Echoes of Fuchu

By 2029, Pegasus had reached the not-so-young age of six for a Racehorse.

From local Monbetsu to the central turf circuit, fans from all over had grown in number with every race.

However—

It had been nearly two years since his last victory, back in his farewell race from Hokkaido Racing.

Precisely because he had received so much support from racing fans from the very beginning, yet had failed for so long to earn a victory after moving to the central circuit, they had entered what would be his final domestic start before retirement determined to let him win at least once this year.

—Though they had thought the same thing the year before.

He had suffered from synovitis early in his career, but afterward his legs had remained sound, allowing his training and races to proceed smoothly according to plan.

Yet perhaps because he had been able to keep racing, ironically, his losing streak after entering the central circuit had continued to grow.

Against that backdrop, the second-to-last race of his career was the G2 mile event at Tokyo Racecourse, the Fuji Stakes.

He was the favorite before the race, for the first time in a long while.

The entire stable went into the race convinced that this year, they would succeed. Pegasus had remained in excellent condition through his Timed Workout day and the night before the race—

So they thought their chance had finally come.

October 20, 2029. Tokyo Racecourse.

With Kazuo, who had served as his main jockey since he entered the central circuit, aboard, Pegasus drew gate nine in a field of fourteen.

In this handicap race, as a horse without a graded stakes victory, he carried fifty-seven kilograms, second only to the fillies.

As long as he did not get stubborn and ran properly,