightly left of middle, closer to the rail this time - the field of his race was due to be small - four or five at most, so he'd be starting closer in, even if he got the outside gate.
The ever-present silence set in for merely a second before the gates sprang open, and from them, Executioner's Apprentice came bounding. His start was good and well balanced, his hooves landing solidly, but not sluggishly. He had a good grip on the turf, it was his favoured surface. They held steady left of center, slightly to the inside, rehearsing their plan of the cup. Of course, it might have to change a little, depending on the other horses, but this was the spine of the plan. They'd keep slightly outside up until midway through, where they'd start challenging the leader just after the curve, then, with two furlongs remaining, they'd push and take first, if all went to plan.
With their plan of attack in mind, they charged down the first straight of the turf. App had plenty in him, and right from the get-go, Tobias could feel it. He had to hold App back for now, to keep from pushing the frontrunner too hard. If he pushed, and the front horse responded, the pace of the race wold increase. Push too hard, too early, and they'd be spent. No. Tobias knew better than that, and with some prompting, App kept his pace in check. He trusted Tobias. They relationship between the grey colt and the jockey was amazing - a good fit right from the get-go.
Pacing or not, the distinguishing red shoulder was a blur as the colt thundered past the grandstands. In the back of his mind, Tobias noted that the crowds would be able to see the mark n the Cup, standing alone in contrast from the bays and blacks he was up against. They weren't going to be like the others. Tobias hoped they'd prove to be the better. The year at Prison Hill would go out with a bang if the colt below him pulled this off.
The curve came up quickly, and App took it well. There was no hint of a misstep of struggle in balance, rather, he was smooth and collected taking the curve, which was three furlongs in. Soon, they'd start pushing, and App was eager to do it. There was a light in the colt's brown eyes. A competitive, but smart, light; a light mimicked by his rider's blue eyes. They were ready for the four furlong marker to pass by, a red-and white blur, and off they went.
Tobias gave App some more of his head and some more of the stick, albeit in enough moderation to keep the colt from pushing too hard, and he responded. He was still well balanced, but his strides were longer and faster. Tobias could feel the power coursing through the colt, the pure power of the horse, the determination, even the spirit - it wouldn't be a lie to Tobias to say he could feel it, and feel it easily. He knew this colt. He didn't feel the winter wind on his shoulders, he didn't feel the cold air on his face, no. He just felt the horse. The track. And so App felt him, and the track. It was all a matter f falling into just the right state at the right time.
Black mane and tail streamed out behind them as they entered the final stretch, and Tobias gave App his head completely at last, along with a very healthy dose of the stick. This was in, the final bit of the final workout, and Executioner's Apprentice still had plenty to give. With some added prompting from the stick, the colt gave it, and they accelerated into the final two furlongs, fighting for first in that imaginary group. They moved closer to the rail, still accelerating, at a full gallop a moment later. App held it, and even sped up some more into the finally furlong...then the final half-a-furlong, then the last few lengths...then...over the line!
Tobias couldn't help the grin on his face as they finished, and went back around to Skylark, who had run out to join them. "That was awesome!" The two men said at once, then Skylar continued alone. "Let's hope he does it again in a few days - I know he can, and let's hope." He grinned, then knocked on the wooden bleachers. "I think we got this pretty good and solid, man." His tone changed as he spoke too App. "Yeah!" He cooed, rubbing the colt's red shoulder. "You're a fast wittle ponieeeee."-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 971
workout surface| Turf
distance| 8 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
[/blockquote][/blockquote]
