Chapter Summaries

Summary: “Return to Ritto”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano returns to Ritto Tracen at the start of the new year after several months away.
• The racing industry is experiencing an unusually early influx of young horses, putting pressure on training centers and breeding regions.
• Thanks to a newly purchased transport truck, the Southern Hemisphere-bred two-year-olds Traveler and Poetic Banquet were successfully moved from Hokkaido to Honshu.
• Kitano meets Trainer Ikee outside the stable and reviews both horses’ condition.
• Traveler has maintained excellent fitness during his rest and is expected to perform well when he travels to Kanto the following week.
• Poetic Banquet has recovered reasonably well from transport. Although she lost weight and experienced fatigue, her appetite and physical condition are improving.
• The stable plans to begin more intensive timed workouts with Poetic Banquet, including a 16-15 pace exercise, and later have an experienced jockey ride her before her gate test.
• Kitano suggests Yutaka Take as the jockey, and Ikee reacts positively to the idea.
• Kitano and Ikee agree that Poetic Banquet should not be rushed, especially in hot weather. Her immediate goal is to build a solid foundation rather than pursue fast race entries.
• Ikee believes Poetic Banquet may eventually become a Classic-level horse, despite her immature temperament and slow reactions.

Character Developments

• Kitano shows himself to be cautious, thoughtful, and deeply attentive to the horses’ long-term development. Although pleased by Ikee’s praise, he remains aware of Poetic Banquet’s weaknesses and prioritizes her health over ambition.
• Trainer Ikee demonstrates professional insight and optimism. He recognizes Poetic Banquet’s physical strengths while honestly acknowledging her behavioral immaturity, and he proposes using an experienced jockey to help educate her.
• Traveler is portrayed as disciplined and well-conditioned, having remained fit even during his time at pasture.
• Poetic Banquet continues to behave like an oversized puppy: she sleeps heavily, clings to people, enjoys attention, and has a friendly but immature temperament. Nevertheless, she possesses strong physique, stamina, and potential.
• Yutaka Take is introduced indirectly as a possible mentor for Poetic Banquet during training.

Significant Themes

• Patience and gradual growth: The chapter emphasizes that young horses should be developed at an appropriate pace rather than hurried toward racing.
• Balancing potential with limitations: Poetic Banquet may have Classic-level ability, but her mental immaturity could hinder her unless carefully addressed.
• Responsible horsemanship: Kitano values safely reaching the races over immediate results and is willing to delay plans if necessary.
• Transition and adaptation: The young horses face the challenges of transport, changing environments, training demands, and the age disadvantage of Southern Hemisphere breeding.
• Human–animal relationships: Poetic Banquet’s doglike behavior and affection highlight the personal bond between the horses and the stable staff.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Ikee exchange updates about Traveler and Poetic Banquet, combining the owner’s concerns with the trainer’s professional assessment.
• Ikee affectionately handles Poetic Banquet while explaining her progress and shortcomings; she responds with curiosity and clinginess.
• Kitano suggests bringing in Yutaka Take to guide Poetic Banquet, and Ikee appears relieved and pleased by the proposal.
• Kitano and Ikee ultimately agree that Poetic Banquet needs patience, education, and a strong physical foundation before being pushed toward racing.

Chapter Summary: “Torrential Rain Since the Showa Era”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with a brief history of the English Derby and the origins of the Japanese Derby, establishing the significance of the ninety-sixth Tokyo Yushun, held on May 27, 2029.
• Persistent rain has turned the Tokyo track into a likely heavy or soft surface. Kitano immediately recognizes that the Derby will be a rain race.
• Because winning the Derby represents a lifelong dream connected to his grandfather and family history, Kitano dresses formally in a traditional kimono and brings small photographs of his ancestors for luck. His unusual outfit draws surprised reactions from Sugiyama, Ravide, and other stable connections.
• The Nishiken Farm staff are divided between the Derby and another race involving Traveler. Most employees chose to attend Traveler’s May 19 race because he had a stronger chance of winning and because Yutaka Take was riding him. Traveler won easily over 2400 meters, preserving the farm’s perfect Tokyo and May records—records that Kitano now tries not to think about before the Derby.
• Before the main event, Haruki rides in a 1600-meter maiden race to gain experience on the Tokyo course. The race was arranged as a preparatory exercise for the Derby, since Haruki has little experience at Tokyo aside from the Aoba Sho.
• Haruki is completely outmaneuvered by Yutaka Take, who controls the pace and defeats him decisively. Although the result damages Kitano’s confidence, the team does not consider replacing Haruki before the Derby.
• By noon, Kitano and the others gather in the owners’ lounge. His kimono continues to attract attention, while the owners watch the rain and wind intensify outside. Dr. Kobayashi remarks that the weather is developing into a serious downpour.

Character Developments

• Kitano reveals how deeply he values the Derby. His kimono and family photographs show that the race is not merely a business achievement but a personal and generational aspiration.
• His confidence fluctuates throughout the chapter. He begins with emotional determination, becomes embarrassed by his appearance and worried about the farm’s perfect records, and grows increasingly uneasy after Haruki’s defeat.
• Haruki appears serious and mentally focused, but his crushing loss exposes his inexperience and vulnerability, particularly against a tactically superior rider.
• Sugiyama acts as a supportive companion, helping maintain morale and agreeing that young jockeys need psychological strength as much as technical skill.
• Wada is indirectly characterized as having been similarly stern and emotionally controlled during his own jockeying days, suggesting that Haruki may share qualities with him.
• Yutaka Take is portrayed as highly experienced and tactically dominant. His ability to dictate the pace makes him a formidable opponent, even when he is not riding in the Derby itself.
• Chongli, the farm’s ninth-favorite Derby runner among eighteen horses, has been prepared seriously despite his outsider status.

Significant Themes

• The Derby as inheritance and legacy: The race connects Kitano to his grandfather and earlier generations, transforming it into a family dream.
• Tradition versus modern competition: Kitano’s ceremonial kimono and ancestral photographs contrast with the technical preparation, statistics, and tactical planning surrounding the race.
• Pressure and expectation: The farm’s perfect May and Tokyo records create an additional burden, while the Derby’s historical prestige magnifies the stakes.
• Mental strength: The chapter emphasizes that success for a young jockey depends not only on riding ability but also on composure and psychological resilience.
• Uncertainty and adversity: The torrential rain and worsening track conditions symbolize the unpredictable challenges facing the team.

Character Interactions

• Sugiyama and the other stable connections react with surprise to Kitano’s formal clothing, creating a lightly comic moment that also reveals how seriously he takes the race.
• Ravide keeps Kitano focused on practical matters, such as breakfast and the day’s schedule.
• The team discusses Haruki’s preparation and agrees that the warm-up race is intended to build confidence and course familiarity rather than determine his place in the Derby.
• Kitano, Sugiyama, and Ravide’s family watch the races together, sharing both anticipation and concern.
• In the owners’ lounge, Fujita’s silent reaction to Kitano’s outfit highlights the social expectations surrounding the Derby.
• Dr. Kobayashi’s observation about the worsening weather reinforces the group’s shared anxiety as the main race approaches.

Chapter Summary: “Trio in the Rain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Twenty minutes before the Japan Derby, heavy rain continues to fall at Fuchu Racecourse, creating difficult conditions for the horses, jockeys, and spectators.
• President Kitano joins Sugiyama and Ravide’s owners in the paddock, wearing the green-and-white runner’s badge and enduring soaked clothing and slippery zori sandals.
• Kitano encounters Trainer Wada, who appears deeply tense and determined to win with Duraran. They discuss Duraran’s recent tooth change, improved appetite, recovery from the Aoba Sho, and increased muscle mass despite a slight drop in weight.
• The crowd erupts for Light’s Wedge, the undefeated Satsuki Sho winner and overwhelming favorite. Kitano observes that the horse seems comfortable in the rain.
• Chongli, another contender, appears physically imposing and seasoned, with a heavy build and powerful musculature.
• Jockey Haruki prepares for his first Derby under immense pressure. Older jockeys, including Takeshi, encourage him, but Haruki remains calm and focused.
• When Haruki asks for instructions, Trainer Wada tells him to trust his own judgment and run the race as he sees fit.
• Kitano, Wada, and the others return to the owners’ stand as the horses head toward the starting gates.
• The Derby ceremony begins amid torrential rain, military band music, applause from ninety thousand spectators, and the race announcer’s introduction of the major contenders.
• Light’s Wedge enters the gate smoothly, followed by Mejiro Impetus, bringing the race to the verge of starting.

Character Developments

• President Kitano: His outward composure gives way to growing anxiety as the long-awaited Derby approaches. He becomes increasingly aware that the result is now beyond his control.
• Trainer Wada: Shown as highly serious and emotionally invested in victory. His tense demeanor suggests the Derby carries enormous personal and professional significance.
• Jockey Haruki: Demonstrates remarkable calmness and maturity despite this being his first Derby and despite the scrutiny of a massive crowd. He receives responsibility rather than rigid instructions, signaling growing trust in his judgment.
• Takeshi: Acts as a supportive senior figure by encouraging Haruki and offering Kitano a friendly exchange before the race.
• Duraran and Chongli: Duraran is presented as physically improved and well prepared, while Chongli appears powerful, durable, and battle-tested.
• Light’s Wedge: Reinforced as the dominant favorite, undefeated and apparently unaffected by the severe weather.

Significant Themes

• Pressure and destiny: The Derby is portrayed as a defining moment after years of preparation, with Kitano and Wada feeling the immense weight of expectation.
• Trust and surrendering control: Wada’s instruction for Haruki to run according to his own judgment reflects the necessity of trusting a jockey’s instincts once the race begins.
• Youth and responsibility: Haruki’s calmness contrasts with the magnitude of the occasion, emphasizing his transition into a major competitive role.
• Nature versus human ambition: The relentless rain threatens to overwhelm the event, yet the race, ceremony, and crowd continue undeterred.
• Collective spectacle: The music, applause, broadcast, and packed stands transform the race into a national event rather than merely a sporting contest.

Character Interactions

• Kitano greets Trainer Wada and attempts to ease the trainer’s tension by discussing Duraran’s condition.
• Wada explains Duraran’s physical improvements, revealing his careful attention to the horse’s preparation.
• Older jockeys encourage Haruki before his first Derby, with Takeshi offering especially direct support.
• Kitano exchanges mutual good wishes with Takeshi.
• Haruki asks Wada for race instructions, and Wada responds by expressing confidence in him rather than dictating a strategy.
• Kitano silently observes Haruki’s mounting and final parade, sharing Wada’s nervous anticipation as the race approaches.

Chapter Summary: “Rain, Fog, the Slope Toward Glory”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Just before the Japanese Derby, the rain stops, but the Tokyo turf remains heavily soaked and yielding.
• The race begins with all eighteen horses competing over 2,400 meters. Chongli settles toward the rear near the inside rail, while the favorite, Light’s Wedge, races near the front.
• Balanced Horizon establishes a significant early lead, but the rest of the field remains tightly packed. The pace becomes unusually fast for the muddy conditions, as the front-runners fight for position.
• As the horses enter the final turns, Balanced Horizon begins to weaken. Northern Fortress and Light’s Wedge advance, with Light’s Wedge taking the lead in the stretch and appearing poised to claim the Derby double.
• Haruki keeps Chongli patient at the back until the final 400 meters, then unleashes her finishing kick along the inside.
• Chongli surges forward through the rain-soaked track, closing rapidly on Light’s Wedge. The two horses engage in a fierce, nearly simultaneous battle toward the finish line.
• The chapter ends at the moment both horses lunge for the line, leaving the winner unresolved.

Character Developments

• Chongli demonstrates patience, endurance, and extraordinary acceleration on a difficult yielding track. Her ability to conserve energy and produce a devastating late charge confirms her strength and potential.
• Haruki remains calm and disciplined despite the pressure of the race. Rather than panicking when Chongli falls far behind, he trusts her ability and waits for the right moment to make his move.
• The narrator experiences growing anxiety and emotional investment. Although he understands Chongli’s capabilities, he struggles with doubt as the race unfolds and ultimately places his faith in Haruki, Chongli, and the race itself.
• Sugiyama becomes increasingly tense, interpreting the weather as a possible omen and worrying that Chongli has fallen too far back. His fear contrasts with the narrator’s effort to maintain confidence.
• Light’s Wedge appears to be fulfilling expectations as the favorite and potential dual-crown winner, but Chongli’s late attack challenges his apparent victory.

Significant Themes

• Luck versus ability: The Derby is described as a race requiring not only speed and preparation but also favorable circumstances, positioning, and fortune.
• Trust and faith: The narrator must trust Haruki’s strategy and Chongli’s strength despite uncertainty and the apparent disadvantage of racing from the rear.
• Overcoming adversity: The muddy, yielding track and heavy pace create obstacles that Chongli must overcome, emphasizing her resilience.
• The intensity of competition: The final stretch is portrayed as a struggle of vitality and willpower rather than merely speed.
• Suspended time and uncertainty: Fog, rain, and the slowed perception of the final duel heighten the dramatic tension and delay the outcome.

Character Interactions

• Sugiyama voices concern about the weather and Chongli’s position, while the narrator reassures him that her finishing kick can overcome the conditions.
• Haruki communicates with Chongli primarily through his reins and timing, remaining still until the decisive moment.
• The owners, trainers, and spectators shout encouragement and the horses’ and riders’ names, creating a shared emotional atmosphere.
• Chongli and Light’s Wedge become direct rivals in the closing stretch, their side-by-side duel forming the chapter’s central dramatic climax.

Chapter Summary: Fuchu’s Clear Skies After the Rain

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Japan Derby reaches its dramatic conclusion on a muddy, rain-soaked track. Light’s Wedge and Mejiro Impetus fight side by side through the final 200 meters.
• Mejiro Impetus, ridden by Haruki, produces a powerful finishing kick along the inner rail and defeats Light’s Wedge by a mere nose.
• The victory is confirmed after an agonizing wait as the result board illuminates with Mejiro Impetus’s number.
• The win fulfills Mejiro’s long-held dream, described as a goal pursued across four generations, and becomes a symbolic triumph for both the horse’s lineage and his father.
• The owner and breeding representative, Kou and Sugiyama, leave the owner’s stand to meet Trainer Wada and the racing team. Their emotions overwhelm them as they realize Mejiro Impetus has won.
• Trainer Wada refuses to celebrate immediately, reminding them that the official victory ceremony and victory lap must come first.
• Haruki and Mejiro Impetus complete the victory lap before returning to the unsaddling area. Haruki finally removes his goggles and allows himself to cry.
• The winning team raises three memorial portraits together for the cameras, linking the Derby victory to the people whose memories and support made it possible.
• The crowd of roughly ninety thousand spectators gives Haruki and Mejiro Impetus a thunderous reception, including the special cries of “Haruki” traditionally reserved for a Derby-winning jockey.
• After dismounting, Haruki is embraced and congratulated by the racing connections. Mejiro Impetus’s appearance and calm bearing remind them of his father, Victory Within Reach.
• The chapter ends when an unidentified person approaches and says, “Sorry for the interruption.”

Character Developments

• Haruki proves his ability to remain composed under extreme pressure. His restrained expression during the race contrasts with the tears he finally releases after victory, revealing the emotional weight of the Derby.
• Kou, the owner, moves from dread and uncertainty to overwhelming relief and joy. His fear that Mejiro Impetus had lost is replaced by pride and gratitude toward Haruki and the trainer.
• Sugiyama remains outwardly controlled while watching the result, but quietly cries and shares the emotional significance of the victory. His reaction shows how deeply invested he is in Mejiro’s legacy.
• Trainer Wada demonstrates both affection and professionalism. Though moved to tears, he insists that they wait until the formal obligations are complete before fully celebrating.
• Mejiro Impetus is presented as calm, determined, and enduring. His victory is not a flashy burst but the result of sustained effort, tactical intelligence, and perseverance on a difficult track.
• Light’s Wedge and jockey Lian Dawen are portrayed respectfully as worthy rivals. Their near-victory makes Mejiro Impetus’s success more dramatic and hard-earned.

Significant Themes

• Triumph after suffering: The clear skies after the rain symbolize emotional release and victory after hardship.
• Legacy and inheritance: Mejiro Impetus’s Derby win fulfills a four-generation ambition and connects him to his father, Victory Within Reach.
• Perseverance over brilliance: The race is won through a relentless, step-by-step advance rather than a single spectacular acceleration.
• Collective achievement: Although the horse and jockey receive the public praise, the victory belongs to the owner, breeder, trainer, jockey, horse, and those remembered through the memorial portraits.
• Public glory and private emotion: The roaring crowd and flashing cameras contrast with the quiet tears and personal memories of the people closest to the horse.
• The fleeting nature of victory: Even at the height of celebration, exhaustion, ceremony, and the next interruption intrude, suggesting that triumph is temporary and life quickly moves forward.

Important Character Interactions

• Kou quietly asks Sugiyama to accompany him to meet the trainer, and the two share their grief and relief without needing many words.
• Kou and Sugiyama embrace Trainer Wada, who accepts their gratitude while reminding them that the victory is not yet fully celebrated.
• The racing connections jointly raise the three memorial portraits, creating a solemn and symbolic moment of remembrance.
• Wada congratulates Haruki and pats him on the shoulder, acknowledging the jockey’s performance and emotional sacrifice.
• Reporters and racing figures laugh affectionately when Mejiro Impetus is compared to his father.
• The crowd’s chants and applause unite the spectators—whether they bet on the winner or not—in recognizing the achievement of horse and rider.

Plot and events

At the Japan Derby, Mejiro Impetus—called Duraran in the racecourse scene—wins a dramatic, muddy race by a nose. His young jockey, Haruki Wada, waits patiently before making his move on Tokyo’s long straight. After the victory, the owner and the team join the newly established Derby winners’ carriage parade, where fans greet them with applause and congratulations. At the winner’s photo area, they celebrate with the horse and speak to reporters about the race.

Character developments and interactions

• Haruki Wada earns his first G1 victory and first Derby win on his first Derby ride. He says he trusted the horse’s condition and ultimately rode by feel, while crediting Duraran and thanking the owner and his teacher.
• Trainer Ryuji Wada, Haruki’s father, proudly praises his performance. Haruki emphasizes that he regards Ryuji primarily as the teacher who trained and guided him.
• The owner celebrates the achievement, strokes Duraran, and honors his great-grandfather by holding up his photograph. He and Sugiyama share their nervousness about the close finish.
• Duraran is praised for remaining calm despite the fast pace and poor track conditions; Haruki attributes the winning finish to the horse.
• Racing fans’ enthusiastic congratulations turn the parade into a shared celebration.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes family legacy and mentorship, gratitude and teamwork, and the composure needed under pressure. The victory is also framed as a historic breakthrough: it is the Mejiro name’s first Derby win, a rare father-and-son trainer–jockey triumph, and a record-breaking achievement for Haruki, the youngest Derby-winning jockey in Central Racing history.

Chapter Summary: A Summer of Rest, an Autumn Departure

Key Plot Points and Events

• Following Mejiro Impetus’s unexpected Derby victory, President Kitano hosts a celebratory dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Azabu-Juban.
• During the celebration, trainer Sugiyama asks whether the stable will target the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Kitano rejects the idea, believing Longchamp’s highly specialized course favors horses bred and developed for it. He recalls Victory Within Reach’s crushing defeat there as a warning.
• Kitano also rules out the Kikuka Sho, since Traveler is better suited to sprint and mile distances and would struggle to justify entering a demanding long-distance race.
• Although the others assume Traveler’s racing season is therefore finished, Kitano reveals that she has been entered in the St Leger Stakes, the final race of the English Triple Crown.
• Traveler will rest during the summer after her demanding sequence of races, then undergo quarantine and preparation before traveling overseas. She will go first to France and later to England, with Baozu accompanying her as a likely “companion horse.”
• Yutaka Take supports the St Leger plan, noting that Doncaster is a flat, left-handed course resembling Tokyo Racecourse and that the race usually attracts a relatively small field of seven or eight horses.
• Kitano explains that he considered entering Duraran in the Grand Prix de Paris but rejected the plan because the required early overseas preparation would leave insufficient time for recovery, especially while Chongli was still gaining weight and accumulating fatigue.
• The chapter ends with an official announcement confirming Mejiro Traveler’s supplementary entry for the St Leger Stakes and noting the substantial £37,500 entry fee.

Character Developments

• President Kitano demonstrates caution, strategic judgment, and a long-term concern for his horses’ welfare. Rather than chasing prestigious races impulsively, he prioritizes suitable courses, recovery, and realistic chances of success.
• Sugiyama is enthusiastic about international competition, especially the Arc, but becomes visibly disappointed when Kitano rejects both the Arc and Kikuka Sho. His excitement returns somewhat when the possibility of overseas racing is discussed.
• Yutaka Take emerges as a thoughtful advocate for Traveler’s abilities. His knowledge of Doncaster’s layout and confidence in Traveler’s stamina help justify the St Leger campaign.
• Trainer Ikee and the stable team support Kitano’s decision to rest Traveler and agree that Doncaster is a more appropriate challenge than Longchamp.
• Traveler is positioned as a promising but still developing filly whose campaign must be carefully managed. Her entry into the St Leger represents an ambitious international opportunity, but only after a deliberate period of rest.
• Duraran and Chongli are treated as horses whose physical condition must take precedence over prestige. Chongli’s weight gain and fatigue make the Grand Prix de Paris impractical.

Significant Themes

• Ambition balanced by realism: The stable wants to compete internationally but avoids entering races simply for their fame.
• Course suitability and specialization: Longchamp is portrayed as a uniquely demanding course whose characteristics can outweigh a horse’s general speed or stamina.
• Rest and recovery: Summer rest is presented not as inactivity but as essential preparation for a larger autumn objective.
• Horse welfare over pride: Kitano refuses to overwork Traveler or rush Chongli merely to pursue prestigious races.
• International expansion: The St Leger entry marks a new stage in the stable’s overseas ambitions and suggests growing confidence in Japanese-bred horses.

Character Interactions

• At dinner, the chef warmly congratulates Kitano and praises Mejiro Impetus’s Derby performance, reinforcing the significance of the victory.
• Sugiyama’s excited questioning creates the chapter’s central tension, while Kitano’s repeated refusals initially deflate the celebratory mood.
• Wada jokingly concludes that Kitano has ended the summer campaign, prompting Kitano to reveal the St Leger plan.
• Yutaka Take’s suggestion shifts the conversation from disappointment to possibility, and his agreement with Ikee strengthens the case for Traveler’s overseas challenge.
• Sugiyama, Haruki, Wada, the trainer, and the jockey all react to Kitano’s decisions, showing a mixture of anticipation, surprise, and concern for the horses’ condition.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The ranch staff begin the day after the rain with their usual break-room gathering. Ravide, the German deputy ranch manager, mourns the recent Derby result while Rachel Ho and Kikuchi join in his complaints.
• After the morning stable inspection, the narrator goes to North Barn to retrieve the horses from the night pasture. The foals Little Light and Hibae are still asleep beneath the summer sunshade, forcing her to wake them.
• Little Light and Hibae proudly present a dropped halter they found. The narrator realizes Little Light likely removed it himself and patiently puts it back on him.
• The recovering horses appear to be progressing well. Pegasus returns confidently with the herd, and Atalanta has recovered from her exhausting Arima Memorial escape. However, the plan for her to run in the Takarazuka Kinen is abandoned, while Noah continues to require a longer recovery period.
• The narrator reflects on Chongli’s foalhood, recalling his enormous appetite and deep, undisturbed sleep—traits inherited from his father, Victory Within Reach. She resolves to prevent him from overeating when he returns to the ranch.
• In the evening, she visits the day pasture to bring the horses back to the stable. The expectant mares Dazzling Move and Starlit World have formed a close, peaceful bond despite the narrator’s earlier concern that mixing the herds might cause conflict.
• Sakuya searches the narrator’s pocket for mint candy and receives one despite her warning about dental problems. Mejiro Gozen leads the herd back but slows to monitor the others, displaying the responsibility of his new role.
• The horses return in their familiar individual ways: Sakuya rushes to eat, Zhibao tries to gain an advantage, Spirit Colt slips through the entrance, and Dazzling Move and Starlit World trail behind together. The day ends calmly beneath a cooling breeze.

Character Developments

• The narrator shows increasing familiarity and patience with the ranch’s horses and staff, handling their quirks with affection rather than surprise.
• Little Light remains a mischievous, immature foal despite his growth, while Hibae shares his playful, sleepy nature.
• Atalanta has physically recovered from her race but is kept from another major event, emphasizing the staff’s cautious concern for the horses’ welfare.
• Mejiro Gozen begins to establish himself as the new lead horse, moving from simply leading the herd to actively checking on its members.
• Dazzling Move and Starlit World develop a notably close relationship, offering mutual companionship during pregnancy.
• Sakuya remains opportunistic and food-motivated, while Zhibao and Spirit Colt display their characteristic competitiveness and assertiveness.

Significant Themes

• Routine and stability: The chapter focuses on the dependable rhythm of morning inspections, pasture gatherings, feeding, and evening returns.
• Care and responsibility: The staff monitor injuries, regulate racing plans, manage the foals’ behavior, and make decisions based on long-term health rather than ambition.
• Individual personalities: Each horse’s habits—sleeping, eating, mischief, competitiveness, or protectiveness—contribute to the ranch’s lively communal atmosphere.
• Growth and maturity: Foals grow physically, recovering horses regain strength, and Mejiro Gozen develops into a responsible leader.
• Peaceful companionship: The harmonious relationships among the horses, especially the expectant mares, reinforce the ranch as a safe and cooperative environment.

Character Interactions

• Ravide, Rachel Ho, Kikuchi, and the narrator share a lighthearted staff-room moment of collective regret over the Derby.
• The narrator gently wakes and handles Little Light and Hibae, combining amusement with practical care.
• Atalanta stays near Zepp and watches Noah, suggesting concern for the injured horse.
• Dazzling Move and Starlit World greet the narrator together and remain physically close, highlighting their bond.
• Sakuya playfully searches the narrator’s pocket and persuades her to share mint candy.
• Mejiro Gozen guides and watches over the herd, while the other horses jockey for position and return to the stable according to their established personalities.

Chapter Summary: “Summer of Carrots”

Key Plot Points and Events

• More than half of June passes quickly as the farm remains relatively peaceful while caring for the foals.
• Chongli undergoes a routine examination after returning to the farm for rest. X-rays reveal slight swelling on the palmar side of his fetlock. Although it is not severe enough to qualify as inflammation, the staff begin an early rehabilitation program based on mild sesamoiditis.
• Chongli receives soft-tissue massages, joint mobilization, and an adjusted feed formula. Fortunately, the dietary changes do not affect his appetite.
• The farm team discusses an upcoming trip to inspect racecourses in the United Kingdom and France and to seek a possible overseas racing partner through Ikee’s connections.
• Their travel plans shift toward the Goffs Classic Two-Year-Old Select Sale in Dublin. Because the sale features a relatively small selection of horses and moderate average prices, they decide to prioritize it over later sales in Deauville and Keeneland.
• A budget of 45,000 guineas—roughly ten million yen—is established. However, everyone expects the protagonist to exceed it if he finds a horse he truly wants, even if he has to purchase it under his personal name.
• Before leaving for their flight, the protagonist sees Wada feeding carrots to Sakuya. Sakuya greedily stuffs the remaining carrot into her mouth despite being warned not to overeat.
• The protagonist, Wada, and their companions leave for New Chitose Airport to catch an 8:30 flight. Taniguchi, delayed by an errand, meets them at the airport instead of at the original meeting place.
• While waiting and boarding, the three enthusiastically watch livestream footage of horses being presented for the auction, discussing promising offspring and their physical qualities. They eventually fall asleep after the flight departs.

Character Developments

• The protagonist continues to balance practical farm management with his strong enthusiasm for acquiring promising horses. Although he agrees to a budget, his willingness to buy a horse personally suggests that his passion may overpower financial restraint.
• Chongli remains under careful observation and rehabilitation. His condition is mild and stable, but the farm takes preventative measures to protect his future racing career.
• Ravide and the farm staff act as practical overseers, attempting to keep the protagonist’s spending under control while supporting the overseas auction plan.
• Wada is shown as gentle and somewhat indulgent with the horses, particularly Sakuya. He is embarrassed when the protagonist points out that he is spoiling her.
• Taniguchi demonstrates strong enthusiasm and expertise regarding overseas auctions, immediately sharing promising horses and participating eagerly in the evaluations.
• Sakuya displays a playful, food-driven personality, pretending she has eaten very little despite having her mouth visibly stuffed with carrots.

Significant Themes

• Careful management of horses: Chongli’s rehabilitation emphasizes preventative treatment, close monitoring, and the importance of protecting a horse’s long-term health.
• Passion versus practicality: The group sets a firm auction budget, but the protagonist’s eagerness to buy a desirable horse hints at the tension between financial discipline and emotional investment.
• International expansion: The planned trip reflects the farm’s growing ambitions beyond Japan and its effort to build overseas racing connections.
• Everyday warmth and humor: Scenes involving Sakuya’s carrot obsession and Wada’s indulgence provide a relaxed, domestic contrast to the serious business of horse management and auction planning.
• Shared enthusiasm: The characters bond over their excitement while watching potential purchases, reinforcing their common interest in racing and bloodlines.

Character Interactions

• Ravide questions the protagonist about the auction budget, while the staff tease him about inevitably overspending.
• Wada feeds Sakuya carrots, and the protagonist gently reprimands both Wada and the mare for overindulgence.
• The protagonist and Wada coordinate their departure and discuss Taniguchi’s change of meeting plans.
• Taniguchi joins the group at the airport and immediately engages them in evaluating auction horses.
• The three men share a lively discussion of conformation, pedigree, and price before boarding the plane together.

Chapter Summary: “Beyond the Budget”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the second day of their Ireland trip, the Japanese owner, breeder Taniguchi, and Wada attend the Goffs Classic Two-Year-Old Select Sale near Kil City.
• Sixty-one horses are scheduled for auction after two withdrawals. Although the catalog and livestream have already produced more than twenty potential targets, the group has a strict budget of roughly 50,000 guineas.
• The rainy Irish weather and the absence of a same-day presentation session are noted, though the horses had been shown and breezed earlier.
• Before the auction begins, the group discusses their preferences: they want a filly, ideally one with a bloodline that is not overly common in Japan. They joke that a foal by the famous stallion Van Gogh would be far beyond their means.
• After taking seats near the front, they observe the first horses and compare the maturity and handling of European-trained two-year-olds with Japanese horses.
• Lot One, a grey filly by leading stallion He Qire out of a Channel Nine mare, enters the ring. The auctioneer highlights her pedigree, including the dam’s four black-type performers and Prospector blood.
• The protagonist uses his special ability, [Detector], to examine the filly. The result identifies her as a turf- and dirt-capable horse but reveals no particularly compelling breeding advantage.
• The bidding quickly rises to 70,000 guineas, well beyond their budget. The protagonist immediately abandons the filly, and Taniguchi, who had also shown interest, does the same.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains disciplined and practical. Although tempted by Lot One’s pedigree, he objectively evaluates her potential and refuses to exceed the group’s budget.
• Taniguchi shows enthusiasm for the first filly but quickly accepts that she is unattainable, demonstrating realistic judgment despite his initial eagerness.
• Wada appears concerned with the practical conditions of the auction, particularly the rain and presentation schedule, while also participating in the group’s shared search for a suitable filly.
• The three work collaboratively, comparing targets and maintaining a shared strategy rather than bidding impulsively.

Significant Themes

• Budget versus ambition: The group is searching for high-quality bloodstock but must compete against wealthy European buyers whose bids can rapidly exceed their financial limits.
• International differences in racing and breeding: The chapter contrasts the apparent maturity of European two-year-olds with Japanese horses and reflects on differing priorities in European breeding, especially the emphasis on future breeding value.
• Practical judgment in horse purchasing: Pedigree, physical appearance, racing potential, and breeding value all matter, but none guarantees a worthwhile purchase. The protagonist’s ability provides additional information, yet financial reality remains decisive.
• The limits of pedigree alone: Lot One possesses an attractive lineage, but the protagonist’s assessment does not reveal a strong enough advantage to justify pursuing her at an inflated price.

Character Interactions

• Taniguchi and Wada agree that they would prefer a filly with a distinctive bloodline, reinforcing their shared purchasing goals.
• The group exchanges observations about the horses’ maturity and European training standards while walking to the auction.
• During Lot One’s sale, the protagonist and Taniguchi independently recognize that the bidding has gone beyond their means and turn to the next catalog entry, showing their aligned priorities and efficient teamwork.

Chapter Summary: “Night of Dancing Guineas”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The narrator continues attending a European horse auction, finding the prices far higher than expected. Several fillies he wanted are bought by strong international bidders, forcing him to make cautious, selective bids.
• Mr. Taniguchi reacts anxiously as prices exceed the group’s original budget of 50,000 guineas. The narrator and the trainer, Wada, also watch several lots get withdrawn, including a Suyu Kingdom foal the president had been interested in.
• Lot 44 is presented: a bay colt by Sea City Star out of In This Regard. Although the colt’s pedigree is attractive—especially because he has no inbreeding within five generations—the horse is visibly lame.
• The narrator uses the supernatural [Detector] ability to assess the colt. It reveals:
  • Distance aptitude: 1600–2000 meters
  • Surface aptitude: Turf and dirt
  • Speed: B+
  • Health: B-
  • Other traits remain unknown
• Despite the colt’s lameness and uncertain future, the narrator decides to bid, believing his pedigree and potential racing ability may make him valuable.
• The bidding quickly surpasses the original 50,000-guinea budget. The narrator repeatedly raises his bid against telephone and online competitors.
• In the heat of the auction, the price rises dramatically to 150,000 guineas. The narrator finally wins the colt, purchasing him under the name “Sachi Kitano.”

Character Developments

• The narrator becomes increasingly willing to trust his own judgment and the [Detector], even when doing so contradicts conventional evaluation. He begins the auction cautiously but ultimately commits far beyond his budget, revealing both confidence and impulsiveness.
• Mr. Taniguchi is portrayed as financially cautious and visibly distressed by the escalating prices. His reaction emphasizes how extraordinary the narrator’s final purchase is.
• Wada acts as an observant trainer and practical counterpoint, recognizing the colt’s obvious lameness and sharing the narrator’s concern.
• The auctioneer demonstrates considerable skill in manipulating the room’s emotions. His persuasive commentary and persistent encouragement help drive the narrator and other bidders toward increasingly high offers.

Significant Themes

• Risk versus potential: The narrator knowingly buys a lame, uncertain horse because of its pedigree and promising speed rating, accepting substantial risk for the possibility of future success.
• The psychology of auctions: Competitive pressure, persuasive salesmanship, and the fear of losing an opportunity gradually overcome the narrator’s original spending limit.
• Appearance versus hidden value: The colt looks physically flawed and unimpressive in the ring, but the [Detector] suggests he may possess worthwhile racing potential.
• Financial excess and emotional decision-making: The narrator’s repeated “Oei” bids show how quickly rational budgeting gives way to excitement, anxiety, and competitive instinct.
• Trust in special knowledge: The narrator relies on information unavailable to the other buyers, creating tension between ordinary expert judgment and his supernatural insight.

Character Interactions

• The narrator and Mr. Taniguchi share concern over the auction’s inflated prices, with Taniguchi reacting dramatically whenever bids exceed expectations.
• The narrator and Wada discuss the withdrawn horses and immediately recognize the colt’s lameness when he enters the ring.
• The narrator’s decision to bid surprises the trainer, who appears unconvinced by the horse’s physical condition.
• The auctioneer directly targets the narrator and the remaining buyers, repeatedly urging them to focus on Lot 44 and provoking further bids.
• The narrator’s escalating contest with the anonymous telephone bidder becomes the chapter’s central confrontation, ending with the narrator’s unexpected purchase at 150,000 guineas.

Chapter Summary: “Troublesome Treasure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After winning the auction, Kitano realizes he has paid 150,000 guineas for In This Regard 2027 and begins worrying about the strain this purchase will place on Nishiken Farm’s already limited finances.
• Despite recognizing the financial risk, Kitano feels no regret, believing the colt’s potential justifies the price.
• He admits to Mr. Taniguchi and Trainer Wada that he has effectively “gambled” his owner’s license on the colt, whose impressive physical qualities are offset by a congenital deformity in his forelegs.
• During the formal handover, Goffs staff explain the additional procedures required because the colt’s physical problems were already known before the sale. His lameness is caused by a developmental hoof and leg deformity rather than the neurological issue responsible for Sakuya’s condition.
• Kitano acknowledges that horses with similar deformities can achieve excellent results, but they often have shorter careers and are more vulnerable to injury and illness. Nevertheless, returning the colt is impossible; he is a valuable but risky investment—a “troublesome treasure.”
• Oli Ri, the colt’s agent and a young Newmarket trainer, introduces himself and offers to keep training the horse in England. Kitano politely declines, explaining that the colt will be transported to Japan and raced as a Japanese horse.
• Orix offers future race-planning and analysis services, then leaves after the brief business exchange.
• Kitano and Trainer Wada agree not to rush the colt into training, gate trials, or racing. He will first need supplementary preparation and recovery from the long journey, while his fragile forelegs require a carefully managed schedule.
• As Kitano leaves the auction venue, he is exhausted by the day’s events and still has further work ahead, including meeting Yoshida and Trainer Ikee, inspecting the track, and arranging the arrival of other horses.
• A newspaper report confirms the auction’s significance: all three Sea City Star two-year-olds sold for high prices, and Kitano’s MejiroFarm defeated OKADA STUD in the bidding for the colt.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates both impulsiveness and conviction. He recognizes the financial danger of his purchase but remains confident that the colt’s talent makes the gamble worthwhile. He also takes responsibility for the colt’s long-term welfare by rejecting a rushed racing schedule.
• Trainer Wada shifts from concern about the colt’s deformity to a professional sense of purpose. He accepts the challenge of training the horse and supports Kitano’s cautious approach.
• Mr. Taniguchi reacts with shock when he learns how much Kitano has risked, emphasizing the seriousness of the purchase.
• Oli Ri/Orix is portrayed as nervous but ambitious. He hopes to retain the colt in his stable and later offers consulting services when Kitano chooses to take the horse to Japan.
• The colt, In This Regard 2027, is characterized as physically gifted but medically vulnerable, embodying both exceptional promise and serious uncertainty.

Significant Themes

• Risk versus potential: Kitano knowingly spends beyond the farm’s comfortable means because he believes exceptional ability can outweigh physical limitations.
• The burden of ownership: Buying the colt is not the end of the decision; Kitano must now manage his finances, health, training, transportation, and racing future.
• Treasure with a cost: The colt’s talent makes him valuable, but his deformity ensures that success will require unusual patience and care.
• Patience and responsible preparation: The chapter stresses that rushing a fragile horse could destroy his chances, making careful rehabilitation more important than an immediate debut.
• International competition and ambition: The auction connects Japanese owners, British trainers, breeders, and racing markets, highlighting the global nature of thoroughbred racing.

Character Interactions

• Kitano’s conversation with Taniguchi reveals the financial and emotional stakes of the purchase.
• Wada and Kitano share an understanding that the colt is talented but requires specialized management; their brief exchanges show growing trust and cooperation.
• Orix’s offer to train the colt creates a polite professional tension: he wants to continue the horse’s development in England, while Kitano is determined to bring him to Japan.
• The final auction report echoes the earlier interactions, confirming the colt’s commercial importance and presenting the sale as a major success for Orix’s stable and for Kitano’s MejiroFarm.

Chapter Summary: “Bedford’s Trainer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the July auction, the owner remains in Europe rather than returning home, preparing Baozuo’s European racing campaign.
• The team inspects the Prix Jacques Le Marois course at Deauville-La Touques. Trainer Yoshida and jockey Yutaka Take note that the French turf differs significantly from Japanese, Hong Kong, and North American tracks.
• The inner-rail turf is badly worn, and rainy weather could make the course extremely heavy. These conditions are especially concerning for Baozuo, whose stamina is considered unreliable.
• The expedition team has carefully planned Baozuo and Traveler’s overseas campaign, including travel dates, training arrangements, feed, and water. However, they still lack a suitable European base.
• Rather than using racecourse facilities, the group decides that a local trainer’s stable would offer better post-transport recovery, training, and coordination.
• The owner contacts Orix’s trainer, whom he met at the Goffs sale. The trainer recommends Bedford Stables in Newmarket, England, and agrees to consider housing the horses there.
• Trainer Ikee and Trainer Yoshida recognize Bedford as a highly regarded and well-equipped British training operation. Its location would also be advantageous for a campaign aimed at the St Leger Stakes.
• The party travels across the Channel to inspect Bedford Stables. They find a large facility with multiple training tracks, an uphill gallop, and a swimming pool.
• Orix explains that he leases only two stable blocks, accommodating roughly forty horses, but has access to the entire facility. Although this initially reassures the group, the owner begins to feel uncertain again as they assess the arrangement.
• The chapter ends with a newspaper report about injured German jockey D. S. Teixeira, who hopes to return to racing, compete for the German jockey championship, and possibly ride in Japan.

Character Developments

• The owner becomes increasingly aware of the difficulties of European racing. His confidence is tempered by concern over the unfamiliar turf, weather, travel demands, and Baozuo’s stamina. Despite limited knowledge of European racing, he takes responsibility for finding a practical overseas base.
• Trainer Yoshida demonstrates careful practical judgment by examining the track personally and agreeing with Take’s concerns about the turf and rail conditions.
• Yutaka Take contributes his racing expertise and shares Yoshida’s assessment of the dangers posed by the course.
• Trainer Ikee acts as a knowledgeable source on European racing. His recognition of Bedford’s reputation helps reassure the group and gives greater legitimacy to the proposed base.
• Orix’s trainer appears cooperative and resourceful, offering stable space, access to facilities, and even companion-horse rental or sales services.

Significant Themes

• International adaptation: Success abroad requires adapting to unfamiliar turf, climate, facilities, and racing conditions rather than simply relying on a horse’s domestic record.
• Preparation versus uncertainty: The expedition has been planned in extraordinary detail, yet the team realizes that careful preparation cannot eliminate all risks.
• The importance of infrastructure: A suitable local stable is presented as essential for recovery, training, and logistical support during an overseas campaign.
• Limits of expertise: The owner’s outsider status contrasts with the professional knowledge of the trainers and jockey, emphasizing the value of collaboration.
• Ambition and risk: The planned European campaign represents a major opportunity for Baozuo, but the increasingly difficult conditions suggest that success will require overcoming substantial obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Yoshida and Take walk the Deauville course together and reach the same negative assessment of the turf.
• The owner reports the stable negotiations to Ikee and Yoshida, who question him and respond with relief when Bedford becomes a possibility.
• Ikee explains Bedford’s reputation and advantages, helping the group understand why it could serve as an effective European base.
• Orix’s trainer welcomes the group at Bedford and clarifies the limits of his leased space while emphasizing their access to the broader facilities.
• The final newspaper excerpt broadens the chapter’s focus to international racing and introduces Teixeira’s determination to recover and pursue future opportunities.

Key plot points and events

• The narrator returns to Nishiken Farm at night to find the staff in the lounge, where everyone is sighing over his purchase at the auction.
• He defends buying the young horse for 150,000 guineas, arguing that its exceptional conformation and strong, complementary pedigree made it a bargain. Ravide agrees the horse has promise, though its forelegs are a concern; Zepp notes that the sire, Sea City Star, has had poor results in Japan.
• Ravide raises a more urgent issue: the farm may not have enough surplus this year to pass the JRA’s financial review for central-racing owners. Expansion, a new stallion barn, travel, and existing debt are all putting pressure on finances. The farm may need to generate income through stallion bookings, including for Pegasus if he retires.
• The discussion turns to Noah, who has flexor tendinitis. The narrator reflects on how difficult the condition is to cure in an active racehorse and recalls the plan for Noah to make a ceremonial return at next year’s CBC Cup before retiring to stud.
• The narrator decides to fly to Narita the following day, apparently to address Noah’s situation.

Character developments and interactions

• The narrator remains convinced of the young horse’s value but is forced to confront the farm’s financial strain and Noah’s uncertain future. His decision to travel suggests renewed personal involvement in Noah’s case.
• Ravide, normally composed, initially shares the staff’s frustration about the auction expense. He gives a balanced assessment of the horse, then candidly warns the narrator about the farm’s finances.
• Zepp voices skepticism about the sire’s record in Japan and contributes practical financial considerations.
• The staff, including Kikuchi and Rachel Ho, respond to the auction purchase with visible dismay, while the narrator apologizes for his decision.

Significant themes

• Ambition versus financial responsibility: The narrator’s faith in a promising horse must be weighed against the farm’s limited resources and debt.
• Hope amid uncertainty: The young horse’s potential is real but tempered by flaws and a weak record from its sire’s offspring.
• Retirement, illness, and care: Noah’s condition highlights the limits of veterinary treatment and the emotional difficulty of deciding when a racehorse’s career should end.
• The cost of devotion: The narrator’s commitment to horses and the farm repeatedly brings both financial risk and personal worry.

Chapter Summary: “Parallel Trajectories Beneath the Cumulonimbus”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter takes place at the farm during a rainy, humid late-July day, shortly after the Shadai Farm and Hokkaido Select Sales.
• The protagonist announces that the farm will make no more auction purchases for the rest of the year, partly because of pressure from club members and partly because of worsening financial and staffing concerns.
• Mejiro Noah’s retirement has been officially scheduled for August 11, the day of the CBC Cup, with a ceremony at Chukyo Racecourse. As a G1 winner, the ceremony’s expenses will be covered by JRA. Noah will later become a broodmare at Mejiro Farm.
• The farm continues to face serious economic and labor problems. Japan’s foal crop has grown substantially over the past decade, while the number of racetracks and industry workers has remained largely unchanged. Production and training farms are especially affected by understaffing and an aging workforce.
• Rachel Ho jokes about needing robots to solve the labor shortage, prompting the protagonist to remember that intelligent labor robots may be available through the system shop, though they were previously considered too expensive and unnecessary.
• During a stable inspection, the protagonist observes several horses:
  • Little Light plays with a floor fan despite her mother Anna’s irritation.
  • Anna disciplines Little Light by grabbing her mane, while the protagonist praises Anna’s improving maternal handling.
  • Hibae sleeps soundly while covered in hay from Moon Shadow’s stall, requiring the protagonist to clean him off and remind him to keep his nose clear.
• The chapter closes with a series of racing-news reports highlighting the continuing careers and transitions of several horses:
  • Noah’s retirement and future broodmare career.
  • Mejiro Hōso and Mejiro Traveler’s arrival in England for the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
  • Light’s Wedge preparing for the Autumn Emperor’s Prize.
  • Derby winner Mejiro Impetus potentially targeting the Japan Cup after recovering from sesamoiditis.
  • Mejiro Poetry Banquet approaching her gate test after improving both physically and temperamentally.

Character Developments

• The protagonist shows increasing responsibility as a farm manager, balancing personal ambitions with financial realities, staffing shortages, horse welfare, and club-member expectations. Their thoughts about purchasing robots suggest a willingness to consider unconventional solutions to the farm’s growing problems.
• Rachel Ho remains practical and outspoken, using humor to express frustration with the farm’s exhausting working conditions. Her back pain and comment about robots emphasize the physical burden placed on the staff.
• Anna is depicted as a patient but firm mother. She tolerates Little Light’s antics but eventually restrains her by the mane, showing both discipline and protective maternal authority.
• Little Light is playful, curious, and mischievous, fascinated by the floor fan even after being warned away from it.
• Hibae is comically carefree and exceptionally sleepy, remaining unbothered while buried in hay and beginning another nap during the cleanup.
• Mejiro Noah enters a major life transition, moving from successful racing career to retirement and broodmare duties.
• Mejiro Hōso, Light’s Wedge, Mejiro Impetus, and Mejiro Poetry Banquet are each shown progressing along separate competitive paths, reinforcing the chapter’s focus on horses moving into different stages of their careers.

Significant Themes

• Growth versus limited resources: The racing industry and foal population are expanding, but the workforce and infrastructure have not kept pace.
• The burden of responsibility: The protagonist must make difficult financial and operational decisions while caring for both horses and employees.
• Transition and succession: Noah’s retirement and future as a broodmare contrast with younger horses beginning or continuing their racing careers.
• Technology versus tradition: The mention of intelligent robots raises the possibility of mechanization as a response to labor shortages, while the daily stable work remains deeply physical and personal.
• Horse welfare and individuality: The humorous stable scenes highlight the horses’ distinct personalities while also emphasizing the staff’s attentiveness to their safety and health.
• Parallel trajectories: The news reports present multiple horses advancing toward retirement, international competition, major domestic races, recovery, or debut preparation, mirroring the farm’s own uncertain but continuing development.

Character Interactions

• Rachel and the protagonist discuss the farm’s labor shortage, with Rachel joking that robots might be necessary.
• The protagonist intervenes when Little Light plays with the fan, while Anna reacts impatiently and ultimately corrects her daughter.
• The protagonist praises Anna’s maternal behavior, and Anna responds with a restrained, almost apologetic gesture.
• The protagonist discovers Hibae sleeping beneath hay, cleans him off, and worries about his breathing, demonstrating an ongoing caretaking relationship.
• Little Light and Anna later carry feed buckets together, briefly shifting from conflict to cooperation.
• The news reports broaden the chapter beyond the farm, showing how the careers of Noah, Hōso, Light’s Wedge, Impetus, and Poetry Banquet continue in different directions.

Chapter Summary: “Begun in Rain, Ended in Sunshine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mejiro Noah’s racing career concludes with a retirement ceremony at Chukyo Racecourse, the site of many of his greatest victories, including the CBC Cup and Takamatsunomiya Memorial.
• Around three thousand fans gather to honor him. Wearing a purple blanket, Noah walks through the parade ring while fans offer farewells, blessings, and expressions of regret that he will not race again.
• Trainer Uchida breaks down in tears, and Noah’s trainers—Hattori and Uchida—and jockeys Aito, Kazuo, and Takeshi embrace him. Uchida humorously fails to kiss Noah’s forehead because the horse reacts warily.
• The ceremony formally marks Noah’s retirement and transition to a second life as a breeding stallion. The next day, his connections travel onward by train toward the airport and France’s Prix Jacques Le Marois.
• During the journey, Noah’s career is remembered as a mixture of setbacks, triumphs, sacrifice, and emotional bonds between horse and humans. His bloodline, descended from Asama, Titan, McQueen, Gold Ship, and Noah, is presented as the continuation of his legacy.
• The chapter shifts into interview-style recollections from Trainer Uchida and Noah’s jockeys. They discuss Noah’s temperament, racing ability, major victories, and the circumstances surrounding his retirement.
• Retirement is portrayed as both painful and merciful: the team regrets losing the chance to see Noah race again, but they are relieved that his health and future have been protected.
• The chapter closes with Noah’s stud information, emphasizing his continued value as a sire and the preservation of his bloodline.

Character Development

• Mejiro Noah: Noah moves from an accomplished but sometimes difficult racehorse into a calm, dignified figure beginning his second life. His behavior during the ceremony—looking back at the people and places connected to him—suggests awareness of the farewell. He is remembered as intelligent, cooperative, principled, and capable of inspiring dreams.
• Trainer Uchida: Uchida’s tears reveal how deeply he feels his responsibility toward Noah. He regrets not doing more to prevent Noah’s early retirement, yet ultimately accepts that protecting the horse’s health matters most.
• Trainer Hattori: Hattori is recognized as an important part of Noah’s early career, particularly during Noah’s time in Saga and his development before moving to central racing.
• Jockey Aito: Aito describes Noah as eager to cooperate and exceptionally intelligent, portraying him as an ideal blend of Lord Kanaloa’s temperament and Gold Ship’s qualities.
• Jockey Takeshi: Takeshi emphasizes Noah’s individuality. Noah could be cooperative but had firm preferences, making him feel like both a racing partner and a younger companion who taught Takeshi valuable lessons.
• Jockey Kazuo: Kazuo’s account highlights his emotional connection to Noah and the importance of their Takamatsunomiya Memorial victory. His partnership with Noah becomes an answer to his desire to repay the owner after returning from injury.
• The fans and racing team: Their grief and affection reinforce Noah’s importance beyond his race record. To them, he represents shared memories, hope, and the emotional power of horse racing.

Significant Themes

• Farewell and transition: Retirement is not treated as an ending but as the beginning of Noah’s second life and the next stage of his bloodline.
• Legacy and inheritance: Noah’s achievements will continue through his descendants, linking him to the famous bloodlines of Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen.
• Regret and acceptance: The trainers and jockeys acknowledge mistakes, missed opportunities, and the sadness of an early retirement, while accepting that Noah’s well-being must come first.
• The bond between humans and animals: Noah’s success is shown as the result of cooperation among horse, trainers, owners, and jockeys. Their relationships are based on trust, responsibility, and mutual understanding.
• Suffering transformed into achievement: Past setbacks, injuries, and difficult races become part of the path leading to Noah’s victories.
• Rain and sunshine as symbols: Noah dislikes rain, yet many of his memorable victories occurred in rainy conditions. The contrast reflects the chapter’s larger message that hardship and joy are inseparably connected.
• Nothing is wasted: The narrator concludes that every experience—painful or triumphant—contributes to a meaningful story and future.

Important Character Interactions

• Fans bid Noah farewell as he walks through the parade ring, blending public admiration with personal grief.
• Uchida’s attempted kiss and Noah’s wary reaction provide a lighthearted moment amid the emotional ceremony.
• The trainers and jockeys embrace Noah, symbolizing the shared effort behind his career.
• Kazuo and Takeshi’s decision to switch mounts before the Takamatsunomiya Memorial demonstrates teamwork and trust. Despite Noah’s poor condition and a difficult start, Kazuo senses Noah’s determination and rides him aggressively to victory.
• The interviews reveal different but complementary views of Noah: Uchida sees the burden of care and responsibility, Aito sees intelligence and cooperation, Takeshi sees individuality, and Kazuo sees a partner capable of overcoming adversity.
• The final image is not of Noah disappearing from racing, but of his influence continuing through future generations as a stallion.

Plot points and events

• The narrator flies to France on the morning of August 12 to attend the Prix Jacques Le Marois, where Baozuo—entered under the name Mejiro Hōso—will race.
• Mejiro Hōso drew gate six, the outside stall in a six-horse field, next to Coolmore runner Electric Rabbit. The draw raises concern, and the narrator briefly considers withdrawing, but jockey Yutaka Take believes they can still win.
• Following Take’s advice, the team completed the horse’s main preparation in Newmarket before moving him to Chantilly, avoiding unnecessary changes to his surroundings. Hōso has been curious and slow to settle in new places, but Take reports that he is now mostly at ease and his course visit went well.
• The team has deliberately avoided pushing for fast workout times, prioritizing the horse’s confidence and condition despite the financial pressure and the temptation to overtrain before a major overseas race.
• The narrator makes a tense, foggy drive to Deauville, where the six-horse field and race-day coverage are announced. Take, who rode at Deauville the previous day, says the track is expected to be more demanding and that the outside draw could prove advantageous depending on the surface and race circumstances.

Character developments and interactions

• The narrator remains anxious about the draw and Hōso’s adjustment, but is reassured by Take’s update and the team’s measured approach.
• Yutaka Take takes a leading role in planning the campaign, drawing on his experience in France. He advocates patience in training and maintains confidence in Hōso’s chances.
• Yoshida and the team respect Take’s guidance and continue to prioritize Hōso’s mental readiness over quick results.
• Baozuo/Mejiro Hōso is portrayed as curious and somewhat unsettled in unfamiliar environments, but gradually adapts with time and gentle handling.
• Traveler and Ikee provide a contrast: the younger Traveler adjusts quickly, while Ikee helps Hōso’s team during the preparations.

Significant themes

• Patience over pressure: The team resists the urge to force peak fitness, valuing the horse’s well-being and confidence.
• Trust and experience: Take’s judgment guides key decisions, from training plans to interpreting the outside draw.
• Adaptation and uncertainty: Hōso’s adjustment to travel, the unpredictable track conditions, and the difficult draw all underscore how much depends on circumstances rather than preparation alone.

Summary

• Plot/events: The narrator feels unwell and decides to take the day off.
• Character development: The narrator prioritizes rest and recovery, though no major change is shown.
• Themes: Self-care and the need to pause when ill.
• Character interactions: None are described.

Key events

• Mejiro Hōso arrives at Deauville for the Prix Jacques Le Marois. Yoshida and trainer Ikeda take care to ease his transition to local water, and Hōso settles into a quiet stall provided by trainer Orix.
• The Japanese team discusses the thick fog on arrival and the forecasted afternoon heat. As other runners and their teams appear, the approaching race begins to feel real.
• Trainer Orix praises Hōso’s improved condition. Owner-breeder Yan Zhu’an jokes that a French jockey might have ridden better when Hōso lost to Ka Ying Rising; Yoshida responds with a wry smile.
• Yutaka Take arrives looking healthier than he did in Hong Kong. After exchanging greetings with Ryan Moore, he says he will handle the ride and reassures the group: “Leave this one to me.”
• A race preview predicts a likely slow pace because the field lacks a strong front-runner. Hōso could alter that by going forward early, and his sustained speed is considered well suited to Deauville. Starry Bay and Flintheart are highlighted as dangerous rivals.

Character developments and interactions

• Hōso appears comfortable and confident on arrival, but becomes solemn as the race approaches.
• Yoshida and Ikeda show careful, experienced concern for Hōso’s wellbeing, while Orix’s praise affirms the horse’s progress.
• Yoshida’s initial tension gives way to humor during Yan’s teasing. Yan, despite representing a rival horse, acknowledges how formidable Ka Ying Rising was.
• Take’s serious expression and firm promise contrast with his self-deprecating joke about being an old jockey. His calm confidence reassures the team.

Significant themes

• Preparation and adaptation: The team takes deliberate precautions to help Hōso adjust to unfamiliar conditions.
• Confidence amid uncertainty: Heat, weather, the draw, and an unpredictable pace all complicate the race, but the team commits to trying.
• Respectful rivalry: The characters tease and challenge one another while recognizing the strength of both rival horses and competitors.
• Experience and trust: Take’s assurance, backed by his experience, becomes a source of confidence for the group.

Chapter Summary: “Toward a Midsummer of Blinkers”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the scorching afternoon before the Prix Jacques Le Marois, the racing team leaves the stable and heads toward the parade ring.
• Baozuo is the clear favorite at odds of 1.9 despite drawing the outside gate, number six. His popularity reflects the high expectations surrounding his European debut.
• The horse is wearing modified blinkers, moved from the front toward the sides of his head on Ryan Moore’s recommendation. The adjustment appears to have reduced his tendency to grab the bit during training, though the team is unsure whether the equipment or Baozuo’s maturing temperament is responsible.
• Baozuo attracts an enthusiastic crowd, including Japanese fans waving NHK Mile Cup plush toys. Despite the noise and spectators standing unusually close to the horses, he remains calm and composed.
• Yutaka Take asks to lead Baozuo along a route farther from the stands to prevent him from becoming distracted. He carefully settles the horse before and after mounting.
• Baozuo completes the unfamiliar 1,600-meter warm-up without wasting significant energy or becoming overly excited, easing the team’s concerns.
• The six runners gather at the starting gates. Loading proceeds quickly, and the race is already several minutes behind schedule.
• After the final horse is loaded, the gates open amid loud cheers, officially beginning the Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Character Developments

• Baozuo: Demonstrates increasing maturity and race-day composure. Although somewhat tense in the noisy European environment, he avoids becoming agitated and handles the parade ring, crowd, and long warm-up well.
• Yutaka Take: Displays exceptional professionalism and calmness. He monitors Baozuo’s behavior, adapts their route to minimize distractions, and methodically checks the horse after mounting. His composure reassures the entire team.
• Ikee: Remains confident and relaxed, teasingly comparing Yutaka’s comfort in the media spotlight to something routine. He also recognizes the importance of the jockey’s experience.
• Taniguchi and the support team: Their initial amazement and anxiety reveal the pressure surrounding Baozuo’s favored status, but they gradually gain confidence as the horse performs calmly.
• The racing team as a whole: Their careful preparation—especially the blinkers adjustment and management of Baozuo’s path—shows their willingness to adapt to unfamiliar European procedures.

Significant Themes

• Composure under pressure: Both Baozuo and Yutaka must remain calm amid intense publicity, crowds, unfamiliar customs, and high expectations.
• Adaptation to foreign racing culture: The team encounters differences in parade-ring access, warm-up procedures, spectator proximity, and gate loading compared with Japan, the United States, and Hong Kong.
• Trust and preparation: The staff’s equipment changes and Yutaka’s tactical decisions emphasize how success depends on careful observation, flexibility, and trust in one another.
• Expectation versus uncertainty: Baozuo is the obvious favorite, but the team recognizes that his popularity and outside draw do not guarantee victory.
• Horse-and-jockey partnership: Yutaka’s ability to soothe and guide Baozuo demonstrates their developing cooperation before the decisive race begins.

Character Interactions

• Taniguchi comments on the media spectacle surrounding Yutaka, while Ikee responds with confident humor about the jockey’s familiarity with such attention.
• The team observes Baozuo’s condition together and discusses the possible effects of the altered blinkers.
• Yutaka speaks directly with Ikeda before mounting and asks the group for permission to keep Baozuo farther from the stands.
• The team unanimously accepts Yutaka’s judgment and leaves the final handling of Baozuo to him.
• Yutaka uses practiced, calming movements to manage Baozuo as they pass through the crowded horse path, reinforcing the trust between horse and jockey.