Post by Dante on Oct 9, 2012 0:23:19 GMT -5
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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE
workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
SUMMER CUP; GRADE ONE TURF[/color]
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Always training, always practicing, always improving. Tobias knew that Executioner's Apprentice was at the top of his game, powerful and set to keep getting moreso, but there was no reason not to practice, as the stakes just kept getting higher and high for the grade one. People either wanted to see App fly, or crumble, and Tobias was hoping for the former.
"Okay. The Summer Cup is coming up." Skylark said up to Tobias, who was perched on the dapple grey stallion. "So far our only competition is Sillenia, but I doubt that that will be it. Star Thoroughbreds has yet to enter and I'm sure other stables will be adding in their grade ones. However, if she is the only other runner, we won against her in a two-race horse before. Set the pace and just take off with the race. If she's behind you, leave her there. If you get behind her, well, she won't be prepared for that pressure. However, she will be prepared so don't be lulled by that. Furthermore," Skylark went on, "We're going to practice for this one as if there were other horses in the race, to cover our bases. Get him working, get that cunning boy thinking and we should be in the clear."
"Gotcha." Tobias said with a grin, as he adjusted his goggles and looked out over the turf track. The remnant pinks and reds of sunrise were still visible as they made for the gates, and were loaded in. The stallion knew the gates by now, and Tobias didn't have to fight him. He pawed and pranced a little, but that was more of a pre-run workup than anything else. Today they would be mimicking the Summer Cup run - ten furlongs. Aside from the mile, it was App's other distance forte. The gates sprung open with a crack like a gunshot, and App went flying from them. They'd tail the one in the front, and push, right from the get-go. That was part of the stalker's trick; not letting the ones in front settle on what they wanted, even for a second. Keep them on their hooves and keep them running faster than they could sustain in the long run. Setting the pace was what App and Tobias did best, and that was what they were going to do again.
He held App about a horse and a half from the rail, to prevent boxing and simulate another horse's presence. He knew from previous races that others were often trying to box or pressure App out of the picture, and armed with that knowledge he'd have to prevent that. It was all about knowing, and having a strategy.
The well-muscled stallion's strides were powerful and balanced, confident but easily controlled by Tobias. The horse knew what he was doing, and trusted Tobias. It was a combination that was lethal, but each practice would bring more power, and more trust. There was always work, there was never a plateau, you could always go up.
App's bloody shoulder was but a blur as they moved along the sixth furlong and into the curve. They applied extra pressure there, adding a little more speed to see what they could gain from taking the frontrunners and pushing them in the curve itself, where there were so many other variables involved. Tobias trusted App's ability to pressure in the curve without having issues rounding it himself, and hoped he would be proven right, with any luck.
Out of the curve and now seven furlongs in, it was time to get even harsher on anyone who ended up in front of him. The inside was the easiest to pressure, but it wasn't impossible to get at those running on the outside of him, he just needed to be moving fast enough to bait them forwards. Frontrunners often had a very competitive edge or temper, or both, and while that was good for them, he could capitalize on it of he worked just right. They accelerated hard and Tobias basically let App go once they hit eight furlongs. He added the stick and gave Executioner's Apprentice more of the rein, letting him go for the gold, for that finish line, and another bright ribbon to go on the stall door. He could almost feel every footfall, every heartbeat - or maybe that was his own, hopped up on energy drinks and adrenaline.
They were flying as they crossed the finish line, and Tobias couldn't help but grin as they slowed down and approached Skylark once more. "I like it." Skylark said with a slow nod. "We'll see where it gets us."-----------------------
WORKOUT STATS
words| 776
workout surface| Turf
distance| 10 furlongs
horse| Executioner's Apprentice
jockey| Tobias Lancaster
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