The morning of the second day without Dawn.
As many had mentioned, after the Derby came the season for two-year-olds. From that perspective, Dawn, who had begun moving toward Honshu two weeks before the Derby, had at least caught this year's two-year-old season.
While checking on the overnight turnout as usual, M-chan—who normally enjoyed mud baths with her daughter before the herd was brought in, rolling around nonstop as though coating bread in crumbs—looked somewhat dejected today.
Was she lonely because Sakuya, sleeping soundly, had ignored her? Or had she already sensed the separation from her firstborn foal?
Thinking that, I walked over and gently brushed some dirt from both mother and daughter, speaking in a comforting tone.
"Don't worry, M-chan. That child will be back soon. Besides, don't you still have—"
The words I had only half said were abruptly swallowed back down by the vibration ringing from my pocket.
Wondering who it was, I took out my phone and saw only the saved name "Miura."
There was also an active Central Jockey named Miura, but with such a simple saved name, it could only be Miura from the farm.
Yesterday, it had been Miura and Arian, who had returned to the farm after finishing the Light-Breed Horse Association course, who drove and accompanied Dawn to Honshu.
Calling at this hour, they had probably already delivered Dawn to the training farm and were preparing to head back. Thinking so, I pressed the answer button in front of M-chan.
"Boss."
Something about his tone immediately sounded wrong.
Sure enough, the news that followed was bad.
After arriving on Honshu and preparing to enter the training farm according to plan, Dawn had been found during an examination to show suspected signs of shipping fever.
Moreover, according to Miura, even without a