Ochiai's Front-Running Strategy

He would seize the lead at high speed early on, slow the pace through the middle turns, then accelerate all at once on the final straight.

The moment this idea took shape, Ochiai tightened his grip on the reins.

The key to victory lay in two things.

Whether his tactics would be seen through by the opponents behind him.

And whether horse and rider were in sync enough to act at the right time when the pace needed to change.

"Please, Pegasus."

He murmured inwardly.

Mejiro Tenma was a racehorse with fierce fighting spirit. Once he reached first place, even if it was a struggle, he would do his utmost to hold it.

A racehorse with such strong grit was by no means without a chance to contend with the pack behind him on the final straight.

The prerequisite was that he had to control the pace of the first half of the race.

"Don't catch up at a time like this."

As he guided the horse through the turn, he cautiously watched his opponents' movements from the corner of his eye.

Behind him, Lapis Doll and Three Winters Sun-Moon had finished their contest for second place, and both maintained their current positions as they entered the turn.

Behind the three horses in the leading group came the chasing pack, far behind.

None of them showed any intention of moving up further.

He relaxed for the moment.

"In that case, I could slow down a little more."

Though the thought crossed his mind, Ochiai made no further move with his hands before entering the second turn.

If he got into a struggle with the horse, it would undoubtedly disrupt their original rhythm.

Since there was no major problem, going a little faster was fine.

The distance between Mejiro Tenma and the pack behind him continued to widen.

"This... should be all right, shouldn't it?"

Kitano asked with some hesitation.

The scene seemed a little different from what they had expected when discussing tactics before the race.

That gray-white figure had clearly run into the very front position.

"That position is extremely unfavorable for Pegasus!"

Ogawa Masaru watched the track with growing agitation.

For Mejiro Tenma, leading in shorter races and coming from behind in somewhat longer ones was the more ideal style.

So long as it did not exceed his physical limits, that approach made the most of his fighting spirit.

But the reverse was a different matter.

Whether in training or in a race, if Mejiro Tenma realized that he could not accomplish something no matter how hard he tried, he would decisively choose to give up.

In a race as long as 1,500 meters, exerting himself too early could very well make him lose his will to fight.

If that happened, even a crushing defeat was not impossible.

"It's a somewhat dangerous development."

He spoke with a frown.

"Huh? So it really is bad?"

Kitano's expression became identical to Ogawa Masaru's.

Though he was somewhat pleased that he could at least see where the race was heading.

This was not the scene he wanted to see.

"That's right. Although he's holding on for now..."

Ogawa Masaru's explanation had barely begun when it was interrupted by a snort of derision.

"Idiot—"

Ogawa Kanna addressed her younger brother that way.

Though Kitano vaguely felt that he had been caught in the crossfire as well.

"Even if you don't aspire to be a jockey, reading race pace is something you need to master as naturally as breathing, isn't it?"

The girl continued mercilessly.

"Though it looks like ordinary front-running, it's actually nothing of the sort."

Ogawa Kanna pointed toward the track.

Mejiro Tenma, who had opened a clear gap, was heading toward the straight after the second turn.

"During the turn, Jockey Ochiai slowed the pace... Of course, I can't be sure whether he did it intentionally."

"And then?"

Kitano and Ogawa Masaru turned their heads together, their eyes asking exactly that.

"Idiots, once they enter the straight... Forget it. Just keep watching and you'll see."

The girl sighed helplessly.

"It's an excellent development."

At that moment, Ogawa Joe, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke.

From the beginning, the old man had worn an utterly unruffled expression.

In his experience, once the opening phase unfolded, the direction of the race was already perfectly clear.

There were still some concerns about the distance, but they should be able to achieve a decent result.

"Eh? Isn't that right?"

Noticing everyone looking at him, he wore a slightly bewildered expression.

In dirt races, wasn't the outcome decided right from the start?

"Dad, this isn't Kentucky."

Ogawa Kanna clutched her forehead as if she had a headache.

Meanwhile, Ochiai, having reached the straight, urged Mejiro Tenma onward.

Until the next turn, he moved at a slightly faster pace.

Besides continuing to widen the gap, he was also considering maintaining the interference that "Kick Back" caused to the pack behind them.

When horses ran, debris kicked up by their hind hooves could obscure the vision of the horses behind or disrupt their breathing rhythm.

It could even make certain temperamental opponents grow irritated.

In dirt races, the effects of "Kick Back" were especially pronounced.

But for certain horses that were not smart enough, or were too one-track-minded, understanding such a relatively complicated change in instructions was extremely difficult.

However, since this was Mejiro Tenma, it should not be a problem.

As he thought that, the gray horse beneath him indeed changed his pace.

"Good job!"

He brought Mejiro Tenma to a line two or three horse-widths away from the inner rail.

This route both left room to adapt when entering the turn and reduced the effects of the deeper sand on the inside.

Though more than half the distance had already passed, Mejiro Tenma still seemed to have energy in reserve.

As long as he caught his breath a little in the next turn, he should be able to hold on down the straight.

Having made that judgment, Ochiai slightly turned his head to observe the pack behind him.

Lapis Doll and Three Winters Sun-Moon still steadily maintained a certain distance behind.

Neither Jockey Iwahashi nor Jockey Yoshimoto intended to start whipping their horses and chasing from this position.

"In that case, watch this closely—"

He unconsciously pressed his lips together.

Ahead of him, the third turn gradually approached.

It was time.

Ochiai tugged the reins.

At that instant, his heartbeat nearly stopped.

What if Mejiro Tenma surged too far ahead?

What if he stopped dead instead?

All sorts of possibilities flashed through his mind.

Yet he still tugged the reins without hesitation.

None of the situations he worried about happened.

Mejiro Tenma adjusted his pace smoothly.

"Next comes the showdown on the straight."

Hearing the faint crack of whips by his ears, Ochiai took a deep breath.

"Mejiro Tenma, sixth at the front, is entering the final straight! Lapis Doll is about three lengths behind, and Demon King Opera is also coming up on the outside! Two hundred meters remain—can Mejiro Tenma hold on for the win?!"

The commentator's pace quickened unconsciously, and the stands began to stir.

The winner would soon be decided.