sudden death

Oct 5, 2012 0:14:19 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2012 0:14:19 GMT -5

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HIMEROS

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workout with
TOBIAS LANCASTER
for the
Follow The Hoofprints Turf Sprint
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This was going to be a tough race - no doubt about it. Tobias knew that this race was up against some of the best two year olds in the game. He knew they had brains and bloodlines - two things Himeros did not have. But they didn't have the same sort of heart he had, Tobias was sure of that. The jockey mounted the bright bay colt, who was staring out into nowhere. For his part, Tobias looked over the turf track, in anticipation of the practice to come. Six furlongs, over the turf. A practice for a very big day.

"Just get him out front and run him." Skylark advised with a nod. "Full on suicidal run. If it turns out to be actual suicide, I wouldn't be surprised. But if you can bring him up front, it could throw the others." He explained. "Innocent Passion and Loud and Clear both are preceders. The latter is a stalker of sorts, and Innocent Passion can get ahead and pull from the jockey if things heat up. That's where he has an advantage." Tobias grinned, seeing where this was going.

"So if he runs up at a suicide pace, it sounds like both will try and match him." He said slowly. "And my guess is they won't be able to run like that."

"Exactly. And even if they can, they risk baiting each other. Himeros probably won't even notice they exist. That's about the only perk to having a moron horse, but it could prove vital. They're accomplished - he is less so. He might have an advantage in that he won't be anything as they expect, but we'll see." Skylark gave the bay colt a pat, a pat that Himeros didn't respond to in the least. "Good old Hammy."

With that, Tobias and Himeros set off for the gates, and were loaded in. Moron might have been a bit harsh, Tobias felt, but Himeros definitely kept the line with PHS tradition and wasn't quite sane...but he wasn't insane in the way of Classic Nutcase or Lady Ophelia...he was...autistic, almost, in the way he behaved. If, Tobias supposed, that was possible. It probably wasn't. But it was as close as the four and a half foot jockey could find to describe him.

The gates sprung open, and he could almost feel the shock go through Hammy. It was as though they had dropped the bay in ice water. He took off in a sudden and violent burst of adrenaline that almost left the expert jockey behind in it's wake, and Tobias smiled. That was the fun of Himeros. He was horse blind and suicidal in his running style; it was like watching lightning strike, from the back of the lightning. This race would be decided quickly, Tobias was sure. Either they'd outpace them or they wouldn't. It was to be a game of sudden death. Win or lose, fast or slow.

Tobias kept Himeros right up near the rail, wanting to shave off any time he could. He didn't think that, given he was to be the only frontrunner in a three horse race, boxing would be an issue. It would all be in keeping ahead, and the best place to do that was by the rail in this case. Himeros was not an easily pressured horse, and in a sprint, there was less time for that, anyways.

With Himeros, it was all about speed. So much so, that four furlongs into the imaginary race, Tobias started adding the stick, forcing him on. Hammy only seemed to get faster, dark eyes bulging, ears pointed forwards, as though caught somewhere between still scared the gate was chasing him and going "Look at me, look at me, I can run! Zoom-zoom!". It was an entertaining face with a flopping lower lip, a dopey view of cute that ran like nothing else Tobias had ridden at this distance.

Only time would tell, however, if that was good enough. They flew beyond the six furlong marker and gradually decelerated, the colt covered in sweat. Only time would tell if they were fast enough. Only time would tell if the time was right, but Tobias sure hoped it was. After all, while Himeros would outside no one in feats of wit, he sure could baffle them with nonsense - a sudden trip to the front, closing from the get-go...it would seem like nonsense. And sometimes, all you needed as a bit of nonsense and luck and heart. Maybe it would be enough. Only time would tell, in this game of sudden death.
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WORKOUT STATS