Post by Dante on Jul 14, 2012 10:14:40 GMT -5
-------------------------
CLASSIC NUTCASE
workout with
MOSES LANCASTER[/b]
-------------------------
[/center]
[/color][/b]
Moses knew the legacy of The True Nut. He knew the mare had been insane, and that her daughter was similar. So, he had set out to befriend the filly, Classic Nutcase, before her two-year-old season. He'd spent hours in the pasture, trying to befriend her, trying to get her used to him, in a hope that it would pay off. He was not going to fail. He refused to fail. He refused. He was going to help this filly to greatness. He and Connor had never worked together, but Connor, for all his drug use, alcoholism, and stints in prison, was a good trainer. Miles Muse knew what he was doing, even if he was the more eccentric and certainly the least visible of any GHF stable owner, and Moses would just have to trust him, just like he would have to trust this filly.
"Ready to get on her?" Connor asked. He was shirtless despite the January weather, scruffy and unclean. Moses was no impressed, but he nodded. "Okay, then, get on." He held the dark bay filly, who sniffed Connor than pinned her ears at him. As soon as the young jockey was on her, he wheeled Bonkers away. She proceeded to lower her head and sniff some ants, while Connor spoke again. "Here's what we do, Mosie. Keep her in the middle. She's a stunning looker and an attention grabbing horse, but keep her in the middle. Don't box her if you can help it, but I don't think she minds - shes just insane enough to take that sort of situation and run through someone if she has to, so keep her on the rail if it's clear, and let her move in at around eight furlongs, okay? Bring her forwards and let her run for the front."
"Will do." Moses nodded, pulled down his goggles, and made for the gate, after Bonkers tried to trail sideways, and then backwards, to try and see the ants. It was her first work of the season, and her first race, too, so they were going to match it, the full ten furlongs, and try and run it ahead of time, just to help her with that extra edge She had responded well in training, and to Moses (if not Connor) she was friendly. She was crazy, yes, but after working around it, it was getting easier to channel her craziness at the race rather than just everywhere. They had learned from Lady Ophelia, and that was why Connor was working with Bonkers, too. They learned how to funnel insanity, and they were going to use it on Bonkers. Ophelia had paved the way, and that would hopefully make things smoother.
Still, a two year old filly was a two year old filly, Hall of Fame bloodlines or not. She shied from the gate to the right, then sided to the left, but finally let Moses work her into it. "Easy girl, easy, I got you, s'all right..." Moses murmured to Bonkers, noting the dark bay has an ear cocked back to him the entire time. Once in, she settled a little, looking left to right before look straight at the dirt ahead. This was what the little filly was born and bred - possibly to perfect insanity - to do. He was ready for this. And so was he.
As if on the perfect cue, the gates sprung open. A blink later, and Classic Nutcase burst forwards. She wasn't an incredibly fast breaker, but that was okay for a midrunner. It would put her where she needed to be, and that was the most essential thing in a start. A closer breaking too fast could be, in fact, more problematic than a closer who broke slowly but ended up at the back, where they liked to be, for example.
Moses moved Bonkers to the rail, noting how eagerly the filly pulled at the reins, begging for more and more as they went along the rail, noting she liked to hug it. That would be interesting, but not impossible to work with. In fact, it was going to be fun! He grinned as he planned it out, in lightning speed as the dirt flew up behind him. He knew how he was going to do this. She was quick on her feet, and so they could maneuver out, but she was just insane enough to drive the field from back in the middle of the pack. If she forced the one in front of her up, they might have to move over or ruin their pace. Then the next. And the next, until she 'ate' her way up the rail. Would this new found idea work? Only time would tell, Moses supposed, but the mid running filly was versatile enough to make many a strategy work, he was sure - as long as he could get it into her brain.
They were going as a strong as ever, as close to the rail as Moses could manage, past the pen furlong mark. Bonkers seemed not to want to be done, as she tossed her head and whinnied and pranced as he tried to get her back down from her racing high. Then, it hit him. "Ants! Look, see, ants!" He managed to steer her near a fair sized anthill, where she froze, sniffed, and stared for long enough for Moses and Connor to talk.
"I don't know what you plan to do with all that rail-hugging, Moses." Connor grumbled. "You're not a genius like your brother, or as aggressive as Erin to take the rail. She could, you can't."
"I can do it, and I'll do it for her, since that's where she likes to be." Moses snarled. "Just wait. We'll work something out. You're supposed to help me, not cut me down."
"Whatever." Connor rolled his eyes but showed Moses the stopwatch with a smirk. "That build you up some? That's an amazing time for a maiden. Do your magic, jockey boy."
-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 1,005
workout surface| Turf
distance| 10 furlongs
horse| Classic Nutcase
jockey| Moses Lancaster
type| closed workout (do not reply)
[/blockquote][/blockquote]
