Ogawa Masaru

Biodata

Background / History

Masaru is Ogawa Joe’s son and Ogawa Kanna’s younger brother. He grew up learning horse care from his father and helps run Nishiken Farm. When owner Kitano first visits, Masaru distrusts him as an inexperienced buyer who might mishandle a horse 4 6 27.

Masaru becomes the groom closest to Mejiro Tenma, also called Pegasus. He handles much of the horse’s feeding, washing, stall work and recovery care, while Joe directs most of its early training 6 13 21. His responsibilities expand to the farm’s foals and yearlings as training intensifies 58.

Masaru had been expected to apprentice at Tanaka Stable, but Joe instead proposes him for Mejiro Sakuya’s international expedition. Kitano and trainer Arayama accept him as a stable hand 83. By the Dubai World Cup, Masaru is serving as Sakuya’s trainer 332.

Appearance

• A young man with a conspicuously tall white pompadour when Kitano first meets him; the hairstyle gives him a yakuza-like look 4.
• He is not yet twenty during Pegasus’s early training 6.

Personality

Masaru is blunt and quick to argue, particularly with Kanna, but his initial suspicion of Kitano comes from concern for the horses 4 12. He is deeply attached to those in his care: he struggles to discipline Pegasus after the horse injures Kanna, worries when a bath upsets Ocean Fleet 2024, and prays for Pegasus and Sakuya to return safely from a race 6 45 50.

His relationship with Kitano grows warmer as they work together. Kitano comes to value Masaru’s horse knowledge and invites him to bring any racing questions to him; Masaru, in turn, begins calling him “Brother Kitano” 19.

Abilities & Skills

Horse care and handling

• Manages feeding, bathing, stall work and transport for horses with sharply different temperaments 6 13 31 45.
• Performs post-training care for Tenma, including stretching and leg massage 21.
• Uses a soothing song, low-pressure water and gradual contact to help the fearful Ocean Fleet 2024 tolerate bathing 45.

Training judgment

• Reads Tenma’s moods closely enough to avoid approaching when the horse is tense and liable to lash out 38.
• Suggests using Tenma as a lead-horse model for Ocean Fleet 2024’s desensitization. With Masaru helping to reassure her, the younger horse approaches an unfamiliar toy and accepts brushing 38 39.
• Explains race pace to Kitano and predicts a late move in Tenma’s race, though Kanna later catches him misreading Ochiai’s controlled front-running strategy 18 43.

Expedition work

• Compiles race information for the overseas team and helps with entry paperwork, transport arrangements and track credentials 83 84 85 93.
• Rides Katona in a joint timed workout before the Kentucky Derby, but struggles to restrain the horse when it bolts ahead 118.

Relationships

• Ogawa Joe — Father and teacher in horse care; gradually entrusts Masaru with more farm work and recommends him for the overseas expedition 6 58 83.
• Ogawa Kanna — Older sister and frequent sparring partner. They tease and correct each other, but also cooperate in caring for the horses 27 31 58.
• Kitano — Horse owner whom Masaru initially distrusts; they develop a friendlier working relationship, and Kitano brings him onto Sakuya’s expedition 4 19 83.
• Mejiro Tenma / Pegasus — The horse Masaru knows best and cares for most closely, despite its stubbornness and exhausting habits 6 38 58.
• Ocean Fleet 2024 — A fearful young horse whose trust Masaru builds through patient handling 31 39 45.
• Mejiro Sakuya — A horse he helps care for at home and abroad; he later serves as her trainer 45 83 332.