Post by Dante on Aug 15, 2012 21:58:51 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
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*** Note: As App is no longer running in the Top Quality stakes, this is now a GENERAL WORKOUT.
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Competition was going to be tough this year, Tobias could sense it. App had gotten off to a good start, but he wasn't going to underestimate any competition. People came into races scared off App sometimes, but that was no reason to the red-shouldered grey to take a break and sit down. It was always time to work, it was always time to practice, and it was only through practice that they could begin to pursue perfect. The Top Quality Stakes was thier next race. It was ten furlongs on turf, a comfortable distance for Executioner's Apprentice and one he'd run on many times before. It was closed to mares, and open only to males over the age of four. That limited a lot of horses, but it didn't mean competition wouldn't be tough. They'd have to be prepared for anything, including possibly frontrunning in a small race if they couldn't get behind someone and chase them until they ran out of steam.
"Remember, if you do get out front, just go at lesuire." Skylark reaffirmed Tobias' own thoughts on the matter. "Then, if it's not right for them they have to risk passing, and either way you've got the race in your pocket if you play it right." App pawed the ground, then tossed his head, sensing the run that was going to come. As usual, it was going to be a play-run at the next race. "Get going." Skylark nodded, as Tobias wheeled the dapple grey stallion towards the gate.
He kept note of App's steps, which were strong and forwards, no hint of lameness. App was four, but Tobias felt that the stallion still had plenty in him, after an amazing three year old run. After all, every single four year old at PHS had one at least one race this year, proof that older didn't mean weaker, not yet anyways. His ears pricked forwards as they came to the gate, but by not App was used to the metal box and the clanging, and did fairly well getting in. No panic attacks of bucking, which was lovely after dealing with so many two year olds early on in the year being total butts about the gate.
He lowered his goggled, and then moved his head around in a circle, cracking his neck. He was good to go, and just in time, too, as he was out again almost as quick as they came in, and suddenly they were flying over the turf. Running, but yet hovering. App's movements were fluid, muscles working to propel them along with the most speed and least effort. His nostrils flared and his man fanned back, as Tobias set his sights between App's ears at the track ahead. But just becuase he was looking ahead didn't mean he wasn't aware of what was going on laterally. He kept Executioner's Apprentice off the rail a bit, enough for a horse but just barely. Either someone would be there in the real thing, or it was space to aviod boxing and driving. Dealing with driving was simple. Tobias knew how to drive very well, and had leanred how to make a horse do it from almost anywhere. The trick was not altering your speed, and just letting them breathe down your neck. With App, clever as he was, this was pretty standard to make work. Boxing was a little more difficult to deal with, but not impossible alltogether if you drove from the inside as well. Still, ever race brought new challaneges and situations, and a practice was only a heads-up. I could never predict everything and everything and that was the fun of this sport. There was always that risk. You went big or went home, no one stayed neutral forever. You won or you lost, and you fought as hard as you possibly could. And at the end of the day, if you put yourself into it, you got results.
The turf flew past them, and they were fast approaching the curve in at six furlongs. The curve was usually dead space in a race, when it was more pertinent to stay on one's hooves than move in any other way. Veyr few jokceys attempted anything lateral on the curve, and Tobias didn't have the weight to throw around to do that. But depending on how the race went, he might apply a small, sudden burst of pressure in the curve, moving in a threatening way before the final push in the last three furlongs.
Let's spice it up a bit, shall we? The blonde jockey thought, with the slightest smile. Everyone expect App to lay on the pressure hard all race. And he would. But he'd intensify it in one place people wouldn't expect. The curve. Not only had people gotten used to what he did, but no one attacked in the curve like that. It would be sudden. And he hoped this idea might just work. It was worth a try, anyways. Go for it or don't go, after all.
They sped up a little in the curve, using the motions in it (read: turning) to come up closer to the imaginary frontrunners in that menacing way a stalker did, easing up and saving the rest for the end as they came out of the curve. A little extra to keep the rest of the pack, in front or behind him, on thier proverbial toes.
Horse and rider sped along the track, but coming into the eigth furlong, they really let go. App got his head and the stick as they made a final push for the wire, that final push to get going, and get going fast. App's dark eyes were bright, his muscles ripping - this is what the horse lived for. They crossed the line, and Tobias hoped it was good enough. Running, and coming out on top, be it by a nose, a head, or a length. The distance didn't matter. The win did, and they would do everything they could to try and be the best. The competition was tough. But Tobias hoped they might just be able to fight it out.-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 1,028
workout surface| Turf
distance| 10 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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