It was the kind of gray, overcast weather common in winter.
Instead of setting off slightly early as usual, they took a same-day return flight to Hong Kong.
They passed through the racecourse entrance and headed for the parade ring, where quite a few racing fans had already gathered.
When they met Trainer Yoshida, he looked as though he wanted to say something, but quickly pressed his lips together and held it back.
Instead, he changed the subject to pleasantries.
As they waited for the race to begin, they chatted on and off about Baozuo.
The mood was still some distance from despondent, but calling it subdued would probably have been accurate.
Even Yutaka Take, who usually wore a smile, along with Mr. Taniguchi and the other members of the Japanese contingent, looked somewhat more serious than usual.
"So Eri finally behaved himself this time."
Yoshida's words caught him slightly by surprise.
"Yeah. Maybe that colt has matured mentally, or maybe it's because his stablemate this time has a gentler temperament... though it could just be that he doesn't feel like moving in the cold."
The trainer nodded lightly, then turned to look at Baozuo, who was responding to the fans' cheers on the track with his usual high spirits.
Then several crisp metallic chimes rang out beside them.
Yutaka Take silently nodded in their direction, wearing an expression that said, "Leave it to me," before turning and walking toward Baozuo.
The opening leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series: the Centenary Sprint Cup.
Both the distance and the course were identical to the Hong Kong Sprint Baozuo had won in record time: 1,200 meters on the Sha Tin turf.
For the stable, this was a race they needed to fight for in every sense.
However—
Even if, as the