The Chrysanthemums in Full Bloom

"Then I'll leave it to you."

With those words came a deep bow.

Leaving the pre-race paddock, they passed through Beijing's long underground passage and looked up at the lead-gray sky, where rain was falling.

He forcefully opened the large men's umbrella in his hand, its black circle instantly cutting away a great portion of the view before him.

Affected by the rain that had begun the previous night, the track condition at Kyoto Racecourse had been announced as "heavy" from the very first race that day.

Viewed from the stands, Yodo's Great Pond lay beneath a curtain of rain.

Horsehead Kannon silently watched over the soaked turf.

The monument to Rice Shower, who had bloomed at Yodo and withered at Yodo.

And—

The stairs adorned with the gallant figures of Triple Crown winners through the ages.

Soaked by rain, Kyoto Racecourse was a grand symphony of rain curtains, entry fanfares, and applause from the stands.

After the Triple Crown journey through spring Nakayama and early-summer Fuchu, the finish line lay here.

The final chapter of the Triple Crown, held beside Yodo in autumn—

The Kikuka Sho, which in the past only the "strongest horse" had been qualified to win.

Even in this era, when long-distance races had declined in influence, more than 120,000 racing fans still poured into Kyoto Racecourse that day.

For the first time in the history of central racing, a double feat that had never before been achieved—

Perhaps the restlessness and excitement of the fans had pierced through the rain curtain, because today's melody was more urgent than usual.

"This year's Kikuka Sho looks like Mejiro Traveler's to lose.

Such discussions could be heard everywhere. That was how overwhelmingly strong she was.

The stage was Yodo's 3,000-meter turf course.

Starting midway up the uphill stretch