Post by Dante on Jul 19, 2012 0:29:57 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
UNICORN HORN TURF MILE[/color]
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Cautious optimism. That was all Tobias Lancaster typically allowed himself. No win was in the bag until the ribbon was pinned on the horse's stall. That was how he saw it, and how he would always. But he had to concede, he had plenty of cautious optimism when it came to Executioner's Apprentice. Time and time again he'd come onto the turf, and he'd dominated, most recently claiming a win in the Breeder's Cup Mile, some Horse of the Year awards, and now he was going for the Unicorn Horn Turf Mile. It would be the opening race to the grey stallion's four year old season, and for all his success, work was still very important. There was no resting back on their haunches. There was always room to practice and improve, and run mock races. Preparation was key.
And so, as always, that's why Tobias Lancaster was perched atop Executioner's Apprentice, the horse with a naturally red, bloodied shoulder, standing out against a coat of dapple grey.
"All right. It's a three horse race, App included." Skylark held the lead rope as he spoke to Tobias. "Both Axis Mundae and Firebird can be somewhat unpredictable on the track. The filly usually closes, and Firebird usually runs up from." The had run against the latter in the Turf Mile of the Breeder's Cup, and already knew that. "But they'll try to keep out of your way, we know that already. However, if you can catch Firebird and push him, you can make the gap too big for Axis Mundae to close in it. Just catch one of them, or both. And if not, don't let them drive you. He doesn't get driven easily, anyways. Just catch them, and lead them on. Even if you don't, they'll want to keep pace, so you can pull them on to their breaking point and land a win. Just be aware of where they are." The trainer advised with a nod. "That's the main thing."
"Gotcha." Tobias nodded. Today they were going to do a mock race, running the full eight furlongs on turf. It was a distance App was good at, but the practicing was essential. They made for the gate, and got App into it relatively easily. The stallion was used to the process by now, and while no horse loved the gate, he didn't hate it, which made things easy. But going in wasn't as important as coming out, everyone knew that. Tobias got himself ready, readied his stick, and almost as soon as they got in, they were out again, like a flash. App broke fast, which was good. He could catch the leaders and block out the closers this way, putting himself into the position he wanted to be. The trick was controlling the race, funneling the energy, then overpowering the competition.
App's motions were smooth and fluid over the turf. He moved well, and with a purpose, eyes bright and ears forwards. This was what Tobias liked to feel, balance and power. He kept App about a horse and a half off the rail, allowing for some room for frontrunners, who typically hugged the rail rather close. It also gave Tobias and App some extra room to move as they went into the curve at around the six furlong mark. They took it well, tearing up the turf in their wake as the greens on the ground blurred with the blues of the sky.
The end of the curve marked the beginning to the final stretch, and Tobias could feel App pulling on the bit. So, he let App go. This was where they ran. They just up and ran; Tobias even added the stick for good measure as they hit seven furlongs, giving a final push towards the end. The closers would be moving and this was always the heart-pounding part of the race, and indeed the hardest. The beginning and the end were always the hardest bits on any horse, and where any mistakes mad earlier in the run become very evident. Mistakes compounded themselves, and that was why they practiced - to remove mistakes, before they hit exponential proportions. it was all about the work, the corrections, the blood, the sweat, and the tears, and if they were lucky, people might cheer as they crossed that finish line.
But, as it stood, the grandstands were empty as Tobias and Executioner's sailed past the finish line on their practice run. Only Skylark stood there, making notes on the time and reshuffling everything into some manner of orderly mess as the stopwatch dangled from his wrist. "We did well. Just keep it up, Tobias. Keep your guard up, too."
"Will do! I never let it down!" Tobias replied. After all, the win was only a win, the place or show only just that, until the ribbon was pinned on the stall door.-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 815
workout surface| Turf
distance| 8 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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