the fall of the axe

Sept 28, 2012 18:58:53 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2012 18:58:53 GMT -5

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EXECUTIONER'S APPRENTICE

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workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
RAMPALLION STAKES[/color]
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Nine furlongs. Grade one. Two horses; Sillenia and Executioner's Apprentice, two top turfers. Tobias could feel the pressure of it, but it didn't seem to bother App, who was fresh and ready to go. That, at least, made Tobias smile. He waved to Skylark, who was walking over with his ever-present clipboard.

"I can't - and dare not - make any predictions about this one. Two horse races are hard to determine at the best of times." Skylark said as he looked up at Tobias. "But I know you're good at strategy, and so is he, so this is what I propose. Try to get behind that mare. I know she's a closer, but that's the thing. If you can get behind her she is out of her element, but don't force it-"

"-That could ruin our own chances. I know." Tobias chipped in. "If I can't get behind her I'll set it up my way in front. He won't be bothered by her back there. We'll set the pace how we like it and run away with things." Two horse races were hard, but not impossible. He hoped they'd be able to do it. SOPS knew how to train talent, and Sillenia was one proof of that fact. One of many proofs. But App was cunning and very levelheaded. He wouldn't let her get to him, Tobias knew it.

"Exactly." Skylark agreed, bringing Tobias out of his own thoughts. "We'll do a mock race, as we always do, and see what comes on it." Jockey and trainer exchanged a nod, and with that, Tobias had the dapple grey heading for the gate. He could feel the sheer muscle and power that App brought to the table, and he liked it. The red shouldered stallion was built. He was fast but powerful and maneuverable; a stark changed from the two year olds he'd been riding. Nothing against the young'uns, of course, but it sure was a change!

The change was further evident coming up and going into the gate. The stallion, well used to the process, didn't do much beyond the ceremonial head toss and stamping. He wanted to get on with things, he wanted to move, and if Tobias was reading him right, he wanted to win, and he wanted to win badly. He'd had a taste of success, and Prison Hill's only grade one racehorse was out for more. The gates sprung open, and with them, Executioner's Apprentice.

The stallion's 'bloody' shoulder was but a blur as they tore up the turf. Tobias found him easy to hold and reign in, through years now of knowing how to handle App. They kept him about a horse and a half off the rail, so any funny business that SOPS or anyone else might try wouldn't result in him being boxed, and Tobias was hoping to run this coming race just how they wanted it. On App, it was all about field control, about giving the other horses no choice about what they did, regardless of how they ran or what they tried. It was about being prepared, and that was what they were doing - preparing. Preparation was king. Sillenia was no easy opponent. There were no easy wins, just earned ones, and Tobias hoped they had what it took as they came out of the curve and into the seventh furlong. From there, they began to accelerate, taking the mock race away at the seven and a half furlong and going all out, hopefully to get to the line before Sillenia.

With the workout over, it was now just a matter of time before the race, and Tobias was hoping for the best.
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WORKOUT STATS