Post by Dante on Jun 25, 2012 18:53:46 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
BREEDER'S CUP MILE[/color]
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This was THE race. The Breeder's Cup races were the ones jockies lived to ride in, daydreamed about, and would, on occasion, be tempted to kill their own mothers for. Or at least, that was how Tobias saw it. Not that he would kill his own mother for a chance to ride, but he was living on Monster energy drinks and toast at the moment. Sylark, the trainer of Executioner's Apprentice, didn't exactly approve of that - one day, Tobias was going to give himself a heart attack and die. But as it stood at the moment, the young man wasn't impaired, and he knew interfering would only make things difficult. That wasn't what they needed.
"We can do this." Skylark walked alongside Tobias, who was leading Executioner's Apprentice closer to the gate. "We have a strategy. Just remember it, use it. The other jockeys will see you coming - you'll be watched for, no doubts." After Executioner's Apprentice had caught and then demolished Terror Smile in the Tropical Rainforest Invitational, people were more aware of App's tendency to push than ever. "But just because you're watched for doesn't mean they can stop you. Even if they go outside of you, you can push them, and force them on, it's not that hard." Tobias nodded as he stopped near the gate and got a leg up. Once ontop of the grey colt, he spoke.
"We can still run right up their butts, or pressure them as usual." Tobias knew that people feared getting caught between App and the rail. What they didn't know was that going outside was just as bad. In that case, Tobias would still get up close and force them faster. Without the rail, the once-trapped frontrunner could veer off, but that was just as bad; they would now be on the far outside, which would add to their time, and make it harder to catch the pack. Eventually, they'd be forced to veer in to shave off valuable seconds, where App would be waiting just inside of center; a place where he could control frontrunners on the rail and outside of it. Push the frontrunners on, and the midrunners would need to keep up - even the closers would, to some extent, as if they fell too far behind they'd never make up the distance. Tobias knew if they played their cards right, the grey colt with the 'bloody' shoulder could control the race. That, however, would not mean it would be in the bag. They would need to push hard, and they would need to practice. And that was why they were were on the turf track today.
Eight furlongs on the turf. A comfortable distance and a comfortable surface, but in the cool December air, Tobias knew they could take nothing for granted. This was not a race to mess about in, and even App seemed to know it. He moved to the gate willingly, though, like any horse, walked cautiously into the gate. In a moment, they would be ready to go. The gates would open and they'd be galloping for the wire. He readied himself, and then...
BAM! Tobias felt App burst forwards, out of the gates. He wasn't the quickest starter, but that worked well with the preceding running style. He ended up just behind the people he was going to chase, which was perfect. Tobias knew they'd be putting pressure on Indian Delight for sure. The other colt couldn't stand to be behind. Firebird was a slightly more wild card, as he could either frontrun or close. However, Tobias had a feeling Firebird would go for the front, trying to take whatever ground he could. That colt was the race underdog, and any distance to be gained, Tobias was sure they would take. That would mean two frontrunners in the field of five, a closer - Winged Romeo - and another stalker. Tobias was going to use that to his advantage. If one of the frontrunners got away, it was wholly possible Prize Me Proud would would push that one. For their part, Tobias was going to keep a match with the other horse, but ignore any attempts of him to pressure Executioner's Apprentice on. They knew the game. And they'd let that horse try his tricks, but Tobias wasn't going to let App fall for them. Winged Romeo, a closer, would be a little harder to monitor, but they'd make their move just as he started to push forwards, and avoid him. If they pushed the race well enough, furthermore, he might not be able to make up the gap, or run out of steam.
Strategy aside, the running was also vital. Tobias kept a note on App's current situation. The colt was running well. He was balanced, and energetic. Tobias could feel App pulling on the bit and the reins, asking to go faster, but Tobias held him steady for now. They were only early into the mock race. They'd push but not explode until the end. The world around them blurred on the sides, as Tobias focused ahead, through the colt's ears, as his black mane and tail flew out behind him. His eyes were bright and his ears forward. Running was what this colt did best.
The duo thundered down the track, and Tobias held him for the time being, just left of center. The trick here would be taking the turn, then going into speed demon mode right away. They would make their move at six furlongs, just out of the curve. They angled in a little bit as they went to the curve, Tobias allowing App to take the curve fast. While Erin had sheer size to allow for tight corners, Tobias did not. He was, however, only eighty pounds, making him one of the lightest on the circuit, which meant App could move more freely. The colt had little to worry about with such a lightweight on his back.
Right out of the curve, that was when they moved. Tobias gave App his head and the three year old happily sped up. Now was the time to overtake. The wind whipped the faces of horse and rider, but phased neither. App and Tobias shared the same look on their faces, one of concentration, determination, and desire. A Breeder's Cup win was a jewel in the crown of any horse. A bright, sparkly jewel at the end of the year, the end of the race, a reward for time and effort. Both wanted to win, and both would do everything that they could to succeed.
A moment after giving App his head, Tobias also added the stick, spurring Executioner's Apprentice on further. Come on, come on, you can do it, come on Appie! The small jockey urged his horse on in his head as well as his hand. The ground was a green blur, the sky a pale blue, and the grandstands around blurred shades of white and grey. It was as though they were flying, and App's bloody shoulder, his telltale mark, was but a blur as they flew past the eight furlong marker.
After they crossed the finish line, Tobias came back to earth a bit and slowed App down, wheeling him back at an easy canter to where Skylark Fletcher stood, making notes on his clipboard, stopwatch dangling off a string on his arm. "I like what I see." Skylark said with a grin. "And I like the time I got, but don't sit back, don't let them get the best of you. He can run, but don't just make him run, make him run to win, and stay alert."
"I know." Tobias said with a nod. "I'm not going to let anything slip my mind, I can promise you that." The race, after all, would only be over when it was over, and it was only then that Tobias was going to let his guard drop.
And by the looks of the dapple grey colt, who was staring over the track, Executioner's Apprentice wasn't going to be letting his guard down, either.
"Then, all said and done, I think we stand a chance." Skylark said with a smile.-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 1,316
workout surface| Turf
distance| 8 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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