Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Morning Training”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Before dawn, Ogawa Joe and his son, Ogawa Masaru, begin the day’s stable work at Nishiken Farm.
• Masaru takes responsibility for the yearlings, while Joe handles Mejiro Tenma, the farm’s only boarded racehorse.
• Mejiro Tenma is unusually irritable after returning from its previous outing, having damaged a partition, overturned water buckets, and torn Masaru’s shirt.
• Joe first leads the horse in a circling warm-up to assess its condition before riding it.
• Mejiro Tenma is extremely energetic and eager to train. Joe takes it into the farm’s makeshift round pen to loosen its post-race muscles, improve balance, and strengthen footwork.
• The horse enthusiastically completes the exercise, even resisting when Joe orders it to stop. Joe restrains it because overexertion could worsen the fatigue in its hooves.
• Before leaving the pen, Mejiro Tenma bucks unexpectedly, nearly throwing Joe, but its behavior is treated with amused patience rather than anger.
• Masaru takes over after Joe dismounts. In the stable, he helps the horse cool down by allowing it to roll in hay, assisting with stretches, and massaging all four legs to promote circulation.
• The chapter ends with Masaru exhausted but satisfied, emphasizing his concern for the horse’s recovery and long-term health.

Character Developments

• Ogawa Joe: Demonstrates experience and careful judgment. Although he recognizes Mejiro Tenma’s spirited and difficult temperament, he understands the horse’s condition and limits its training to avoid injury. His humor and patience reveal a warm bond with the animal.
• Ogawa Masaru: Shows growing competence as a stablehand. He manages Mejiro Tenma’s post-training care, including brushing, stretching, and leg massage, despite the physical effort required. His final thoughts show strong dedication and emotional investment in the horse’s well-being.
• Mejiro Tenma: Appears highly intelligent, strong-willed, and temperamental. It communicates approval through its behavior, eagerly participates in training, resists stopping, and playfully causes trouble. Beneath its unruly conduct, it displays trust and affection toward both men.

Significant Themes

• Care and responsibility: The Ogawas’ work involves constant attention to the horse’s physical condition, not merely preparing it to race.
• The bond between humans and animals: Mejiro Tenma’s behavior is treated as communication, and both men respond to it with familiarity, patience, and affection.
• Discipline versus instinct: Joe must balance the horse’s powerful desire to run with the need to protect its tired hooves and prevent injury.
• Dedication and perseverance: Masaru’s exhausting recovery work reflects the quiet labor required to support an athlete.
• The importance of legs and recovery: The chapter stresses that a racehorse’s legs are essential to its life and career, making even small improvements meaningful.

Character Interactions

• Joe gently handles and verbally guides the restless Mejiro Tenma, correcting it when necessary while joking about its wilfulness.
• Masaru takes over from his father smoothly, showing cooperation and respect for Joe’s experience.
• Mejiro Tenma interacts affectionately with both men, nudging Joe’s hand, rubbing Masaru’s hand with its muzzle, and tolerating—even participating in—its post-training care.

Chapter Summary: “Race Day”

Plot Points and Events

• Kitano attends a race day at Monbetsu Racecourse after finishing his house calls, choosing to watch from the open-air grandstand rather than the owners’ section.
• He exchanges brief greetings with regular racegoers, reflecting his familiarity with the track despite not being socially close to most of them.
• After a race, Kitano encounters Kimura, whose horse has just won. Kimura modestly attributes the victory to luck but is visibly pleased.
• Kimura invites Kitano to the owners’ lounge for tea, but Kitano declines because his casual work clothes are unsuitable. Kimura then invites him to visit New Life Ranch and taste his wife’s lobster soup.
• Hungry, Kitano goes to the snack bar instead of the Jingisukan restaurant, avoiding the bean sprouts served with the barbecue because of his dislike of them.
• He orders the inexpensive “Winning Horse Curry” and watches the next race on the snack bar’s television while eating.
• The race builds to a close finish between Hokuriku Wakoku and Great Avalanche. Hokuriku Wakoku wins wire to wire, narrowly preventing Great Avalanche from catching up.
• Kitano finishes his meal, pays with a Kitazato Shibasaburo, and leaves, deciding he would rather wait until he is back in town to eat next time.

Character Development

• Kitano is shown as a regular but somewhat detached observer of the racing world. He recognizes the difficulty of following races closely and remains largely uninvolved in the crowd’s emotional excitement.
• His practical, understated personality is emphasized through his choice of seating, refusal of the lounge invitation, inexpensive meal, and willingness to tolerate mediocre curry despite hunger.
• Kitano’s specific dislike of bean sprouts and sensitivity to spicy food add humor and make him feel particular and ordinary rather than heroic or dramatic.
• Kimura appears increasingly friendly and socially open toward Kitano. His pride in his horse’s victory is tempered by modesty, and his invitation to New Life Ranch suggests a desire to build a closer acquaintance.

Significant Themes

• The communal culture of horse racing: The small grandstand brings together regulars, owners, gamblers, and casual spectators, all united by the shared suspense of each race.
• Emotional contrast: The crowd experiences intense hope, disappointment, and celebration, while Kitano remains calm and mostly detached, highlighting his outsider perspective.
• Everyday realism and humor: The chapter focuses on ordinary details—clothing, hunger, cheap curry, food preferences, and racecourse facilities—rather than dramatic conflict.
• Chance and uncertainty: Kimura credits his victory to luck, while the race itself demonstrates how quickly expectations can shift between triumph and disappointment.

Character Interactions

• Kitano exchanges polite greetings with regular racegoers, including the drunken Takashima.
• He speaks with Kimura about the recent victory, Kitano’s interest in racing, the owners’ lounge, and the invitation to New Life Ranch.
• In the snack bar, Kitano sits beside an intensely focused racing fan. They do not meaningfully converse, but their parallel reactions—Kitano eating curry and the fan preparing beef while watching the race—create a humorous contrast.
• Kitano’s interactions remain courteous but somewhat distant, reinforcing his role as an observer rather than an active participant in the racetrack community.

Chapter Summary: “Everyday Life Toward Summer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mejiro Tenma is weighed at 469 kilograms, two kilograms heavier than at his debut. His physical development remains gradual but noticeable, especially in his chest muscles.
• Ogawa Masaru reports the improvement to his father, trainer Ogawa Joe, and intends to share the news with owner Kitano.
• Ogawa Joe records Tenma’s weight and revises his training schedule. He worries about Tenma’s future after turning three, when he will face older and more physically developed horses in mixed-age races.
• Although Tenma does not require intense training and recovers quickly from fatigue, Joe feels obligated to work hard because Kitano has entrusted him with complete responsibility for the horse.
• Kitano is delighted to hear about Tenma’s growth and plans to bring extra hay during his next visit.
• At Kitano’s veterinary clinic, two young men bring in their husky, Kintaro, believing the dog has been poisoned by eating a buttercup.
• Kitano determines that the plant was actually a harmless dandelion. Kintaro’s drooling and apparent lack of appetite are explained by recent exercise and hunger; the dog is otherwise healthy.
• The chapter closes with Kitano returning to his quiet daily routine as summer heat and cicadas intensify.

Character Developments

• Mejiro Tenma: Shows slow but steady physical growth. His ability to maintain condition and recover quickly suggests considerable potential, though his limited physique and stamina remain concerns.
• Ogawa Joe: Demonstrates careful, responsible management. He is aware of the risks of overtraining but refuses to settle for merely meeting expectations, motivated by Kitano’s trust.
• Ogawa Masaru: Continues to provide attentive care for Tenma and appears to be adjusting his relationship with Kitano, addressing him more formally.
• Kitano: Reveals his affection for Tenma and his conscientiousness as a veterinarian. He remains patient and professional even when treating a harmless case caused by the owners’ misunderstanding.
• Kintaro: Provides comic relief through his exaggerated hunger and dramatic behavior, which his owners mistake for illness.

Significant Themes

• Gradual growth and potential: Tenma’s small physical improvements symbolize the slow development of a promising but not yet exceptional racehorse.
• Responsibility and trust: Joe’s training decisions are shaped less by external pressure than by his desire to honor Kitano’s confidence in him.
• Care versus pressure: The chapter contrasts responsible, measured training with the temptation to push a horse too hard in pursuit of results.
• Everyday veterinary life: Kitano’s work includes both serious medical concerns and ordinary misunderstandings, emphasizing the unpredictable, routine nature of caring for animals.
• Summer atmosphere: Hay, pasture care, cicadas, heat, and vacationing racing fans establish a relaxed seasonal setting.

Character Interactions

• Masaru enthusiastically shares Tenma’s weight gain with Joe, while Joe responds warmly and records the information professionally.
• Joe privately evaluates Tenma’s future and adjusts his training plan based on the horse’s condition.
• Kitano reacts happily to the news about Tenma and plans to support him with additional hay.
• Kitano calmly reassures Kintaro’s owners, correcting their mistaken diagnosis and demonstrating the dog’s health by tempting him with a cookie.
• The encounter ends humorously when Kintaro reacts indignantly after Kitano eats the treat himself.

Chapter Summary: “Private Sale”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano receives an invitation from Mr. Kimura to visit New Life Ranch and inspect several foals with “interesting bloodlines,” suggesting a possible private sale.
• He recognizes that the offer is probably a passive private sale, in which a ranch tries to sell a less-promising foal before auction to avoid losses or reputational damage.
• Kitano decides to attend anyway, viewing the visit as useful preparation for the upcoming Hokkaido Select Sale and an opportunity to improve his conformation-evaluation skills.
• After checking his system’s assets, Kitano realizes he lacks enough cash to attend the sale or purchase another horse. He exchanges Green Amulets for money and buys three Detectors, leaving himself with fewer than fifty Green Amulets.
• During the week, his veterinary workload increases, especially cases involving livestock poisoning from persistent poisonous plants. His treatments include inducing vomiting, gastric lavage, and intravenous fluids.
• On Sunday, Kitano follows his disciplined routine: he wakes early, watches All Creatures Great and Small, completes over two hours of veterinary study, claims a training reward, shops for groceries, and checks his bank balance.
• He drives to New Life Ranch, where Kimura warmly welcomes him and gives him a tour while explaining the ranch’s management practices.
• Kimura introduces Kitano to a prized chestnut mare named Ms. Miaochi, associated with owner Yoshida Shori, and then shows him her first foal, whose facial blaze closely resembles his mother’s.

Character Developments

• Kitano continues developing from a veterinarian with limited racing-industry experience into a more knowledgeable prospective horse owner. He actively seeks practical education from Kimura and treats the ranch visit as training.
• His careful financial planning shows both ambition and restraint: he wants to participate in the Select Sale but must liquidate some system resources to afford it.
• Kitano’s disciplined habits—early rising, regular study, veterinary work, and methodical preparation—remain central to his character.
• Kimura Keisei is presented as an experienced, generous, and sociable owner-breeder. His expertise extends beyond horse care to breeding, ranch management, and the broader racing industry.
• Kimura’s emphasis on Ms. Miaochi and her foal hints that the foal’s bloodline may be more valuable or noteworthy than his initial cautious wording suggested.

Significant Themes

• Practical education and experience: Kitano uses every opportunity, including a potentially unremarkable private sale, to strengthen his professional judgment.
• Financial risk and investment: The chapter highlights the uncertainty of buying and selling young racehorses, as well as Kitano’s limited resources and willingness to spend carefully.
• The horse-racing industry’s complexity: Success depends not only on recognizing good horses but also on understanding auctions, private deals, breeding, ranch reputations, and ownership networks.
• Discipline and steady progress: Kitano’s routine and gradual accumulation of knowledge contrast with the unpredictable risks of veterinary work and horse investment.
• Bloodlines and inherited traits: The resemblance between Ms. Miaochi and her foal emphasizes the importance of pedigree and visible hereditary characteristics.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Kimura establish a warm, respectful relationship. Kimura acts as both host and informal mentor, while Kitano listens attentively and asks informed questions.
• Their conversation reveals Kitano’s humility: he openly acknowledges that Kimura’s broader knowledge of racing exceeds his own.
• Kimura’s affectionate treatment of Ms. Miaochi and his pride in her foal suggest a personal and commercial investment in the mare’s lineage, setting up the likely evaluation or negotiation to come.

Chapter Summary: The Limping Queen

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano and Kimura inspect several young mares at Nishiken Farm and discuss their pedigrees, physical traits, and racing potential.
• The first chestnut mare, descended from London Tower and Tanino Gimlet, appears well suited to turf because of her compact frame, slender legs, pointed hooves, and turf-oriented bloodline.
• Kimura explains “bloodline matching,” the breeding theory of pairing horses whose physical strengths may complement each other, while acknowledging that this can also combine weaknesses.
• They then examine a powerful bay filly named Resistance Queen, whose pedigree—sired by the American stallion Four-Wheel Drive and descended maternally from Afleet—suggests strong dirt-racing ability.
• Despite her excellent build, thick hooves, powerful hindquarters, and promising lineage, Resistance Queen suffers from stringhalt, a congenital neurological disorder causing her right hind leg to lift uncontrollably.
• Kimura explains that the condition seriously compromises a racehorse’s balance, stride, energy efficiency, and durability, and that current medical technology cannot cure it.
• Because of her defect and the declining reputation of her sire’s bloodline, Kimura has considered selling her cheaply or converting her into a broodmare. She has not yet been officially registered as a racehorse.
• Seeing Kitano’s interest, Kimura offers her for 1.2 million yen. Kitano does not immediately use his supernatural [Detector] ability; instead, he asks for time to consider the purchase and looks at Resistance Queen carefully.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates growing expertise in evaluating pedigrees and conformation. He independently identifies the first mare’s turf suitability and recognizes Resistance Queen’s exceptional dirt-racing qualities.
• He also shows caution and seriousness, questioning the risks of bloodline matching and refusing to make an impulsive decision about Resistance Queen.
• Kimura acts as both a knowledgeable breeder and a pragmatic businessman. Although he admires Resistance Queen’s physical potential, he feels pressured by her incurable condition and poor commercial prospects.
• Kimura’s willingness to sell her at nearly the stud-fee price reveals his uncertainty, while his hopeful reaction to Kitano’s interest suggests he still believes she may have some value.

Significant Themes

• Potential versus limitation: Resistance Queen possesses the ideal body and pedigree for racing but is obstructed by a condition that may make competition impossible.
• The unpredictability of breeding: Bloodlines and physical matching can improve the odds of producing a successful horse, but they cannot eliminate inherited weaknesses or chance.
• Value and commercial judgment: The chapter contrasts a horse’s objective qualities with the market’s willingness to invest in her, showing how illness can reduce a promising animal to near-disposal status.
• Hope against medical reality: Kimura’s lingering hope that Resistance Queen might race conflicts with the veterinary and physiological evidence against her.
• Hidden possibilities: Kitano’s decision to assess her without the [Detector] suggests that he is searching for something beyond conventional evaluation.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Kimura engage in an informal but increasingly serious discussion about pedigrees, conformation, breeding theory, and racing prospects.
• Kimura flatters Kitano’s bloodline knowledge, while Kitano challenges Kimura’s optimistic explanation of bloodline matching.
• Their interaction becomes more emotionally charged around Resistance Queen: Kimura presents her flaws and low market value, while Kitano focuses on her potential and considers whether she deserves another chance.

Chapter Summary: “Being a Horse Owner”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After spending the night researching Stringhalt, Kitano concludes that the condition is not necessarily hopeless. With coordinated treatment of the nervous system, muscles, and environment, affected racehorses may regain 85–90% of their potential, though the cost and required care remain extremely high.
• He announces that his clinic will close for a day so he can make a clear-headed decision about buying Resistance Queen.
• Kitano reflects on what it means to be a responsible horse owner. Unlike breeders, jockeys, or trainers, owners possess the power to interfere with a horse’s training and racing career, so they must restrain personal impulses and act according to what is necessary.
• He decides that if he purchases Resistance Queen, whether out of profit or sympathy, he will fully accept the responsibilities of ownership.
• Kitano calls Kimura at Shinsei Farm, asks to revisit the farm with a friend, and confirms that he will pay the original 1.2 million price rather than negotiate lower. He asks Kimura to prepare the contract, suggesting that his decision is nearly final but not yet completely settled.
• He contacts A-Sheng, asking him to inspect the new horse and help arrange possible boarding at Nishiken Farm. A-Sheng readily agrees and promises to discuss it with his father.
• Kitano then calls Trainer Tanaka about placing the lame horse in his stable. Tanaka accepts, despite the horse arriving late and presenting management difficulties.
• Tanaka warns Kitano that a lame horse may never achieve much and advises him to reconsider. Kitano appreciates the trainer’s honesty and thanks him sincerely.

Character Development

• Kitano: Shows growing maturity as an owner. He moves beyond emotional sympathy or financial calculation and adopts the principle of doing what must be done rather than what he personally wants. His willingness to invest in difficult medical treatment and accept the burdens of ownership demonstrates increasing commitment.
• Kimura: Becomes visibly excited by the possibility of Kitano’s purchase but remains cautious and professional. His eagerness also reveals how important the sale is to Shinsei Farm.
• A-Sheng: Responds enthusiastically and loyally, immediately offering help with the horse and boarding arrangements. His playful messaging suggests youthful energy and a close relationship with Kitano.
• Trainer Tanaka: Establishes himself as a pragmatic but supportive professional. He accepts the challenging horse to strengthen his relationship with Kitano, yet honestly warns him about the risks rather than blindly encouraging the purchase.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility versus personal desire: Kitano recognizes that ownership grants power over a horse’s future and must therefore be exercised carefully.
• Hope and the cost of recovery: Stringhalt may be manageable with advanced treatment, but financial demands make recovery inaccessible for most horses.
• Ethical horse ownership: The chapter asks what owners owe their animals, emphasizing commitment beyond profit or sentimental attachment.
• Professional honesty and cooperation: Kitano’s relationships with A-Sheng and Tanaka show that successful horse management depends on trust among owners, trainers, veterinarians, and farms.
• Decision-making without excuses: Kitano deliberately seeks clarity before choosing, wanting to avoid disguising later regret as an excuse.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Kimura: Their phone call confirms Kitano’s serious interest in Resistance Queen and begins the formal purchase process.
• Kitano and A-Sheng: Kitano seeks practical assistance, while A-Sheng eagerly agrees to inspect the horse and negotiate boarding with his family.
• Kitano and Tanaka: Kitano requests stable placement for the lame horse. Tanaka accepts but responsibly cautions him about the horse’s uncertain prospects, reinforcing their developing professional trust.

Chapter Summary: “Deal Sealed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Masaru is bedridden with a cold, and his sister, Ogawa Kanna, teases him while invading his phone. She sends a message from his account, prompting Masaru to hurriedly check the chat history and add explanations to prevent misunderstandings.
• The following day, Kanna accompanies Kitano to New Life Ranch in place of her brother, who is still recovering.
• Kitano introduces Kanna to Kimura and the ranch staff, who present the two-year-old bay filly Resistance Queen for evaluation.
• Kanna immediately notices Resistance Queen’s right hind-leg lameness, but confirms that Kitano already understands the risks. She then conducts a detailed appraisal of the horse.
• Kanna judges Resistance Queen to be docile, physically powerful, sturdy, and particularly suited to dirt racing. However, she also notes that the horse is somewhat dull and that her lameness is a serious drawback.
• Kitano uses all three charges of his [Detector] system ability. The results confirm Resistance Queen’s strong dirt-track aptitude and decent acceleration and power, though many of her attributes remain unknown.
• Despite the injury risk, Kitano decides to proceed with the purchase and entrust Resistance Queen’s management to Nishiken Farm. He and Kimura formally seal the deal.

Character Developments

• Ogawa Kanna displays her mischievous, teasing side with Masaru but reveals her professional competence when appraising horses. She is perceptive, impartial, and confident, judging Resistance Queen without allowing the ranch staff’s anxiety or Kitano’s intentions to influence her.
• Ogawa Masaru remains physically weak but demonstrates awareness of his sister’s troublesome behavior. His earlier recommendation of Kanna’s expertise is validated by her accurate assessment.
• Kitano shows careful judgment and compassion. Although he recognizes Resistance Queen’s lameness and limitations, he remains committed to giving her a chance to race healthily rather than pursuing only immediate competitive success.
• Kimura and the ranch staff are visibly nervous about Kanna’s inspection, fearing that her professional evaluation could jeopardize the sale. Their relief grows once Kitano confirms his decision.
• Resistance Queen is characterized as calm and unusually docile, physically robust, and naturally suited to dirt racing, though her lameness and somewhat slow temperament complicate her prospects.

Significant Themes

• Professional judgment versus emotional pressure: Kanna evaluates Resistance Queen objectively, separating the horse’s strengths from the serious concern of lameness.
• Potential despite imperfection: Resistance Queen is not an ideal racehorse, but her powerful build and dirt aptitude give her meaningful potential.
• Responsibility and humane treatment: Kitano’s priority is not merely turning the horse into a champion; he hopes to keep her running in good health.
• Family dynamics and contrasting personalities: The playful conflict between Kanna and Masaru contrasts with their shared expertise and involvement in the horse business.
• Trust and commitment: The completed purchase represents Kitano’s willingness to assume responsibility for Resistance Queen’s future.

Character Interactions

• Kanna jokes with and intrudes on Masaru, creating a lighthearted sibling exchange.
• Kanna and Kitano cooperate professionally, with Kitano relying on her expertise while she respects his informed decision about the horse.
• Kanna’s inspection makes Kimura and the ranch staff uneasy, but her fair assessment ultimately supports the transaction.
• Kitano and Kimura conclude the arrangement with a handshake, confirming that Resistance Queen will be managed by Nishiken Farm.

Summary: “Before the Select Sale”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After completing the private purchase of Resistance Queen, Kitano and Ogawa Kanna return to Nishiken Farm. The horse will remain temporarily at New Life Ranch while Kitano handles her name registration, racehorse registration, and racing application.
• New Life Ranch continues preparing Resistance Queen for her new-horse aptitude test, which focuses mainly on her gate break and racing ability.
• Kitano reports the successful transaction to Ogawa Joe and gives the family traditional sweets as thanks. Kanna teasingly reminds her brother Masaru that he owes her for helping negotiate in his place.
• Kitano confirms that he will attend the following day’s Hokkaido Select Sale, but admits he has no specific horse in mind yet. His limited budget—just over ten million yen, much of which is already allocated elsewhere—prevents him from competing for the most prestigious lots.
• The chapter explains the changing relationship between owners, breeders, and trainers. Auctions have made it possible for owners to buy well-bred horses without relying on personal connections, making it dangerous to reveal one’s intended targets beforehand.
• Kitano decides not to pursue the expensive opening and closing lots, which generally have the strongest pedigrees and conformation. Instead, he plans to rely on his Detector to locate an undervalued prospect within his budget, perhaps at later auctions.
• The next morning, Kitano arrives early at the Hokkaido Market in Shizunai Asahi Town. He greets Branch Chief Arakawa, who wishes him success in finding a Derby horse.
• Before the auction begins, Kitano rapidly flips through the catalog, skipping famous sires because he assumes their offspring will be unaffordable. He marks down absent horses and grows impatient during the lengthy pre-auction announcements.
• While secretly answering veterinary consultation messages on his phone, Kitano is approached by the Ogawa family. They invite him to enter the auction venue with them, revealing that their farm operates as both a breeder and an owner and will also be bidding.

Character Developments

• Kitano remains practical and financially cautious, but his confidence in the Detector gives him hope of finding a high-potential bargain despite his limited funds. His behavior also shows his modest, somewhat self-deprecating personality.
• Ogawa Kanna demonstrates initiative and social effectiveness by helping Kitano complete the private transaction. She is playful and confident, enjoying the leverage her assistance gives her over Masaru.
• Ogawa Masaru appears largely recovered from his cold and is curious about the auction. He remains somewhat tactless, asking questions at an awkward moment and earning his father’s silent frustration.
• Ogawa Joe acts as a supportive and perceptive senior figure. He understands Kitano’s financial limitations and the need for secrecy before the auction, while also maintaining a friendly, lightly competitive relationship with him.
• Branch Chief Arakawa recognizes Kitano’s new status as an owner and treats him with encouragement and respect.

Significant Themes

• Limited resources versus ambition: Kitano must compete in an expensive market with a modest budget, making careful selection and hidden advantages essential.
• Changing traditions in the racing industry: The auction system has weakened personal relationships between breeders, owners, and trainers, replacing informal trust with open competition.
• Secrecy and rivalry: Buyers avoid revealing their intended targets because competitors may drive up prices or interfere with their plans.
• Expertise and technology: Kitano’s veterinary knowledge and the Detector may allow him to identify valuable horses that wealthier buyers overlook.
• Humility and pragmatism: Rather than pretending he can compete for elite horses, Kitano openly acknowledges his limitations and focuses on realistic opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Kanna and Masaru exchange a playful argument over Kanna’s role in the Resistance Queen deal, with Masaru reluctantly admitting that he owes her.
• Kitano and Ogawa Joe discuss the Select Sale without directly revealing their intended targets, demonstrating mutual understanding of auction etiquette and competition.
• Masaru innocently asks how many horses Kitano will consider, prompting Kitano’s humorous response that every horse except the first and last is technically an option.
• Kitano exchanges professional greetings with Arakawa, reinforcing his growing connections within the veterinary and racing communities.
• The Ogawa family later invites Kitano to enter the auction with them, and Joe jokingly suggests that they may become rivals, establishing friendly competition ahead of the sale.

Chapter Summary: “Final Contestant”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The 2025 Hokkaido Select Sale is about to begin, following opening announcements, acknowledgments of international guests, and a brief awards ceremony for the previous year’s achievements.
• The awards create an awkward atmosphere because the winning horse had only earned a G3, prompting Kitano to privately admire the MC’s ability to maintain a professional expression.
• The auction opens with Lot One, a bay colt by Kitasan Black. The horse is restless and appears difficult to handle, repeatedly showing signs of wanting to kick.
• The colt sells for thirty million yen, a price below the staff’s apparent expectations but far beyond Kitano’s budget.
• Kitano’s target range is around six million yen. Rather than forcing a purchase to prove himself or demonstrate the value of his mysterious “Detector,” he calmly intends to wait for a suitable opportunity—or leave without buying anything.
• Lots Two through Twenty and many more are presented, but Kitano never bids. His patience surprises Ogawa Joe and causes other buyers to view him as a potential rival, especially because many are waiting for Equinox’s offspring, the final lot.
• Near the end of the day, Lot 136, Ocean Fleet 2024, is announced as the second-to-last horse. She is a chestnut filly by Kobayashi Rikki, but she is conspicuously absent from the presentation lane, creating a sudden mystery and cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Kitano remains cautious, disciplined, and financially restrained. Although he possesses the ability to assess horses through the Detector, he refuses to let that ability pressure him into buying unnecessarily.
• His silence and lack of bids demonstrate growing confidence and patience. Other owners begin to interpret his restraint as a sign that he may be a serious competitor.
• Ogawa Joe respects Kitano’s composure but also sees it as unusual for a novice owner, since even experienced buyers have made impulsive bids.
• Ogawa Masaru appears bored and disengaged during the formal proceedings, contrasting with the excitement and commercial intensity of the auction.
• The auction staff and organizers show anxiety over the prices achieved, particularly when the first horse sells below expectations.

Significant Themes

• Patience versus impulsiveness: Kitano’s refusal to bid reflects his willingness to wait rather than follow the crowd or become emotionally invested.
• The commercial nature of horse racing: Despite the event’s polished presentation, Kitano recognizes that the Select Sale is essentially an upscale livestock auction.
• Status and appearances: International guests, prestigious bloodlines, celebrity offspring, and formal ceremonies create an atmosphere of prestige, but the actual results depend on temperament, pedigree, and price.
• Risk and financial pressure: Buyers must balance ambition with the danger of overpaying, as shown by the older owner who appears to regret winning the first auction.
• Suspense and hidden potential: Kitano’s unexplained Detector and the delayed appearance of Ocean Fleet 2024 suggest that the most important developments may involve horses overlooked or surrounded by uncertainty.

Character Interactions

• Kitano silently observes the auction and the behavior of other buyers rather than participating.
• Ogawa Joe comments on Kitano’s patience, while Kitano politely explains that he simply has not found a horse he likes.
• The auctioneer repeatedly tries to encourage higher bids, especially for the first colt, while the staff anxiously monitor the results.
• The chapter ends with the organizers introducing Ocean Fleet 2024, but her absence from the presentation area interrupts the auction and sets up the next major interaction or conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Bidding Under Everyone’s Gaze”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ocean Fleet 2024, a tiny chestnut filly by two-time G1 winner Kobayashi Rikki, enters the auction ring with a valuable Toraiben 3×4 pedigree.
• Her extremely small body, weak-looking hindquarters, tense posture, and severe fear of people immediately draw negative reactions from the buyers. Many suspect she is unsuitable even for racing or breeding.
• The auctioneer struggles to attract bids at the six-million-yen opening price. The Ogawa family openly analyzes her shortcomings, while most buyers remain silent.
• Kitano, exhausted from evaluating over a hundred horses with his Horse-Sense Eye ability, conducts one final examination of the filly. His evaluation improves the ability from C+ to B-.
• Using his Detector, Kitano discovers that Ocean Fleet 2024 possesses S-rank health, the first S-rank ability he has encountered. Further checks reveal low speed and a timid, solitary personality, but her overall potential remains largely unknown.
• Despite everyone’s doubts—and Ogawa Masaru’s warning that she may never become a racehorse—Kitano unexpectedly bids six million yen.
• The filly is sold to Kitano after no one else raises the bid.

Character Developments

• Kitano: Demonstrates growing confidence in his supernatural evaluation abilities. Though physically and mentally exhausted, he trusts the unusual information revealed by the Detector rather than conventional judgments. His decision to buy the filly shows his willingness to take risks and invest in an overlooked horse.
• Ogawa Masaru: Acts as a practical skeptic, voicing the general belief that the filly has no racing future. He is surprised and concerned by Kitano’s decision.
• Ogawa Joe: Provides experienced but balanced judgment, listing the filly’s serious physical weaknesses while acknowledging that her loin appears relatively strong.
• Ogawa Kanna: Initially appears indifferent, distracting herself with her nails because she assumes the filly’s fate is already decided. Kitano’s strange bid catches her attention and reinforces her view that he is unusual.
• Ocean Fleet 2024: Though frightened and physically underdeveloped, she is revealed to possess exceptional health, suggesting hidden potential beneath her poor outward impression.

Significant Themes

• Hidden potential versus outward appearance: The filly looks incapable of racing, but Kitano’s ability reveals a valuable trait that others cannot see.
• The limits of conventional judgment: Bloodlines, conformation, temperament, and auction reputation all point toward failure, yet Kitano chooses to rely on information beyond ordinary expertise.
• Risk and intuition: Kitano’s purchase is not based on proven ability; it is a gamble motivated by the possibility that the filly’s unknown qualities may eventually emerge.
• Compassion and opportunity: While others dismiss the filly as worthless, Kitano gives her a chance despite recognizing her weaknesses.

Character Interactions

• The auctioneer repeatedly attempts to encourage bids, emphasizing the filly’s pedigree and her dam’s past victory, but the crowd remains unconvinced.
• Ogawa Masaru asks his father for an assessment, and Joe explains both the filly’s physical defects and her one notable strength.
• Masaru later challenges Kitano’s decision, warning that pity cannot make the filly a racehorse. Kitano admits the concern is valid but says he still wants to try.
• Kanna watches Kitano’s unexpected decision with surprise and skepticism.
• The entire auction venue turns its attention toward Kitano when he bids, making his purchase a highly conspicuous and controversial act.

Chapter Summary: “Racing Horse Transport”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Joe harshly judges Ocean Fleet 2024, believing she is below the quality of most horses sold through the Rakuten Used Horse Market.
• Despite this, he accepts Kitano’s request to transfer her from Murata Farm to Nishiken Farm. The transfer is completed for 6.6 million yen including tax.
• Ocean Fleet 2024 was bred at the more prestigious Murata Farm, but Kitano requested the move because her temperament had apparently been negatively affected by her environment there.
• Nishiken Farm prepares its Mitsubishi Fighter horse truck to transport Ocean Fleet 2024 and another yearling.
• The bay filly loads easily, but Ocean Fleet 2024 becomes extremely agitated. She snorts, shows the whites of her eyes, and refuses to enter the truck.
• Ogawa Masaru struggles to calm her, while Ogawa Kanna suggests using transport equipment such as ear covers, a hood, blinkers, and a shadow roll.
• With the help of the gear and several staff members, Ocean Fleet 2024 is finally loaded.
• Once the truck begins moving, she becomes distressed again, attempts to turn around, and risks worsening her condition through stress, possible motion sickness, and weight loss.
• Ogawa Joe orders Masaru to play music. Kanna uses her phone to provide calming music, which slightly relaxes Ocean Fleet 2024. The bay filly responds more positively, bobbing her head to the rhythm.

Character Developments

• Ogawa Joe is practical and experienced. Although skeptical of Ocean Fleet 2024’s quality, he understands the risks of transporting a highly nervous Thoroughbred and quickly takes charge.
• Ogawa Masaru shows patience and kindness while trying to load the horse, but the experience leaves him physically and mentally exhausted. He recognizes that caring for Ocean Fleet 2024 will be a major challenge.
• Ogawa Kanna demonstrates confidence and practical horse-handling knowledge. She proposes using calming equipment and music, quickly identifying ways to reduce the horse’s anxiety.
• Kitano is portrayed as someone with an unusual but potentially valuable eye for horses, having entrusted Nishiken with several difficult yet memorable animals.
• Ocean Fleet 2024 is established as exceptionally sensitive and fearful, even by Thoroughbred standards. Her temperament is shown to require specialized care rather than simple discipline.
• The bay filly provides a contrast by loading calmly and reacting comfortably to the music.

Significant Themes

• Nature versus environment: A horse’s temperament is shaped by both inherited traits and later surroundings. Ocean Fleet 2024’s difficult behavior cannot be blamed entirely on Murata Farm, but her environment has likely contributed to it.
• The cost of horse racing: The expensive transfer, specialized truck, equipment, and potential health risks highlight how financially demanding racing is, especially for smaller farms.
• Horse welfare and specialized care: The chapter emphasizes that sensitive racehorses must be handled carefully during transportation, since stress can cause illness, weight loss, and prolonged recovery.
• Experience versus appearances: Although Joe initially dismisses Ocean Fleet 2024’s racing potential, the staff must still recognize and respond to her individual needs.
• The beginning of a challenge: The difficult journey signals that Ocean Fleet 2024’s transfer is only the start of a demanding process for Nishiken Farm.

Character Interactions

• Joe discusses and completes the transfer arrangements with Kitano before overseeing the handover.
• Masaru attempts to calm and load Ocean Fleet 2024, while Kanna advises him and later takes direct action.
• Kanna teases and corrects Masaru, but her interventions are ultimately supportive and effective.
• Joe encourages Masaru after seeing how exhausted he is, warning him that the real work has only begun.
• The family works together with the farm staff to load and stabilize the horse, illustrating Nishiken Farm’s cooperative but inexperienced approach to managing such a difficult animal.

Chapter Summary: “Kitano-Style Lameness Management”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano completes a customized management plan for Resistance Queen’s Stringhalt just before the horse’s official arrival at Nishiken Stable.
• He uses existing American treatment guidelines as a reference but creates a cheaper alternative, reducing the projected cost to roughly 40% of the original plan.
• The plan focuses on:
  • Restricting high-sugar feed and using low-sugar forage.
  • Regular TENS electrical stimulation and possible cold laser therapy.
  • Magnesium, vitamin E, selenium, and vitamin B supplementation.
  • Hydrotherapy.
  • Environmental improvements, including anti-slip rubber flooring and underfloor heating.
• The initial stable modifications are estimated to cost 700,000 yen, with total first-year expenses likely exceeding one million yen.
• Kitano avoids expensive surgery because of its uncertain risks and relies on his own veterinary clinic’s equipment and expertise to reduce treatment costs.
• At Nishiken Farm, Kitano finds Ogawa Masaru preparing a traditional herbal decoction for Resistance Queen’s muscle spasms. He corrects the preparation but acknowledges the boy’s concern and effort.
• Kitano then presents the treatment plan to Ogawa Kanna and Masaru, explaining that parts of it still require discussion with Ogawa Joe and Teacher Tanaka.
• When Kanna questions whether such an expensive plan is worthwhile, Kitano admits he cannot guarantee its success but insists that, as Resistance Queen’s owner, he must do what he can within his means.

Character Developments

• Kitano is shown as conscientious, practical, and deeply responsible. He balances professional knowledge with financial limitations, designing an affordable treatment plan rather than blindly following an expensive foreign protocol.
• His confidence is tempered by uncertainty: despite his veterinary expertise, he recognizes that the plan’s effectiveness is not guaranteed.
• Kitano’s sense of duty as an owner becomes clear. His decision is motivated not by pride or the desire to prove himself, but by a sincere commitment to Resistance Queen.
• Ogawa Masaru demonstrates compassion and initiative by attempting to treat Resistance Queen himself. Though inexperienced, he genuinely wants to help and is eager to learn from Kitano.
• Ogawa Kanna acts as a cautious and financially aware observer. Her questions highlight the practical burden of the treatment and encourage Kitano to confront its cost.
• Kitano’s interactions with both siblings reveal a gentle, mentoring side, especially in the way he praises Masaru and patiently explains the plan.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and ownership: Kitano believes owning Resistance Queen obligates him to provide meaningful care, even when success is uncertain.
• Medical expertise versus financial reality: The chapter contrasts an ideal but prohibitively expensive treatment program with a more affordable, locally adapted alternative.
• Compassionate care: Masaru’s herbal remedy and Kitano’s extensive planning both show different forms of concern for the injured horse.
• Uncertainty and perseverance: No one can guarantee that the treatment will work, but the characters choose to act rather than give up.
• Learning from predecessors: Kitano acknowledges the researchers and veterinarians whose work allowed him to avoid unnecessary mistakes, emphasizing accumulated knowledge and collaboration.

Character Interactions

• Kitano gently corrects Masaru’s herbal preparation, then reassures him that his attempt was worthwhile.
• Masaru looks up to Kitano as a professional mentor and follows him eagerly, expecting to learn a specialized treatment technique.
• Kitano and Kanna discuss the financial burden and uncertain value of the treatment plan.
• Kanna’s practical doubts contrast with Kitano’s emotional and ethical commitment to Resistance Queen.
• Kitano indicates that further collaboration with Ogawa Joe and Teacher Tanaka will be necessary before finalizing the horse’s training and racing prospects.

Chapter Summary: “A Multi-Party Consultation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Joe, Tanaka, and farrier Shimura join Kitano to evaluate Resistance Queen after her ownership transfer.
• Kitano distributes her neurological examination, electromyography, MRI, and X-ray reports.
• Ogawa presents slow-motion footage of Resistance Queen running. Her lameness is more noticeable while walking than running:
  • She shows slight trembling during warm-ups.
  • Her lameness worsens after intense exercise.
  • She displays no obvious compensatory lameness while running.
• Tanaka estimates that she could receive at least a G2 or G3 lameness rating, with a possible chance of G1 depending on further examination. The rating determines which races she will be eligible to enter.
• Ogawa proposes a rehabilitation and conditioning program consisting of hydrotherapy, round-pen work, and long-rein walking to improve hindquarter coordination.
• Tanaka recommends adding ground-pole exercises and emphasizes post-training stretching and heat treatment for the hind-leg flexor muscles.
• The group examines Resistance Queen in her stall. Shimura recommends:
  • Shortening her toe.
  • Lowering the hoof angle.
  • Using wider aluminum front shoes.
  • Adding silicone cushioning to the hind shoes to reduce impact and rebound.
• Tanaka admires her impressive frame, exceptional musculature, and calm temperament, but worries that she may be too dull or relaxed and require external encouragement to race at full effort.
• When Tanaka asks about a jockey, Kitano chooses Ochiai Genta, the only jockey he knows personally and one whose previous rides impressed him. Tanaka agrees to contact him.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates careful, practical ownership. He accepts the necessary medical, training, and farriery expenses and remains open to expert advice.
• Ogawa Joe shows confidence in Resistance Queen’s potential and takes responsibility for her specialized training, while also teasing his less-experienced colleague, Ogawa Masaru.
• Tanaka acts as an experienced trainer and evaluator. He balances optimism about Resistance Queen’s physical ability with caution concerning her lameness and temperament.
• Shimura proves technically knowledgeable about hoof balance and impact reduction, offering concrete adjustments to support the horse’s recovery.
• Resistance Queen is portrayed as physically gifted, unusually calm, and potentially capable of racing despite her condition.
• Ogawa Masaru enthusiastically volunteers to help but is reminded that managing a lame horse will be difficult.

Significant Themes

• Cooperation and specialized expertise: The horse’s future depends on coordination among owner, trainers, veterinarian-like evaluators, and farrier.
• Potential versus physical limitation: Resistance Queen possesses exceptional athletic ability, but her lameness threatens to restrict her racing opportunities.
• Careful rehabilitation: The chapter emphasizes gradual conditioning, therapeutic treatment, proper shoeing, and injury prevention rather than simply pushing the horse harder.
• Judgment and uncertainty: The characters must make decisions based on incomplete evidence, especially regarding her race eligibility, stamina, and true racing ability.
• Temperament and performance: Resistance Queen’s calmness is both an advantage and a concern; her steadiness may make her easy to handle but could also prevent her from exerting herself fully.

Character Interactions

• Tanaka and Ogawa Joe collaborate closely, combining Tanaka’s experience with Ogawa’s direct observations and training plan.
• Shimura gives Kitano detailed hoof-care advice, and Kitano readily accepts the proposed expenses and adjustments.
• Tanaka consults Kitano before selecting a jockey, respecting the owner’s preferences.
• Kitano’s positive impression of Ochiai Genta influences the decision to approach him for the ride.
• Ogawa Joe humorously reins in Ogawa Masaru’s confidence, reinforcing the seriousness of Resistance Queen’s care.

Chapter Summary: “Large-Scale Heatstroke Incident”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano completes the official registration of his two-year-old bay filly, formerly known as Resistance Queen, under the new name Mejiro Sakuya.
• He explains that “Mejiro” is a naming prefix and “Sakuya” references Konohanasakuya-hime, symbolizing his wish for the horse to live a long, healthy life. He also jokingly accepts the interpretation that the name refers to the time-stopping maid from Touhou Project.
• Immediately after leaving the racing association, Kitano receives an urgent call from Sasaki Dairy Farm about a large-scale heatstroke outbreak affecting twenty-six dairy cows.
• Several cows have collapsed, with four unconscious or in critical condition.
• Kitano gives Sasaki emergency instructions by phone: move the cows into shade or ventilation, place hay beneath them, cool them with room-temperature water, and prepare an oral rehydration solution using salt and baking soda.
• Upon arriving, Kitano quickly assesses the situation, organizes the workers, and requests medical equipment, a rubber tube, and a funnel.
• One cow is suffering cardiac arrest, so Kitano administers adrenaline. He treats the other severely affected cows in succession, then gives oral rehydration solution to those with milder symptoms.
• The chapter ends with Kitano exhausted and drenched in sweat after treating the herd.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates preparation and growth by having a thoughtful explanation ready for Mejiro Sakuya’s name, unlike his earlier improvised explanation for Mejiro Tenma.
• His playful, slightly chuunibyou side appears during the naming discussion, but this contrasts strongly with his calm and professional conduct during the emergency.
• Kitano’s veterinary knowledge, decisiveness, and ability to remain composed under pressure are emphasized. He immediately gives practical instructions and personally handles the most critical cases.
• Sasaki and the farm workers are shown as frightened and overwhelmed, but they quickly follow Kitano’s orders once he arrives.
• The racing-association employee interacts humorously with Kitano over the horse’s name, providing a lighthearted opening before the crisis.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and professionalism: Kitano treats the dairy-cow emergency as seriously as his racing-related duties.
• Preparedness and expertise: His knowledge of heatstroke treatment allows him to direct the farm before arriving and respond effectively on site.
• The dangers of extreme heat: The unusually hot weather creates a serious threat to large livestock, which struggle to dissipate body heat.
• Contrast between humor and urgency: The playful naming conversation shifts abruptly into a life-threatening medical emergency.
• Care for animals: Kitano’s concern for both racehorses and dairy cattle reinforces his commitment to animal welfare.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and the racing-association employee share a friendly, humorous exchange about the meaning of Mejiro Sakuya’s name.
• Sasaki contacts Kitano in desperation and relies on him for immediate medical guidance.
• Kitano gives firm, detailed commands to Sasaki and the farm workers, who prepare cooling measures and rehydration supplies.
• Kitano works directly with the cows, personally administering adrenaline to the most critical animals and oral fluids to the others.

Chapter Summary: “Target—Mixed Newcomer Race”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On an oppressively hot August day, trainer Tanaka inspects all 109 horses in his stable. Despite powerful fans and heat-management equipment, the stable remains dangerously hot at nearly 35°C.
• The heat reminds Tanaka of Repeat Victory, a former G1 winner who died from heatstroke-related organ failure, reinforcing his concern for the horses’ safety.
• During his inspection, Tanaka evaluates each horse’s physical and mental condition, recording whether they are ready to race, need more training, or require reduced workloads.
• He reviews plans for two horses outside the main stable population:
  • Mejiro Tenma is scheduled to enter a 1,500-meter race, as his current condition and past performance suggest he can handle the distance.
  • Mejiro Sakuya faces a more complicated decision because she has a limp and needs to begin racing before her training–race–rest cycle is disrupted.
• Since August is already late in the season for two-year-old newcomer races, Tanaka selects two possible 1,000-meter mixed races for Sakuya: the evening race on August 8 or the first race on August 9.
• At a meeting with owner Kitano and jockey Ochiai, they choose the August 8 race. Tanaka explains that the order and timing of races can affect dirt-track conditions, especially the firmness of the surface and the condition of the inside and outside lanes.
• Mejiro Sakuya is officially entered in the JRA-certified mixed newcomer race at Monbetsu Race 10 on August 8.
• After Kitano leaves, Tanaka and Ochiai discuss race tactics and Sakuya’s strengths and weaknesses.

Character Developments

• Tanaka is shown as meticulous, responsible, and highly attentive to horse welfare. He carefully monitors every horse and balances racing ambitions against health concerns, particularly in extreme heat.
• He also demonstrates strategic judgment by selecting a later race for Sakuya to reduce the burden on her injured leg, while preparing a backup plan in case track conditions prove unfavorable.
• Kitano, though a new owner, is portrayed as cooperative and reasonable. He listens to Tanaka’s explanation and makes decisions without imposing unrealistic demands.
• Ochiai has developed a clear understanding of Sakuya through their training. He recognizes that she possesses considerable physical power despite her limp, but also has delayed reactions and low sensitivity to the whip.
• Mejiro Sakuya appears physically stronger than many other fillies and has already reached racing condition, but her limp and somewhat unresponsive temperament make her debut uncertain.

Significant Themes

• Animal welfare versus competitive scheduling: The chapter emphasizes the danger of extreme heat and the responsibility of trainers to protect horses while still maintaining their racing progress.
• Careful observation and preparation: Tanaka’s systematic inspections show that successful training depends on understanding each horse’s individual condition rather than following a rigid plan.
• Managing limitations: Sakuya’s injury, physical power, and delayed responsiveness must all be considered when choosing her race and developing a strategy.
• Cooperation and trust: The meeting between Tanaka, Kitano, and Ochiai illustrates how effective communication among trainer, owner, and jockey supports sound decisions.
• Uncertainty in racing: Even when a horse is physically ready, factors such as weather, track conditions, race timing, and temperament can significantly affect the outcome.

Character Interactions

• Tanaka directs Kobayashi and the other stablehands to improve the stables’ cooling efforts.
• He collaborates with his assistant trainer during the inspection, comparing observations and confirming that all 109 horses have been checked.
• Tanaka, Kitano, and Ochiai jointly decide which newcomer race Sakuya should enter.
• Tanaka patiently explains racing-surface conditions to Kitano, who accepts the reasoning.
• Afterward, Tanaka questions Ochiai about Sakuya’s racing behavior. Ochiai praises her unusual power but notes that she responds slowly to instructions and is not very affected by the whip, leading Tanaka to remark that she is a rather “dull” or unresponsive horse.

Chapter Summary: “Nighttime Mixed Race”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the preparation room before a nighttime race, the jockeys endure oppressive heat and joke about going out for barbecue afterward. Ochiai prepares for his upcoming ride while recalling the planned strategy.
• Ochiai is assigned to ride Mejiro Sakuya, a two-year-old bay filly owned by Kitano. Although she has an excellent physical build, her racing ability is still unknown because of her history of lameness.
• Kitano’s only instruction is for Ochiai to prioritize safety and pull her up if necessary. This surprises Ochiai, since owners usually expect financial returns after investing heavily in a horse’s treatment.
• In the paddock, stablehand Kobayashi and Assistant Yoshimoto praise Sakuya’s physical condition and steady stride, though she remains mentally relaxed. Kitano and Ochiai exchange formal, old-fashioned words of trust before the race.
• Sakuya enters the starting gate calmly despite the bright floodlights and surrounding shadows. However, when the gates open, she reacts a moment late and falls to the back of the field.
• Ochiai tries to urge her forward from the outside, but she responds slowly to his whip and reins. He gradually improves her position but abandons the plan to accelerate aggressively when the first turn approaches.
• As the race progresses, Ochiai weighs whether to push her forward during the turn. He senses that Sakuya lacks responsiveness and fighting spirit, unlike the more aggressive Mejiro Tenma.
• Concerned about causing an accident—and mindful of Kitano’s order to finish safely—Ochiai avoids forcing a dangerous opening between the pack and Aachen Palace.
• Coming out of the fourth turn, Aachen Palace moves wide. Ochiai follows, and the two horses collide. Contrary to expectations, Sakuya easily pushes aside the colt and disrupts his momentum.
• Realizing that the opportunity has arrived, Ochiai takes the reins in one hand and begins whipping Sakuya forward.

Character Developments

• Ochiai demonstrates caution, experience, and growing confidence as a jockey. He carefully balances race strategy with the responsibility of protecting Sakuya, especially because of her injury history and Kitano’s instructions.
• He also begins recognizing that Sakuya requires a different riding style from Mejiro Tenma. Rather than relying on immediate commands or aggression, he must depend on timing and intuition.
• Mejiro Sakuya initially appears slow, unresponsive, and mentally passive. However, her unexpected ability to overpower Aachen Palace reveals hidden physical strength and suggests that she may possess greater racing potential than her early performance indicates.
• Owner Kitano is portrayed as unusually protective and pragmatic. Despite his substantial investment in Sakuya’s treatment, he values her safety above victory or financial return.
• Kitano also shows signs of personal growth, jokingly reflecting that his increasing understanding of race strategy means he is becoming less of a novice.
• Kobayashi and Yoshimoto reinforce the belief that Sakuya is physically sound and steadily improving, even if she lacks obvious mental intensity.

Significant Themes

• Safety versus ambition: The chapter contrasts the usual goal of winning or earning a return on investment with Kitano’s insistence that Sakuya simply finish safely.
• Hidden potential: Sakuya’s weak start and sluggish responses conceal her considerable strength, which becomes visible when she shoves aside Aachen Palace.
• Trust and responsibility: The formal exchange between Kitano and Ochiai highlights the trust placed in the jockey, while Ochiai’s restraint shows his determination not to betray that trust.
• Experience and intuition: Ochiai’s decisions depend not only on explicit strategy but also on instinct developed through racing experience.
• Individual differences: Sakuya’s racing style differs sharply from Tenma’s, emphasizing that each horse demands a unique approach from its rider.
• Appearance versus reality: Sakuya looks delicate and behaves calmly, but her physical power challenges the assumptions made about her.

Character Interactions

• The jockeys’ friendly conversation establishes their camaraderie, with even the reserved Ochiai joining the group’s plans for barbecue.
• Kobayashi gives Ochiai a positive assessment of Sakuya’s condition, while Ochiai responds with quiet confidence.
• Kitano and Ochiai exchange formal words of mutual trust before the race, underscoring their professional relationship.
• Ochiai’s internal comparison between Sakuya and Tenma shapes his tactical decisions throughout the race.
• Sakuya’s physical confrontation with Aachen Palace becomes the chapter’s decisive interaction, revealing her strength and creating the opening for Ochiai’s late advance.

Chapter Summary: “Victory Decided from Behind”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jockey Ochiai Genta urges Mejiro Sakuya forward during the final stretch, deciding to keep her on the outside rather than move toward the supposedly faster inner track.
• Mejiro Sakuya unleashes a powerful late charge, overtaking Aachen Palace and then passing the leaders, including Kazama Yukari and the favored Wise Fool.
• Her acceleration begins slightly earlier than Ochiai expected, but he chooses not to restrain her. Instead, he lowers his center of gravity and lets her finishing ability carry them forward.
• Wise Fool’s jockey, Ishikawa, desperately tries to respond, but his horse lacks the stamina and determination to retake the lead.
• Mejiro Sakuya wins by two lengths in her very first race, successfully leaving the maiden class.
• After the race, Ochiai credits the victory mainly to Mejiro Sakuya’s ability, while trainer Kobayashi insists that the jockey also deserves praise.
• Tanaka observes that Mejiro Sakuya may eventually be capable of winning a graded race, though Kitano remains cautious because of her lameness.
• At the winner’s ceremony, Kitano, Ochiai, and Mejiro Sakuya share a celebratory moment before leaving the racecourse late due to the fans’ enthusiasm.

Character Development

• Ochiai Genta: Demonstrates calm judgment and growing trust in the “Horse-First Principle.” Rather than forcing Mejiro Sakuya, he minimizes interference and allows her natural finishing kick to decide the race. His humility also shows that he recognizes the horse’s contribution more than his own.
• Mejiro Sakuya: Proves that her explosive speed is far greater than expected. Despite her physical condition and apparent sluggishness early in the race, she transforms in the final stretch into a powerful, almost frightening competitor. Her playful behavior afterward reveals her youthful, mischievous personality.
• Kitano: Experiences pride and relief after the victory but remains concerned about Sakuya’s injured or lame right hind leg. His caution contrasts with the excitement surrounding her potential.
• Kobayashi: Proudly celebrates both horse and jockey, rejecting Ochiai’s attempt to minimize his own role.
• Tanaka: Becomes more optimistic about Sakuya’s future, suggesting she may be capable of competing successfully in graded races.
• Ishikawa: Shows determination by continuing to whip Wise Fool after being overtaken, but ultimately cannot overcome Sakuya’s superior late speed.

Significant Themes

• Trusting the horse: Ochiai’s decision to let Sakuya run freely reflects the importance of understanding and cooperating with an animal rather than controlling it excessively.
• Hidden potential: Sakuya’s lameness and unremarkable early pace conceal an extraordinary finishing ability, emphasizing that appearances and past limitations do not define her true capabilities.
• Victory from behind: The chapter highlights perseverance and strategic patience, as Sakuya overcomes the leaders through a dramatic late surge.
• Humility and teamwork: The victory is presented as the result of Sakuya’s talent, Ochiai’s judgment, and the support of Kitano and Kobayashi rather than the achievement of one individual alone.
• Fragility beneath triumph: The celebratory victory is tempered by the reminder that Sakuya’s right hind leg still troubles her. Her “Cinderella” transformation on the track disappears once the race ends.

Character Interactions

• Ochiai and Mejiro Sakuya develop a quiet partnership built on trust, with Ochiai allowing her to run according to her own strength.
• Ochiai and Kobayashi exchange modesty and praise, as Ochiai credits the horse while Kobayashi emphasizes the jockey’s role.
• Tanaka and Kitano discuss Sakuya’s future, with Tanaka expressing confidence and Kitano responding cautiously.
• Kitano thanks Ochiai and affectionately interacts with Sakuya during the winner’s ceremony, while Sakuya responds playfully by nudging him and sticking out her tongue.
• The enthusiastic fans celebrate Kitano, Ochiai, and Sakuya, reinforcing the growing public recognition of the horse and her team.

Chapter Summary: “Lead Horse and Training”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Masaru takes Mejiro Tenma out of his stall for morning turnout. Tenma is in one of his tense, potentially aggressive moods, so Masaru approaches him cautiously.
• Tenma intimidates Ocean Fleet2024, the horse in the opposite stall. Despite being smaller, Tenma has recently become the farm’s lead horse and enjoys asserting his authority, particularly over the timid Ocean Fleet2024.
• Tenma behaves confidently and theatrically on the way to the pasture, though Masaru recognizes that his prancing and posturing are mostly showing off. Once released, Tenma races into the pasture exuberantly.
• Meanwhile, Ogawa Joe begins training the farm’s yearlings with help from his daughter, Ogawa Kanna. Unlike trainers who push horses into early intensive training, Joe emphasizes natural development, socialization, and learning to function within a group.
• Training Ocean Fleet2024 proves extremely difficult. Although the horse is already well into his yearling stage, he remains terrified of basic human handling and has not even become desensitized to equipment or simple commands.
• Joe attempts to use an electric toy—an electric crab—as part of desensitization training, but Ocean Fleet2024 panics and creates a mess in the stall, leaving Joe covered in bedding.
• Kanna suggests using a reward system, but the family discovers that Ocean Fleet2024 is not especially motivated by food because he is willing to eat almost anything and has no clear favorite treat.
• A-Sheng proposes using Mejiro Tenma to assist with Ocean Fleet2024’s training, offering a possible solution to the horse’s fear and lack of confidence.

Character Developments

• Mejiro Tenma: Demonstrates his new status as the stable’s lead horse. He is authoritative, intimidating, proud, and somewhat mischievous, but he also fulfills the practical responsibilities of leadership.
• Ogawa Masaru: Shows his deep familiarity with Tenma’s moods and body language. He handles the horse carefully and patiently, understanding that Tenma’s apparent enthusiasm is often mere self-display.
• Ocean Fleet2024: Is revealed to be exceptionally timid and poorly prepared for training despite his age. He is intimidated by Tenma, frightened by unfamiliar objects, and has little confidence around people.
• Ogawa Joe: Experiences unusual frustration and discouragement because Ocean Fleet2024 resists even the most basic training. His confidence as an experienced yearling trainer is challenged, though he remains willing to adapt his methods.
• Ogawa Kanna: Acts as a practical assistant and contributes the idea of establishing a reward-based training system.
• A-Sheng: Provides comic relief through his teasing of Joe and Kanna, but also offers the chapter’s final constructive suggestion: using Tenma’s influence to help train Ocean Fleet2024.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and hierarchy: Tenma’s role as lead horse shapes the behavior of the other horses, especially Ocean Fleet2024, and creates both order and tension within the stable.
• Training through temperament: The chapter emphasizes that different horses require different approaches. Standard techniques may fail when a horse is unusually fearful.
• Patience and adaptation: Joe must reconsider his usual methods and recognize that Ocean Fleet2024’s development cannot be forced.
• Socialization and confidence: Joe’s training philosophy values group interaction and emotional development, suggesting that a horse’s social environment is as important as physical conditioning.
• Humor in stable life: Tenma’s arrogance, Joe’s disheveled appearance, and the family’s teasing provide comic relief amid the serious problem of training Ocean Fleet2024.

Character Interactions

• Tenma asserts dominance over Ocean Fleet2024, while Ocean Fleet2024 responds submissively and fearfully.
• Masaru manages Tenma with calm familiarity, balancing caution with trust.
• Joe and Kanna work together to clean the stall and discuss possible training methods.
• A-Sheng teases his father and sister but ultimately contributes a potentially effective idea.
• The chapter ends with the family considering whether Tenma’s confidence and authority can be used to help Ocean Fleet2024 overcome his fear.

Chapter Summary: “The First Step of Training”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Masaru suggests using the dominant horse, Mejiro Tenma, to help train the extremely timid Ocean Fleet2024.
• Although Kanna objects because Tenma often intimidates other horses, Joe agrees to try the idea. Ocean Fleet2024’s submissive behavior toward Tenma suggests it may look to the lead horse for reassurance.
• The two horses are placed together in a larger stall. Tenma immediately asserts dominance and occupies the center, leaving Ocean Fleet2024 frightened in a corner.
• Joe introduces an electric crab toy as a desensitization exercise. Tenma shows no fear and casually steps on the toy, treating it almost like a game.
• Watching Tenma, Ocean Fleet2024 gradually approaches the toy and finally touches it with its muzzle, demonstrating that it has begun accepting the unfamiliar stimulus.
• Taking advantage of the horse’s curiosity, Joe begins touch desensitization with a soft brush. He first brushes Tenma to show that the object is harmless, then carefully brushes Ocean Fleet2024’s neck.
• Ocean Fleet2024 trembles at first, but Masaru comforts it while Joe maintains gentle, repetitive contact until the horse relaxes.
• Joe concludes that the horse’s training will be extremely difficult and may require more than four months, but the day’s progress proves they have found a workable training method.

Character Developments

• Ogawa Joe: Initially uncertain about using Tenma, Joe becomes cautiously optimistic as the method succeeds. His patience and technical understanding are emphasized, particularly when he limits brushing to the neck rather than overwhelming Ocean Fleet2024.
• Ogawa Masaru: Gains confidence after his suggestion is accepted. He actively assists by fetching equipment, observing the horses, and soothing Ocean Fleet2024.
• Ogawa Kanna: Remains skeptical and protective, believing Tenma’s aggressive personality could negatively influence the younger horse.
• Mejiro Tenma: Despite being intimidating and dominant, Tenma proves unexpectedly useful as a calm model around unfamiliar objects. Its indifference to the electric crab helps Ocean Fleet2024 overcome fear.
• Ocean Fleet2024: Makes its first meaningful training breakthrough. It progresses from extreme fear and tension to cautiously approaching, touching, and tolerating contact with the electric toy and soft brush.

Significant Themes

• Learning through social influence: Timid horses can gain confidence by observing a trusted or dominant companion’s reactions.
• Patience and gradual progress: Training must proceed in small steps, with the handler avoiding sensitive areas until the horse is ready.
• Trust and desensitization: Overcoming fear depends on repeated, controlled exposure rather than force.
• Unexpected usefulness: Mejiro Tenma’s intimidating nature becomes an advantage because its fearlessness provides a stable example.
• Determination despite setbacks: Although Ocean Fleet2024 is far behind in its development, the Ogawas recognize that even small progress creates hope.

Character Interactions

• Kanna criticizes Masaru’s idea, while Masaru and Joe seriously consider its practical value.
• Joe and Masaru work together during training: Joe handles the exercises, while Masaru observes, fetches tools, and reassures the horse.
• Tenma’s calm behavior around the electric crab indirectly encourages Ocean Fleet2024 to imitate it.
• Joe first brushes Tenma to demonstrate safety before approaching Ocean Fleet2024, using the relationship between the two horses to build trust.
• Masaru’s gentle words and pats support Joe’s careful physical training, helping Ocean Fleet2024 relax.

Chapter Summary: Hoof Care Guide for Thin-Hoofed Horses

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano visits Nishiken Farm and learns that Ogawa Masaru has suggested using Pegasus in training as a lead horse, based on a theory taught by his father. Kitano is impressed by the boy’s knowledge, while Kanna teasingly points out that Masaru is only repeating what he heard.
• Masaru and Kanna prepare the yearlings, Little Flower and Ocean Fleet 2024, for their scheduled shoeing by farrier Shimura.
• Shimura examines and shoes Little Flower first. He finds her hooves healthy but adjusts her trimming by leaving the heels slightly higher to reduce excessive pressure on the toe. He fits her with new horseshoes without difficulty.
• Ocean Fleet 2024 is nervous during the examination. Shimura notes that, despite her small frame, she has strong-looking legs and the potential for excellent movement.
• He discovers that her hoof walls are unusually thin—only 6.5 millimeters compared with the normal 8–12 millimeters. This makes her hooves more vulnerable to cracking, sensitivity, and reduced weight-bearing ability.
• Instead of continuing with heavy full-support shoes, Shimura chooses lightweight aluminum shoes, believing they will protect the hoof without restricting its natural growth.
• He carefully trims her hooves, adjusts the angles of the front and hind hooves, applies silicone cushioning to the soles, and uses adhesive shoeing where the thin hoof walls cannot safely hold enough nails.
• After replacing all four shoes, Shimura recommends changing them every four to five weeks and adding biotin or flaxseed to her diet. He also stresses frequent observation and minimal trimming.
• Ocean Fleet 2024 walks normally after the procedure, indicating that the new shoeing has been successful.

Character Developments

• Kitano shows humility and intellectual openness. Although knowledgeable about horse anatomy, he admits there is still much he must learn about training and accepts Masaru’s insight without concern for age or status.
• Ogawa Masaru gains confidence from sharing his father’s lead-horse training theory, though Kanna exposes that he is mainly repeating what he was taught. His eagerness and care for the horses remain evident.
• Ogawa Kanna continues to display a playful, teasing personality, particularly in her exchange with Masaru, but she is also polite and responsible when handling the horses and speaking with Shimura.
• Shimura is characterized as precise, disciplined, and highly experienced. He relies on measurements and careful technique rather than intuition alone, while also showing concern for Ocean Fleet 2024’s long-term soundness.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge and humility: Expertise is presented as an ongoing process. Kitano’s willingness to learn and Shimura’s reliance on careful examination both emphasize the value of recognizing one’s limitations.
• Individualized animal care: The horses require different approaches. Little Flower receives a minor heel adjustment, while Ocean Fleet 2024 needs specialized lightweight shoes, silicone cushioning, and adhesive techniques.
• Balancing protection and natural development: Full-support shoes might protect a weak hoof temporarily but could hinder its growth. The chapter highlights the importance of choosing treatments that support long-term health rather than only immediate stability.
• Precision and patience: Shimura’s “often, but little” trimming principle reflects the broader idea that careful, gradual maintenance is safer than drastic intervention.
• Potential versus physical limitations: Ocean Fleet 2024 has promising legs and movement despite her small size, but her thin hoof walls pose a significant obstacle that must be managed carefully.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Masaru discuss the possibility of Pegasus assisting with training, with Kitano listening seriously to Masaru’s explanation.
• Kanna playfully undermines Masaru’s attempt to appear knowledgeable, creating a lighthearted sibling exchange in which Masaru comes off worse.
• Masaru and Kanna work together to lead the horses to the farrier, demonstrating their shared responsibility.
• Shimura interacts patiently with both horses, reassuring them through calm handling and carefully explaining his decisions to the Ogawa siblings.
• Masaru comforts the nervous Ocean Fleet 2024 throughout the shoeing process, while Shimura adapts his methods to accommodate her delicate hooves.