Post by Dante on Jun 6, 2012 13:35:23 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
MELBOURNE CUP[/color]
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Executioner's Apprentice had won the vast majority of his races this year, and Tobias wasn't settling down. The three year old was top of his class, but that led to new challenges - dealing with the older, more experienced horses. The jockey was confident in App's talent, but he was in the honing of skill. No horse at Prison Hill Sables could hold a candle to App, but the dapple grey found himself competing with big names from big stables now - Wildly Natural was one of the biggest names he'd come against thus far, and with the Breeder's Cup looming everything was on the line.
Today was a work for the Melbourne Cup, ten furlongs on, of course, the turf track. App was fresh and his steps were light; Tobias could feel the power in every muscle. The power, and the cleverness behind the colt. He was built to run. Built, pun intended, to slaughter the competition. The Melbourne Cup was to be, it seemed, a field of five, with Wildly Natural and Indian Delight among the big names. The battle of giants. Tobias was honored to be riding among them. "And with any luck," Tobias muttered to his mount, "We'll be riding in front of them, come the finish line. I know you can do it." After all, the other horses in the field were getting up there. App was the young gun, primed and ready to fire.
"Remember, you need to push those guys hard. App can take a furious pace." Skylark instructed as they made for the gate. "He can also set it. It's what he's famous for, driving the pace of the race. You two need to do that. The other jockeys are going to get cocky, I know it. Show them who's in charge here."
"I'll do my best. And we all know App will do his." Tobias nodded, as they got into the gate. The colt took the loading well, with only a little head-tossing and so on. He was quiet in the gate, and it was almost eerie. But that didn't mean he didn't break fast - he broke as fast as any frontrunner. It was all about strategy and showing the competition how they were boss, even if they might not look it.
The gates sprung open, and with them, the colt with the bloody shoulder. They moved nearer the inside right away, which would have a twofold advantage; firstly, it would get him in near the frontrunners, but not so close as to be boxed, and secondly, it would cut off the closers, who would just be coming out of the gates. As some of their fiercest competition would be from the closers, this was an essential move. App, even the quietly confident horse, wouldn't be perturbed by the horses behind him, either. The colt knew how to run but he never lost his head. He trusted Tobias to steer him, and that made him even more lethal, as he could almost "think like a human" thanks to his jockey being the brains with little question from App. The colt was smart on his own, and knew to trust Tobias to guide him. It was an excellent partnership.
They moved into their position, and immediately began to put the pressure on the imaginary frontrunners. From early on, Tobias was going to make sure he and his mount drove the race. They'd stay within what they could do, but App had surprising staying power for a mid-distance horse. Tobias was sure he could run longer distances, but that wasn't the point. The point was to use that extra power to run the others ragged. The blonde jockey could hear App's hooves on the turf, thundering along like some cavalry charge to the troops standing in disarray - the finish line, that was. All poetry aside, App sounded and felt good. His movements were strong, and Tobias could feel suppleness in his back and neck, which was essential for balance and the ability to maneuver, all things the preceder needed in addition to speed. He might be running in the most complicated position, but it was by far the most rewarding one.
The curve came in at about six furlongs, and App took it without reliving pressure on the frontrunners. He was always threatening to pass them, always forcing the rest of the field up. They ran on App's terms, something that had kept him winning time and time again. Finally, they were seven furlongs in and it was time to make the imaginary crowd roar. Tobias relinquished most of the rein and got heavy on App's shoulder with the stick. He felt the acceleration almost immediately. Faster, faster! Go, go, GO! The wind whipped against his face, stinging his ears and nose in the wintry cold, but Tobias hardly noticed. He could feel the pounding of the breath in App's lungs, the power of the colt, and he could practically feel the blood rushing their his veins, the desire to win in his eyes, it all culminated now in one glorious run for the finish.
They crossed the ten furlong marker, and Tobias let out a whoop, from the sheer adrenaline. "That's got to be our fastest yet!" He shouted over at Skylark as he slowed the horse down and looked back to the trainer. Executioner's Apprentice, used to the noise of the crowd, hardly flicked an er at his jockey shouting on his back.
"It is!"Skylark called back. "Now do it again for the Melbourne and we got it made, but remember, the field's tough!" He paused, then smiled. "But I think we have a strong chance. Let's give it our best!"-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 952
workout surface| Turf
distance| 10 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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