Overlapping Hoofbeats

Fifteen minutes before five in the afternoon.

After a sharp crack was swallowed by the immense roar of the stands, the gates carrying fourteen Derby dreams sprang open.

It could not exactly be called nervousness, but amid the restless atmosphere at the track, emotions were certainly rising and falling on their own.

Today's favorite for the Aoba Sho was Tezuka Stable's ace three-year-old, Endless Star Trail, Southern Star's maternal half-brother and Starlit World's sibling.

This was Endless Star Trail's first race in several months since finishing second to Light's Wedge in the Asahi Cup.

Though he carried what could only be called overwhelming favoritism, considering he had already earned enough, he was probably not yet tuned to peak condition—

Of course, that was merely one-sided, optimistic speculation.

From the second favorite down to around the ninth choice, most were three-win or even two-win horses whose records and past performances were not particularly outstanding.

—If one ignored the class levels, it could be called a Warring States-like field, with powerful contenders rising everywhere.

The instant the gates opened, I turned to look at Mr. Sugiyama, who should have been tense, only to see him rise on his cane and shout—

"Wonderful!"

The deafening clamor that entered my ears shook my eardrums, then seemed to melt into my body and vanish.

Then something familiar began to surge within me.

The cold analytical thoughts were cast aside at that moment, replaced by a voice of support.

"Go, Duraran!"

—Even I was startled by how loud I was.

"It was an even start. As they passed the stands for the first time, number nine Sakura's Pact and jockey Kitamura edged forward, while number two Sincere Mandarin on the inside also moved up to challenge for the lead."

Unlike the strategy in his previous three