Great Escape Declaration

"Should we try our best in the Arima Memorial?"

"!"

The day after the Hanshin Cup, they paid a visit to Kobayashi Farm.

Once he conveyed the intention that it would be too much of a shame not to try now that Noda Power had withdrawn from the Arima Memorial, the trainer, who was loosening Atalanta's back muscles, showed an astonished expression that seemed to say, "How could that be?"

"Has it already ended?"

Feeling the massage on her back come to a stop, the chestnut mare, who had been comfortably squinting her eyes, turned her head in confusion.

Only then did Majima come to his senses, quietly apologize, and continue with his work.

"Though Ata-chan's condition really has been quite good lately..."

As he said this, the trainer lowered his head slightly and stroked Atalanta's head with one hand, though his tone was hesitant.

"It still feels like we're far from being able to win a race of that level—"

"Didn't she already win the Nakayama 2,500-meter turf stakes race in the first half of the year?"

That was the Nikkei Sho from the first half of this year.

Of course, the Nikkei Sho and the Arima Memorial could not simply be compared.

Later that day, the owner, trainer, and the jockey whom Majima had summoned with a phone call met at Sato Chaya outside Kobayashi Farm.

Rather than an Arima Memorial strategy meeting, this was more like a discussion of countermeasures after Noda Power's withdrawal.

The three members of the camp quickly reached a consensus—

Their goal would no longer be merely participating. They would fight for victory.

However, when it came to the specifics of their tactics, the trainer, jockey, and owner all held completely different opinions.

Majima believed that Nakayama's steep incline would drain even more