The second day after arriving in the United Kingdom.
It happened after breakfast at Bedford Stables, just as they were preparing to head for the Rowley Mile.
The dark sky, shrouded in thick clouds since morning, made it hard to believe this was the warm, breezy month of May.
Even the weather seemed tense, yet Sawin alone remained unhurried in his stall, burying himself in his feed.
Some Racehorses, apparently, sensed an approaching race through changes in training and Timed Workouts, consciously controlling their food intake.
But Sawin, at least, was not that kind of horse.
Looking at Chestnut Coat's head as he leisurely chewed hay like an old retired horse, he couldn't help feeling, as he had more than once before, that rather than a powerful horse about to step onto the Guineas stage, this kid might simply be a little slow on the uptake.
"Keep your spirits up today, Sawin."
With that, he patted Chestnut Coat, who had finally finished eating and was lazily yawning.
Sawin, whose eyes had somehow already narrowed to slits, gave another yawn, then seemed to nod.
He still looked somewhat unmotivated.
And then there was a rookie Trainer, a middle-aged Jockey long removed from top-level racing, and an overseas Racehorse with only one previous win.
To challenge the Guineas with such a lineup, outsiders would probably think, Is something wrong with that guy's head?
But—
As the owner, he had entered this from the beginning with the thought that no Japanese horse had ever run in the British Guineas before, so even a loss would make for a worthwhile attempt.
Even now, the only thought in his mind was to fulfill his duty as an owner.
As he watched Sawin's serene expression, as though he were dozing, several minutes passed without him noticing.