Friends and Family Pitch In

After the morning meeting in the break room, the staff filed out through the front entrance.

The moment they stepped outside, a wave of heat wrapped around them.

The cicadas were loud enough to drive anyone mad.

The three-way rematch on the central turf, and Spirit Colt's debut at Monbetsu, had somehow already happened last month.

She had launched herself forward as if she meant to smash through the starting gate, then kept accelerating without pause until her legs went weak—

It had been the sort of race that left everyone torn between laughter and tears. Yet thanks to the lead she had built before slowing down, Spirit Colt had unexpectedly held on to a top-five finish.

If her result was poor, she would retire from racing then and there.

That had been the original plan.

According to the stable, she had decent qualities in every respect except her constitution. With a little more work, she stood a good chance of breaking her maiden.

Teacher Tanaka had not been entirely satisfied with her hooves, though. He had been waiting for them to grow out since she first entered the stable, and had asked Zepp to make careful adjustments to her feet.

That had probably played a part in her improved result, too.

With that thought, I turned toward the fence beside me.

Out on the increasingly green pasture, the only foal born at Mejiro Farm that year was running wherever he pleased.

People connected to the industry and representatives from nearby large farms such as Mishima Farm visited now and then. Along with inspecting the farm's facilities, they watched New Mejiro Farm's first foal.

"He's got a great stride. He'll win the Derby someday."

Quite a few people had said much the same thing.

Private owners like Fujita had even