Post by Dante on Aug 1, 2012 11:57:34 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
SPRING CUP GRADE ONE TURF[/color]
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They'd started off the season with a win at the Unicorn Horn, and Executioner's Apprentice was in top form, a threat to the turf. But that didn't mean they wouldn't work. His next race was in the Spring Cup series. In last year's Spring Cup, he ran in the grade four turf. Now? Now he was in the grade one turf.
"We entered App very early this year." Skylark looked down at is clipboard. "Only one other entrant is confirmed so far, and that's Sillenia. You remember her." Tobias nodded. They'd gone up against the mare a couple times in the latter half of App's three-year-old season. "Well, you know she's a closer. I don't think she'll be the only other entrant, but if she is, don't let her push you. She can't push you. Remember that. If she needs to stay behind you, she will. Krystal isn't stupid. So set the pace any way you want to. If they don't like it, they can risk passing, so don't stay by the rail."
"And if they do pass..." Tobias grinned.
"Then they're right where we want them. If anyone else is in, you should be able to catch someone and force them to frontrun." Skylark added as they walked or the gate. If they succeeded in forcing a horse who didn't to frontrun, it was even easier to push and control the pace of the race in their favour.
Getting into the gate was fairly easy now. The dapple grey stallion knew the process at this point, and knew what was to come. His ears were pricked forwards, his dark eyes bright. He knew what was to come, he knew he was meant to run, and meant to win. Once App had gotten a taste of winning as a two year old, he'd never gone mack, he'd done everything he could to keep on winning, coming out of nowhere in Prison Hill colors to rival the well-bred, big stable horses. And they were going to do it again, and try and get another win. That is what they worked for. That was why they were here. To practice. No one was perfect, but practice could bring them close.
The gates sprung open, and a blink of an eye later, App. He wasn't as fast a breaker as some, but it worked well to put him in second or third. It also made it harder for horses who broke fast to get behind him, which all said and done was an advantage to the preceder-stalker style. This race was to be ten furlongs, a comfortable distance for him, and on turf of course.
Green turf stretched out before them as they ran keeping some room between them and the rail, and the wind against his face. Tobias only felt fully alive in the saddle (what saddle there was on a racehorse, anyways) and this was what he lived for. He knew it. This was everything to him. He could feel App's hooves, aware of each one as they hit the ground and came up again. His steps were strong and sure, his muscles rippling, his telltale red shoulder merely a blur as he ran across the turf. App pulled on the reins a little, but he had faith in Skylark, and do didn't fight the jockey's decisions much, if he did at all. It was a good partnership, and Tobias was thankful every day for it. He saw so many horses and riders fighting to try and get things done. It was magical when it just...worked.
They moved into the curve at six furlongs, and App took it easily. The stallion was confident but not overconfident. He listened, and he worked, and they always practiced. It would take skill, but Tobias hoped they could put the Spring Cup down to their name as well. Once they hit seven furlongs, Tobias knew what happened next would vary withing the race. When Sillenia moved, they would move as well, keeping in front of her. For the sake of thigh workout, he decided on the eighth furlong to do this.
Furlong eight came up, and with that, Tobias gave App his head and the stick, and the stallion obliged, taking off like few horses could. This was the final stretch of the mock-race, and they were going all in. The world around them blurred and melted, and ahead was almost all Tobias could see, that ten furlong marker and the finish line.
Horse and rider blew past the ten furlong marker, then slowed down and looped back to Skylark, who was grinning at the stopwatch. "I like what I see, but the real race will be the real tale. With any luck, we'll slaughter the competition."-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 792
workout surface| Turf
distance| 10 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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