Behind the Gaze

On August 12, 2029, the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois over 1,600 meters on turf at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse in France marked the stable's first battle of its European campaign.

Yet behind Baozuo, who continued to draw the attention of racing commentators both at home and abroad even now, there was actually another target for the campaign.

—The final leg of the English Triple Crown: the St Leger Stakes, run over one mile, six furlongs, and 115 yards on turf at Doncaster Racecourse.

Although it received nowhere near the attention of the Prix Jacques Le Marois, which Baozuo contested in August, the stable had poured just as much effort into this race.

In addition to the stable staff, veterinarians, farriers, and others were periodically dispatched from Japan to the United Kingdom as required by the stable.

Furthermore, trainer Ikee, the expedition's overall commander, and Yutaka Take, the primary jockey, had remained on site throughout, striving to maintain a setup no different from the one in Japan. From training and feed to drinking water and horseshoes, they provided Traveler with as much support as possible.

When he had first arrived in France alongside Baozuo for a stopover, Ikee flew to the United Kingdom that very day after confirming his safe arrival to inspect Doncaster Racecourse in person.

Such preliminary inspections for the St Leger Stakes were not limited to Doncaster Racecourse itself. They also covered many venues where potential rivals had raced, including Newmarket, the expedition's base, and The Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.

As for the expenses involved, the owner naturally bore all of them without the slightest hesitation.

"If we don't get results, we won't be able to show our faces when we return to Japan and report to the president."

I had heard Ikee say similar things more than