Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Three-Person Expedition Team

• Kitano wrestles with the decision to pursue an overseas campaign for Mejiro Sakuya. He considers three possible routes for her three-year-old season: Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby route, and the much riskier Middle Eastern path. His hesitation comes from being neither a purely business-minded owner nor an obsessive racing fan; he worries about both Sakuya’s potential and the financial burden placed on the stable.
• Kitano visits Arayama Stable to discuss the expedition. Arayama has independently researched overseas racing and agrees that an expedition would be extremely difficult. The costs, especially for a Middle East campaign, could exceed ten million yen, a serious sacrifice for a relatively modest owner. Kitano ultimately decides that pursuing the opportunity is worthwhile if Sakuya is genuinely capable of competing.
• The practical obstacles become clear. Although Arayama believes Sakuya has the ability to run in the Saudi Cup, the stable lacks overseas experience, English ability, sufficient staff, and knowledge of foreign procedures. They also have no confirmed jockey. Kitano and Arayama discuss possible riders, including Uchida Hiroyuki, Yutaka Take, and Yokoyama Norihiro, while agreeing to gather information on both the Middle East and Kentucky Derby routes.
• Their discussion shifts from uncertainty to determination. The two men approach the problem methodically, comparing their situation to surgeons preparing to operate. Despite recognizing the expedition’s severe limitations, Kitano asks Arayama to continue trying, and Arayama agrees. They decide to invite jockeys in the order of Wada Ryuji, Yutaka Take, Yokoyama Norihiro, and Uchida Hiroyuki.
• Wada Ryuji arrives and joins the project. After being contacted the previous day, Wada meets Kitano and Arayama. When told that the target has been set as the Kentucky Derby and that the commitment may require extensive time overseas, he accepts without hesitation. With Wada’s agreement, the expedition team officially grows from two members to three.
• Character development: Kitano moves from moral and financial hesitation toward a cautious but firm commitment to Sakuya’s international ambitions. Arayama demonstrates professionalism and realism, balancing his interest in the dream against the stable’s weaknesses. Wada is introduced as calm, dependable, and willing to make a major long-term commitment.
• Key themes: The chapter emphasizes ambition versus practicality, the financial and logistical barriers facing smaller racing operations, responsibility toward both the horse and the owner, and the importance of cooperation in pursuing an unlikely dream. It ends with the Kentucky Derby expedition officially beginning, with 131 days remaining until the 2026 race.

Chapter Summary: “The End of Winter”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Winter arrives at Ogawa Farm, giving the staff a rare period of relative calm before breeding season begins. Their main responsibility is monitoring the pregnant mares.
• Kitano visits Ogawa Joe to discuss his determination to have Sakuya compete in the Kentucky Derby.
• Ogawa Joe agrees to advise him and explains the practical challenges of reaching the Derby through the Middle East:
  • First and second registration deadlines
  • Mailing and document-review delays
  • Overseas transportation arrangements
  • Possible quarantine and flight restrictions
  • Vaccination records, permits, and medical reports
  • Strict American controls related to CEM
  • The prohibition on bringing foreign feed and supplements into the United States
• Joe warns that Kitano must prepare a backup transportation plan and ensure Sakuya is fully recovered before traveling.
• He also explains that the Middle East races will be especially competitive because the schedule has been moved earlier to avoid Ramadan, potentially attracting top international stables.
• Kitano acknowledges the difficulties, thanks Joe, and accepts that he still has much to learn.

2. Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates strong determination and stubborn commitment to giving Sakuya a chance at the Kentucky Derby. Although he is inexperienced with international racing, he listens seriously and responds calmly to the scale of the challenge.
• Ogawa Joe serves as an experienced mentor. His knowledge of international racing regulations and logistics reveals his expertise, while his comparison of Kitano to the breeder of Symboli Rudolf highlights Kitano’s unusual talent and persistence.
• Ogawa Masaru reacts with surprise when Kentucky is mentioned, showing that the ambition of Kitano’s plan exceeds ordinary expectations.
• Ogawa Kanna remains observant and composed, subtly controlling Masaru’s reaction and participating attentively in the discussion.

3. Significant Themes

• Ambition versus practical reality: Kitano’s dream is possible, but it requires navigating extensive bureaucratic, logistical, medical, and financial obstacles.
• Preparation and expertise: Success abroad depends on careful planning, knowledge of local rules, and anticipating problems rather than relying solely on a horse’s ability.
• Humility and growth: Kitano recognizes the limits of his current knowledge and accepts guidance instead of allowing pride to interfere.
• International competition and disadvantage: Foreign runners face unfamiliar regulations, quarantine procedures, possible organizational bias, and the difficulty of competing away from home.
• Stamina and endurance: Joe emphasizes that Middle Eastern racing demands stamina, especially as elite global stables prepare to send their strongest horses.

4. Character Interactions

• Kitano respectfully consults Ogawa Joe, who responds by giving him a detailed, almost instructional briefing.
• Ogawa Masaru’s startled reaction to the Kentucky Derby is restrained by Kanna’s stern look, adding a quiet family dynamic to the scene.
• Joe tests Kitano by asking what matters most in overseas racing. Kitano answers “strength,” but Joe broadens his understanding by emphasizing stamina and preparation.
• The meeting ends with Kitano photographing Joe’s notes and sharing them with his group, showing that he intends to act on the advice rather than treat it as casual conversation.

Chapter Summary: “Entry Registration”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Joe discusses the expedition camp’s unfinished organization with Kitano and proposes that Ogawa Masaru—also called A-Sheng—join the team as a stable hand.
• Masaru is thrilled by the possibility of going to Kentucky, especially because it could bring him closer to the dream of participating in the Kentucky Derby. Kitano contacts Arayama, who enthusiastically approves his inclusion.
• Kitano then invites Ogawa Kanna to become an advisor. Recognizing her exceptional knowledge of Thoroughbreds, he believes she can provide valuable expertise despite her modesty. With her father’s approval, Kanna accepts.
• The newly expanded expedition team begins filling its remaining positions. The most important vacancy is a farrier, preferably one with overseas experience and English ability.
• Following Kanna’s advice, Kitano posts a public recruitment notice on social media. The team members and Nishiken Farm help spread it, while Wada contacts farriers he already knows.
• Meanwhile, Masaru downloads and begins completing the Kentucky Derby’s preliminary entry paperwork, while Kanna researches the Saudi Cup’s official information.
• Kitano prepares and submits preliminary entry emails for the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby, including ownership and pedigree documents.
• Kanna warns Kitano and Masaru that they must begin campaigning immediately for the upcoming race-entry vote rather than waiting until the formal voting period. She organizes a publicity effort using videos of Mejiro Sakuya from Nishiken Farm and encourages Kitano to promote the horse through his larger social-media following.
• Kitano reluctantly posts a request for support for Sakuya’s Saudi Derby campaign.
• The chapter ends with confirmation from overseas that Mejiro Sakuya has been added to the Kentucky Derby’s initial entry list.

Character Developments

• Ogawa Masaru/A-Sheng: Moves from being a planned future apprentice at Tanaka Stable to becoming an active member of the international expedition team. His excitement shows how deeply he wishes to pursue a career involving elite racehorses and overseas competition.
• Ogawa Kanna: Takes on a more formal and influential role as the camp’s advisor. Although shy and self-effacing, her superior knowledge makes her indispensable in planning, registration, research, and publicity.
• Kitano: Becomes increasingly responsible for coordinating the expedition. He handles recruitment, race registrations, documentation, and public relations, despite being uncomfortable with social-media campaigning.
• Ogawa Joe: Supports both children’s opportunities, encouraging Masaru to go to Kentucky and giving Kanna permission to accept the advisory position.
• Arayama and Wada: Continue supporting the expedition’s organization, with Arayama handling team coordination and Wada using his professional contacts to search for a farrier.

Significant Themes

• Pursuing ambitious dreams: The Kentucky Derby represents a seemingly distant but increasingly attainable goal for the team.
• Building a team through trust and expertise: Each member contributes a different strength—horse care, technical knowledge, racing experience, organization, or publicity.
• Preparation versus spontaneity: The chapter emphasizes that major international races require early planning, paperwork, recruitment, and political campaigning.
• Growth through opportunity: Masaru and Kanna both step into larger roles, showing how the expedition creates new paths for their futures.
• Modern promotion and public support: Social media becomes essential to gaining attention and votes for Sakuya’s entry.

Character Interactions

• Joe and Kitano discuss Masaru’s future, while Kitano evaluates Masaru’s suitability as a stable hand.
• Kitano asks Masaru directly whether he wants to go to Kentucky, giving the boy a chance to choose his own path.
• Kitano seeks Kanna’s expertise and respectfully persuades her to become an advisor; Kanna relies on her father’s approval before accepting.
• Kanna frequently corrects and guides Kitano and Masaru, particularly regarding the timing of the entry campaign and the need to broaden recruitment efforts.
• The team collaborates through the group chat, with Arayama and Wada welcoming the new members and helping with recruitment.
• The final entry-list update confirms that the team’s plans are beginning to produce real results: Sakuya is now officially among the preliminary Kentucky Derby entrants.

Chapter Summary: “Transport Plans”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On Christmas Eve, Kitano and the expedition team travel from Tokyo to Chiba for a meeting at Sato Chaya near the stables.
• The main issue remains finding a suitable farrier for Mejiro Sakuya. Farrier Shimura refuses because of his age and unwillingness to leave Hokkaido, while the other candidates are inexperienced or only barely acceptable.
• The five-person team—Kitano, Ogawa Kanna, Ogawa Masaru, trainer Arayama, and jockey Wada—reviews a translated rulebook covering the Saudi race events.
• They discover that JCSA will pay the minimum transportation and stable-use costs for invited horses, though domestic transport, insurance, veterinary care, and any expenses above the covered amount remain the stable’s responsibility.
• The team agrees that Mejiro Sakuya must arrive in Saudi Arabia early enough to recover from the long journey before racing.
• Arayama presents transportation proposals from Pegasus and Flyt Express. Flyt Express offers an earlier February 1 flight and superior care, but its most expensive plan costs $116,000, with an additional $18,000 insurance premium because Sakuya is lame.
• The high-end plan would still require the stable to pay more than ten million yen, despite the organizer’s assistance and possible prize money.
• Kitano rejects the idea of choosing an inferior plan simply to reduce losses. He concludes that they are traveling to compete seriously, not merely participate, and begins considering the most expensive, highest-quality option.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates increasing responsibility and ambition as the expedition’s organizer. Although worried about the enormous cost, he prioritizes Sakuya’s health, recovery, and competitive chances over financial caution.
• Ogawa Kanna contributes practical analysis, clarifying the exact limits of the Saudi organizers’ financial support and helping the team avoid unrealistic assumptions.
• Ogawa Masaru has prepared detailed race information in the form of a rulebook, showing his careful preparation and support for the expedition.
• Arayama handles the transport research and provides multiple professional options, while acknowledging the difficulty of finding suitable farriers.
• Wada confirms that his own search for a farrier has produced no strong candidates, reinforcing the seriousness of the problem.
• Mejiro Sakuya, though absent from the meeting, remains central to every decision. Her lameness affects both insurance costs and the need for specialized care during transport.

Significant Themes

• Commitment versus financial practicality: The team must decide whether to accept a cheaper but lower-quality transport plan or spend heavily to maximize Sakuya’s chances.
• The physical demands of international competition: Long-distance travel, harsh Middle Eastern conditions, and insufficient recovery could severely damage a horse’s performance and health.
• Preparation and professionalism: The rulebook, transportation quotes, veterinary provisions, and farrier search emphasize that success depends on careful logistical planning.
• Ambition and competitive resolve: Kitano refuses to approach the Saudi race as an outsider merely hoping to participate; he intends to give Sakuya a genuine chance to win.
• Responsibility toward the horse: The chapter repeatedly frames poor planning and rushed travel as potentially dangerous or even cruel, underscoring the team’s duty to protect Sakuya.

Character Interactions

• The team exchanges updates on the farrier search, with Kitano, Arayama, and Wada all admitting that no ideal candidate has been found.
• Kitano consults Ogawa Kanna about the transportation subsidy, and she carefully explains its limitations.
• Arayama presents the competing transport proposals, allowing the group to compare costs, timing, and quality of care.
• Kitano weighs the others’ practical concerns against Ogawa Joe’s earlier advice about stamina and ultimately leans toward the superior Flyt Express plan, revealing his determination to compete at the highest level.

Chapter Summary: “Idiots and Idiots”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Kanna calculates the overseas campaign’s transportation and quarantine expenses, totaling 8.1 million yen after deductions from NAR’s incentive.
• Despite Arayama’s warning that even a fifth-place finish in the Saudi Derby would likely leave the team operating at a loss, owner Kitano agrees to proceed with the campaign. He also approves budgeting for the return trip.
• The team begins arranging early accommodation in Saudi Arabia. After comparing numerous hotels, they select a relatively expensive but convenient suite-style hotel with meals and business facilities included. Three rooms from February 2–11 will cost 435,100 yen.
• Ogawa Masaru reports that Flyt Express cannot reduce shipping costs but will provide the team with a free rental car in Saudi Arabia. He is then assigned the less glamorous task of completing the group’s check-in registration.
• While the team exchanges passport information, Kitano receives repeated messages from Schmidt, a young German apprentice farrier seeking the vacant farrier position for Mejiro Sakuya’s campaign.
• Kitano cautiously verifies Schmidt’s profile, then directs him to submit a résumé and attend an in-person interview at the company in Aschheim, Germany. Schmidt immediately agrees.
• The chapter ends with Schmidt excitedly asking his father for money, followed by an argument suggesting that he may be trying to spend it on a mobile game.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates financial commitment and determination despite the campaign’s considerable risks and likely losses. At the same time, he becomes increasingly aware of his inexperience and mistakes as an overseas-racing owner.
• Ogawa Kanna continues to act as the practical, competent organizer. She handles budgeting, hotel arrangements, registrations, and logistics while teasing Kitano and tolerating Masaru’s shortcomings.
• Arayama fulfills his responsibility as a trainer by honestly warning Kitano about the financial risks and carefully evaluating the campaign’s prospects.
• Ogawa Masaru contributes by securing a free rental car, though he remains clumsy and is immediately burdened with administrative work. His childlike behavior adds comic relief.
• Wada helps choose the hotel and appears accustomed to the standards and expenses associated with overseas racing.
• Schmidt is introduced as an enthusiastic but awkward young farrier. His passionate desire to work with Mejiro, combined with his imperfect Japanese and desperate messages, makes him seem earnest, eccentric, and possibly unreliable.

Significant Themes

• The financial burden of ambition: The chapter emphasizes that international racing requires enormous expenses, with travel, accommodation, quarantine, staffing, and transport creating costs that may exceed prize earnings.
• Professionalism versus inexperience: The experienced staff carefully manage the campaign while Kitano learns through trial and error, highlighting the complexity of operating at an international level.
• Teamwork and mutual tolerance: The staff members rely on one another despite mistakes and incompetence. Kanna’s comment about needing to tolerate “idiots” captures the group’s humorous but cooperative dynamic.
• Passion and devotion to horses: Schmidt’s repeated declaration that he loves Mejiro suggests that genuine enthusiasm may be as important as formal qualifications in joining the team.
• Comedy amid pressure: Administrative problems, expensive hotels, awkward translations, and Masaru’s behavior lighten what would otherwise be a tense discussion about financial risk.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Ogawa Kanna discuss the campaign’s expenses, with Kanna questioning whether the investment is sensible and Kitano confidently accepting the risks.
• Arayama reinforces Kanna’s concerns by warning Kitano that even a strong result may not produce a profit.
• Kanna and Masaru interact like a long-suffering supervisor and an incompetent subordinate: she assigns him work while he seeks recognition for minor successes.
• Kitano feels embarrassed when Kanna implies that owners like him can be “idiots,” but her laughter turns the exchange into friendly teasing rather than criticism.
• Kitano and Schmidt communicate through direct messages, with Kitano maintaining caution and professionalism while Schmidt responds with immediate, almost frantic enthusiasm.
• Schmidt’s final exchange with his father establishes a humorous family dynamic and leaves uncertainty about whether his determination is entirely responsible or partly driven by youthful impulsiveness.

Chapter Summary: “Holiday Visitors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On Christmas Day, trainer Ogawa Joe feeds Ocean Fleet2024 a healthy meal of carrots, flaxseed, and fresh grass instead of beer. He and veterinarian Kitano previously concluded that beer offers racehorses little nutritional value and could irritate their stomachs, especially since Thoroughbreds are prone to gastric ulcers.
• Ocean Fleet2024 remains undersized and physically underdeveloped, particularly in its chest, ribs, and muscle growth. Because of these limitations, its racing debut must be postponed several months, and its future breeding prospects are uncertain.
• Despite these concerns, the horse has made meaningful progress. It is beginning to tolerate tack and desensitization equipment, has shown remarkable speed during its first trot training, and recovers quickly from difficult workouts.
• Ogawa Joe reflects on the responsibility of caring for the horse and admires Kitano’s ability to evaluate horses through his veterinary expertise. Joe has begun studying veterinary medicine himself, though he finds learning difficult at his age.
• The farm is unusually quiet because most staff and Ogawa Joe’s children have left with the expedition team. Joe hangs a good-luck charm at Ocean Fleet2024’s stall and prays for the safety of both people and horses.
• Elsewhere, the Kentucky Expedition Team continues preparing for its American trip. Ogawa Kanna explains that American dirt tracks differ greatly from Japanese tracks and even vary between the East and West Coasts.
• After the meeting, the group shares a Christmas meal. Their gathering is interrupted by the arrival of a very tall, heavily equipped man carrying a large suitcase and backpack. He enthusiastically introduces himself as “Sam... Porter?” and embraces Arayama.

Character Developments

• Ogawa Joe becomes more emotionally invested in Ocean Fleet2024. He remains worried about the horse’s physical weaknesses but takes pride in its progress and feels an increased sense of responsibility for its future.
• Ocean Fleet2024 is portrayed as affectionate and playful, tugging at Joe’s clothes and enjoying their tongue-poking game. Though wary of strangers and slow to develop physically, it shows impressive speed, resilience, and potential.
• Kitano continues to serve as a trusted expert whose veterinary knowledge shapes the horse’s training plan and Joe’s understanding of its condition.
• Ogawa Kanna demonstrates technical knowledge and leadership by briefing the expedition team on American dirt racing. Her confidence falters slightly when Kitano gives a vague response to her request for further comments.
• Kitano appears serious and practical during the meeting but participates in the Christmas celebration, revealing a more relaxed side.
• Ogawa Joe’s family is indirectly shown to be important to him; their absence leaves the normally busy farm feeling strangely empty.

Significant Themes

• Responsible animal care: The discussion of beer emphasizes that tradition and indulgence should not outweigh a racehorse’s health needs.
• Hope despite limitations: Ocean Fleet2024’s physical disadvantages threaten its career, but its speed, recovery ability, and gradual training progress offer reasons for optimism.
• Duty and emotional attachment: Joe’s concern for the horse goes beyond professional obligation, blending affection with anxiety about its future.
• Preparation and expertise: The expedition team’s discussion highlights the importance of understanding local track conditions and adapting training methods accordingly.
• Holiday warmth and absence: Christmas brings food, gifts, prayers, and companionship, but the quiet farm also underscores the people who are away and the changes taking place in the characters’ lives.

Character Interactions

• Joe gently feeds, encourages, and plays with Ocean Fleet2024, revealing their growing bond.
• Joe’s earlier conversations with Kitano establish a shared commitment to prioritizing the horse’s health.
• Kanna presents her research to Kitano and the expedition team, seeking confirmation that they are adequately prepared.
• Kitano responds formally but awkwardly, creating a brief humorous moment when Kanna asks if he has anything to add.
• The Christmas meal brings the group together before the unexpected visitor arrives and greets Arayama with overwhelming enthusiasm, ending the chapter on a sudden, energetic note.

Chapter Summary: The Expedition Team’s Sixth Member

Key Plot Points and Events

• Joseph “Zepp” Schmidt, a nineteen-year-old German farrier, arrives unexpectedly at Mejiro after Kitano asks him to attend an in-person interview.
• Zepp enthusiastically introduces himself and provides a certificate proving he is a licensed basic farrier in Bavaria. Ogawa verifies the license online.
• Despite his young age and eccentric, overly energetic manner, Zepp explains that he has worked in his family’s farrier workshop since childhood and has extensive practical experience.
• He reveals that he once struggled academically, nearly causing his father to close the family business. During that period, the anime Uma○ Musume and the real racehorse Mejiro McQueen gave him the motivation to continue living.
• Kitano consults Trainer Arayama, who believes Zepp’s actual technical ability may be far above what his basic German certification suggests—possibly comparable to or better than many experienced Japanese farriers.
• Because Zepp lacks JRA or NAR registration, Arayama worries about the difficulty and cost of employing him. Kitano solves the issue by hiring Zepp officially as a stable hand, using the Saudi expedition’s allowance for stable personnel.
• After Zepp enthusiastically eats an entire Christmas meal, the team offers him a contract. Although confused that he is being hired as a stable hand rather than directly as a farrier, Zepp accepts and signs.

Character Developments

• Zepp/Joseph Schmidt: Introduced as an enormous, excitable, and socially overwhelming young man, but also as a skilled and passionate professional. His personal connection to Mejiro McQueen reveals emotional vulnerability and shows that his enthusiasm comes from genuine gratitude and admiration.
• Kitano: Initially cautious about Zepp’s intensity, Kitano gradually recognizes his qualifications and finds a practical legal solution to bring him onto the team.
• Arayama: Demonstrates professional judgment by identifying that Zepp’s abilities may exceed his formal certification. He remains cautious about administrative and financial complications.
• Ogawa: Plays a supporting role by verifying the authenticity of Zepp’s German license.
• Mejiro McQueen: Though absent, she strongly influences the chapter through Zepp’s story and becomes the reason he regained hope.

Significant Themes

• Passion overcoming adversity: Zepp’s love of horses and Mejiro McQueen helped him survive a period of despair and return to his profession.
• Ability versus credentials: Zepp holds only a basic-level German license, yet his hands-on experience may make him more capable than formally senior farriers.
• International cooperation: The chapter expands the expedition team beyond Japan and emphasizes the practical challenges of employing foreign specialists.
• Unexpected forms of inspiration: A racehorse from another country and another era profoundly changes a young man’s life.
• Finding a place to belong: Zepp’s eagerness to join reflects his desire to become part of the team and repay the inspiration he received.

Character Interactions

• Zepp’s intense handshake, rapid Japanese, and eager declarations contrast with Kitano’s discomfort around overly enthusiastic people.
• Zepp tries to prove his experience to Kitano by showing his license and childhood photographs from his father’s workshop.
• His confession about Mejiro McQueen creates a rare serious and emotional moment, quieting Kitano and Arayama.
• Kitano and Arayama privately evaluate Zepp’s suitability, balancing his reckless personality against his exceptional potential.
• Arayama formally presents Zepp with a contract, while Kitano explains the administrative workaround that allows him to join as a stable hand.
• Zepp’s final acceptance—“Please take care of me?”—echoes his enthusiastic introduction and marks his official entry into the expedition team.

Chapter Summary: The End of Reiwa 7

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano returns to snowbound Hokkaido at the end of Reiwa 7 after temporarily finishing his work in Tokyo.
• Mejiro Sakuya is confirmed as a likely Japanese entrant in the Saudi Derby, alongside the already-announced Mr. Caesar. Her rising popularity suggests strong public support for her invitation.
• Kitano receives a call from Matsumoto, an owner he has met only once. Matsumoto recounts the difficulties Toyo and Tahara faced during their previous Dubai campaign, including inadequate preparation, pressure from local organizers, repeated inspections, and a lack of trusted veterinary support.
• Matsumoto’s warning leads Kitano to realize that an accompanying veterinarian familiar with Sakuya could protect her from similar problems overseas.
• Since Kitano is himself a veterinarian and has closely monitored Sakuya’s health, he decides that his dual role as owner and attending veterinarian is practical, despite the added burdens and costs.
• Kitano receives a training report from Teacher Tanaka stating that Pegasus has matured physically, reached 472 kg, improved in uphill training, and formed an effective partnership with jockey Genta.
• He spends New Year’s Eve quietly at home, watching Kōhaku Uta Gassen, replying to congratulatory messages, and preparing for a shrine visit.
• As the New Year’s bells ring, Reiwa 8 begins, marking a new stage in Kitano’s life and horse-owning career.

Character Developments

• Kitano: His exhaustion and anxiety over Sakuya’s overseas campaign begin to ease. Matsumoto’s advice reinforces his sense of responsibility and motivates him to take a more active role by accompanying the campaign as Sakuya’s veterinarian.
• Matsumoto: Demonstrates humility and concern by honestly sharing his past mistakes and experiences in Dubai. His motto about enduring hardship alongside people and horses gains new meaning for Kitano.
• Mejiro Sakuya: Though absent from the chapter, she is shown to be increasingly popular and to have inspired Kitano’s intense preparation and commitment.
• Pegasus: Is shown to be physically maturing and becoming more disciplined, particularly in difficult uphill training.
• Genta: Has developed a strong rapport with Pegasus, suggesting a promising partnership for the coming three-year-old season.
• Teacher Tanaka: Continues to provide detailed, encouraging reports and expresses support for Sakuya’s international campaign.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus inexperience: Matsumoto’s account emphasizes that overseas success requires more than simply entering a race; proper preparation, documentation, and trusted support are essential.
• Responsibility and dedication: Kitano’s willingness to suspend his clinic and accompany Sakuya reflects his growing commitment as both owner and veterinarian.
• Human bonds in horse racing: The chapter highlights cooperation among owners, trainers, veterinarians, jockeys, and stable staff. Matsumoto’s belief that shared endurance preserves human bonds becomes especially meaningful to Kitano.
• Transition and renewal: The ending moves from the final cold days of Reiwa 7 into Reiwa 8, symbolizing a new phase in Kitano’s personal life and career.
• Hope amid anxiety: Despite doubts, fatigue, and the risks of international competition, the chapter closes with cautious optimism about Sakuya, Pegasus, and the future.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Matsumoto: Their phone conversation is the chapter’s central interaction. Matsumoto offers practical advice and admits past shortcomings, while Kitano listens respectfully and gains valuable insight.
• Kitano and Kimura: Kimura previously voices his complaints but still supports the campaign financially with one million yen, revealing tension balanced by loyalty.
• Kitano and Teacher Tanaka: Their relationship is conveyed through Tanaka’s regular training report, which reassures Kitano about Pegasus’s progress.
• Pegasus and Genta: Their increasingly harmonious partnership is presented as a key factor in Pegasus’s future success.
• Kitano and the wider racing community: Support, criticism, and public interest surrounding Sakuya’s campaign create pressure but also demonstrate the growing network invested in her success.

Chapter Summary: “New Year’s Day Belonging to the Expedition Team”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On New Year’s morning, the Kentucky Expedition Team at Arayama Stable begins the year with chaos when Zepp, the newly appointed German farrier, incorrectly measures the oats while helping with stable duties.
• Although Zepp is inept at ordinary stable work, his expertise as a farrier is exceptional. He uses advanced computer analysis to study Mejiro Sakuya’s hooves, examining angles, surface areas, centers of gravity, and hoof-growth patterns.
• Zepp develops a specialized horseshoe using shock-absorbing padding and adjusts the breakover point of Sakuya’s right hind hoof by 1.5 millimeters. His goal is to improve her stride efficiency, reduce impact, and compensate for the lameness in that leg.
• The stable team and neighboring trainer Majima watch Zepp’s work with fascination, even though they do not fully understand the technology or techniques involved.
• Majima quickly becomes friendly with Zepp after discovering their shared enthusiasm for the Mejiro line, despite their differences in age and personality.
• Trainer Arayama visits a shrine for New Year’s, hangs a protective amulet outside Sakuya’s stall, and offers a prayer for the stable’s success.
• That evening, Wada, Sakuya’s assigned jockey, arrives for their first training session together. Afterward, he calmly reports that the ride went “very good,” though Ogawa Masaru remains uncertain whether the assessment is truly reassuring.
• Sakuya returns to the stall and affectionately rubs against Ogawa’s hand, prompting him to encourage her to do her best in the coming year.

Character Developments

• Zepp is established as a comically unreliable stablehand but an exceptionally skilled and meticulous farrier. His arrogance is supported by genuine ability, particularly his scientific and analytical approach to hoof care.
• Ogawa Masaru becomes increasingly protective and practical, deciding that Zepp should be kept away from stable duties despite respecting his technical expertise. His affection and concern for Sakuya are also emphasized.
• Arayama demonstrates responsibility and faith in both Zepp’s unusual methods and Sakuya’s future, while also maintaining traditional gestures such as visiting the shrine and hanging an amulet.
• Majima develops a friendship with Zepp based on their shared admiration for the Mejiro horses, reinforcing his impulsive and enthusiastic personality.
• Wada is introduced as calm, reserved, and difficult to read. His brief positive assessment of Sakuya’s first session leaves the team both hopeful and uncertain.
• Mejiro Sakuya is presented as physically vulnerable because of her lameness but emotionally trusting and affectionate toward the stable team.

Significant Themes

• Harmony versus disharmony: The chapter opens by contrasting the ideal of harmony with the stable’s amusing disorder, especially Zepp’s inability to perform basic tasks.
• Specialized expertise: Zepp’s competence shows that skill in one field does not necessarily translate into ordinary practical ability. His advanced methods also represent the value of innovation over tradition.
• Science and tradition: Computerized hoof analysis and experimental horseshoes exist alongside shrine visits, protective amulets, and personal intuition, showing the team combining modern knowledge with established customs.
• Trust and belonging: Zepp gradually becomes part of the expedition team despite his eccentricities. Shared interests and mutual reliance help create bonds within the group.
• Hope and vulnerability: The new year marks a fresh opportunity for Sakuya, but her lameness and uncertain future remain sources of concern. The team’s careful preparations reflect their hope that she can succeed without worsening her condition.

Character Interactions

• Ogawa reprimands Zepp over the oats, establishing their humorous friction and Ogawa’s growing distrust of Zepp’s non-farriery work.
• The stable team observes Zepp’s technical process with admiration, even while failing to understand the details.
• Zepp and Majima bond over their shared devotion to the Mejiro horses.
• Arayama greets the team, prays for Sakuya’s well-being, and symbolically welcomes the new year.
• Wada’s first ride with Sakuya creates quiet tension, as the team looks to his reaction for an indication of her progress.
• Sakuya’s affectionate gesture toward Ogawa provides a warm ending and reinforces the emotional bond between the mare and her caretakers.

Summary of “The Wind Is Rising”

Key plot points and events

• Kitano prepares to depart from Shinagawa for Saudi Arabia, where Mejiro Sakuya will compete in the Saudi Derby.
• He gathers essential travel documents, including health certificates and vaccination records, and travels to Haneda Airport.
• Sakuya has already been transported ahead by truck, while the rest of the expedition team meets at the airport before their evening flight.
• Kitano reflects on Sakuya’s preparation. At 503 kilograms, she is exceptionally large for a filly, though transport is expected to reduce her weight.
• Trainer Arayama has concentrated on strengthening her hind legs, which are weaker than her powerful forelegs because of her previous racing experience on Monbetsu’s dirt tracks.
• The Saudi track’s mixed turf-and-dirt surface makes hind-leg strength especially important.
• Because Sakuya’s right hind leg reacts half a beat slowly due to a neurological condition, the team plans to have her settle near the back of the field—around seventh or eighth—before making her move.
• Her training load has been carefully limited to protect her health, leaving Kitano uncertain about how much genuine improvement has been achieved in only one month.
• Arayama assures him that Sakuya and jockey Wada are in strong mental harmony, while Wada offers his characteristically restrained assessment: “Not bad.”
• Kitano reunites with Arayama, Wada, Zep, and Ogawa Kanna at Haneda. Their matching black suits make them look intimidating, in contrast to Kitano’s lighter outfit.
• The aircraft departs for Riyadh, carrying the expedition team and symbolically beginning their international challenge.

Character developments

• Kitano remains anxious and self-critical despite his practical preparations. As owner and veterinarian, he worries that the team has not achieved enough and recognizes the limits of his ability to judge Sakuya’s progress.
• His concern gradually gives way to trust: he decides to leave training and race strategy to Arayama and Wada, acknowledging their expertise.
• Mejiro Sakuya is presented as a talented but physically disadvantaged horse. Her massive frame, powerful forelegs, weak hindquarters, and delayed hind-leg response shape the team’s cautious strategy.
• Arayama demonstrates careful, protective leadership by limiting Sakuya’s workload while maintaining her health and development. His tense expression suggests he understands the uncertainty surrounding her chances.
• Wada remains quiet and understated, communicating confidence indirectly through brief comments and his evident rapport with Sakuya.
• Zep contributes through technical horseshoe adjustments, while Ogawa Kanna supports the expedition and has also influenced Kitano’s personal preparations.

Significant themes

• Trust in living beings rather than machines: Kitano reflects that racehorses cannot be measured entirely through statistics or “status panels.” Progress emerges from the shared effort of horse and human.
• Perseverance against overwhelming odds: The team is weaker and less experienced than its international opponents, but their willingness to work harder is their main advantage.
• Uncertainty and controlled hope: The expedition has prepared carefully, yet no one knows whether the preparation will be enough. Kitano’s anxiety coexists with a growing hope for the future.
• Adaptation and international challenge: Sakuya must adjust from Japanese dirt racing to the unfamiliar mixed surface and conditions of Saudi Arabia.
• The bond between horse and rider: Arayama’s description of Sakuya and Wada’s “deep mental harmony” emphasizes communication and mutual trust as essential to competition.

Character interactions

• Kitano consults with and relies on Arayama and Wada regarding Sakuya’s condition and race strategy.
• Arayama reassures Kitano that Sakuya and Wada are working in harmony, while Wada gives a deliberately modest evaluation.
• Kitano’s thoughts show his concern for Sakuya and his dependence on the wider team’s expertise.
• Ogawa Kanna’s earlier recommendation of skincare provides a small, informal connection with Kitano, contrasting with the expedition’s otherwise serious atmosphere.
• The team’s reunion at Haneda emphasizes their unity: despite their different roles and personalities, they travel together as the “Mejiro Tour Group,” facing the international race as a collective.

Chapter Summary: “The Bay Visitor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano and the expedition team arrive in Saudi Arabia after a delayed overnight flight from Japan. The group includes trainer Arayama, owner Kitano, jockey Ogawa Masaru, his sister Ogawa Kanna, and German farrier Zepp.
• Mejiro Sakuya, the bay mare, had completed pre-departure quarantine at Oi Racecourse with only Ogawa Masaru accompanying her, since the team could not afford to send another horse as a companion.
• At the airport, Flyt Express staff open Sakuya’s specialized horse container. A veterinarian confirms that she is healthy and stable after twelve hours of transport.
• Kitano checks her hoof temperature and learns that her condition is better than expected: she is judged to be around 85% fit, exceeding the team’s estimate of 70–75%.
• The team confirms that Sakuya’s feed and supplements comply with Saudi regulations and contain no banned substances. Her PCR report also exempts her from the country’s usual 14–21-day quarantine.
• Arayama struggles to communicate with the local transport and stable teams, becoming increasingly anxious when the horse truck is delayed.
• Sakuya is finally led through the fast-track quarantine channel. Saudi officials inspect Kitano’s paperwork and approve her entry.
• The chapter ends with Sakuya officially setting hoof on foreign soil, marking the beginning of her overseas campaign.

Character Developments

• Kitano remains responsible and attentive, carefully monitoring Sakuya’s health, checking her hoof, reviewing regulations, and reassuring Ogawa Masaru.
• Arayama is shown as highly anxious and pressured by the logistical difficulties of transporting and caring for a racehorse abroad. His nervousness contrasts with his professional dedication.
• Ogawa Masaru demonstrates reliability and humility. He helps care for Sakuya but gives credit to the professional grooms rather than claiming praise for himself.
• Ogawa Kanna proves calm and capable under pressure by handling communication with the local transport team when Arayama struggles with English.
• Mejiro Sakuya endures the long flight better than expected. Though somewhat listless from travel and limited food, she remains in good overall condition.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of international competition: Overseas racing involves not only physical distance but also quarantine rules, paperwork, language barriers, transport, and unfamiliar conditions.
• Care and responsibility: The team’s constant concern over Sakuya’s health emphasizes the vulnerability of racehorses and the human responsibility involved in transporting them.
• Teamwork and trust: Each member contributes according to their abilities—Kitano oversees preparations, Arayama manages logistics, Kanna handles communication, and Masaru assists with the horse.
• Crossing into a new stage: Sakuya’s arrival symbolizes a major transition from domestic racing to the international arena.

Character Interactions

• Arayama gives instructions to the group and struggles with local communications, while Kanna steps in to obtain information from Flyt Express.
• Kitano and the Ogawa siblings share visible relief when the veterinarian confirms Sakuya’s good condition.
• Kitano praises Masaru by rubbing his head, but Masaru modestly attributes Sakuya’s safe arrival to the professional transport staff.
• Kitano and Arayama discuss Sakuya’s feed and preparations, revealing Kitano’s practical concern and Arayama’s anxious thoroughness.
• The Saudi officials interact formally with Kitano, carefully examining his documentation before granting Sakuya permission to enter.

Summary: “Saudi Arabia, Day One”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At 3 a.m. on February 2, the team arrives at the International Stables at King Abdulaziz Racecourse after a long journey from Japan. They will stay there for nine nights before moving to the receiving stables.
• Mejiro Sakuya initially appears exhausted and nearly unresponsive, causing Arayama to worry about her condition. Kitano examines her movement and finds no muscular or gait problems, suggesting that lack of sleep is the main issue.
• Kitano borrows medical equipment from the local veterinary station and later checks Sakuya’s hoof and rectal temperatures. Both are normal, confirming that she has suffered no obvious physical harm from the journey or the heat.
• Once food is offered, Sakuya’s energy and appetite quickly return, reassuring the entire team that hunger and fatigue—not illness—were responsible for her poor appearance.
• Arayama creates a conservative training plan: one swimming session, two long-rein walks, and additional track walks during the week. A course gallop is planned for Sunday only if Sakuya’s condition improves sufficiently; otherwise, it will be delayed until the following week.
• Because Sakuya has not raced since mid-December and has no preparatory race before the Saudi Derby, the team recognizes that the Derby itself will effectively serve as her comeback and preparation race.
• The team discusses the unexpectedly high Saudi Arabian temperatures. Ogawa Masaru is asked to clip Sakuya’s winter coat shorter to help her cope with the heat.
• Ogawa Kanna distributes racecourse-access forms and asks Kitano to verify the team’s information. Additional forms for jockey Wada and farrier Joseph are collected.
• By the time the team leaves the stables, dawn is breaking at around 5 a.m.

Character Developments

• Mejiro Sakuya: Initially appears dangerously tired, but her appetite quickly restores her usual lively behavior. Her normal temperatures and sound movement confirm that she is adapting reasonably well despite the journey and unfamiliar climate.
• Arayama: Demonstrates careful, methodical planning. He prioritizes recovery over intensive training, personally intends to inspect the course, and remains concerned about the risks of entering a major race without a prep event.
• Kitano: Acts as both owner and medical observer. He initially worries about Sakuya’s condition, supports the conservative training plan, and pays attention to practical concerns such as her winter coat and vital signs.
• Ogawa Kanna: Provides realistic strategic input, questioning whether Sakuya will be ready for the race and emphasizing the importance of a course gallop. She also handles administrative preparations.
• Ogawa Masaru: Shows attentive care toward Sakuya by bringing her feed and preparing to trim her coat. His actions help reveal that food is what she needs most after the journey.

Significant Themes

• Adjustment and recovery: The team must balance the demands of international competition with Sakuya’s need to recover from travel, sleep deprivation, and climate change.
• Preparation under uncertainty: With no conventional prep race available, the team must rely on careful training decisions and direct course inspections.
• International competition and logistical challenges: The luxurious Saudi facilities contrast with the team’s Japanese racing environment, while paperwork, unfamiliar weather, and new training systems add complexity.
• Animal welfare and attentive care: The characters monitor Sakuya’s appetite, gait, temperature, coat, and training load, emphasizing that her health comes before competitive ambition.
• The gap between local and global racing: The idea of using a world-class G3 race as a “prep race” highlights the extraordinary scale of the challenge facing a team from Japan’s local circuit.

Character Interactions

• Arayama and Kitano jointly assess Sakuya and agree that she should rest rather than begin strenuous training immediately.
• Ogawa Masaru’s feeding of Sakuya transforms the team’s concern into relief when she eagerly returns to eating.
• Arayama and Ogawa Kanna discuss the difficulty of preparing Sakuya after a long racing absence, particularly the uncertainty over whether she should perform a course gallop.
• Kitano raises the issue of Sakuya’s thick winter coat, prompting Arayama and Masaru to address the heat problem.
• Ogawa Kanna coordinates paperwork with Kitano and Masaru, showing the team’s cooperation in handling both racing and administrative responsibilities.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• Forty-seven-year-old jockey Wada Ryuji wakes at 5:00 a.m. in a Saudi hotel before the Saudi Derby. He reflects on his disciplined routine and concludes that, at his age, the race is unquestionably important—not only for its potential connection to the UAE and Kentucky Derbies, but also for the value of racing abroad.
• Wada recalls how unusual the opportunity initially seemed. As a respected but “mid-tier” jockey, he rarely received major overseas chances, especially as Japanese stables increasingly favored foreign riders for important races. His opportunity partly arose because many top jockeys had gone to the Middle East, leaving other rides available.
• He remembers meeting Trainer Arayama and Owner Kitano and being struck by their determination to target the Kentucky Derby. Their ambition persuaded him to accept the challenge despite knowing little about Saudi racing, Arayama, or the broader expedition.
• The overseas camp has been chaotic and poorly coordinated, but Wada finds the pressure strangely calming. He recognizes that everyone is working hard in their own field and accepts the uncertainty as part of racing.
• His German roommate, farrier Zepp, rushes into the bathroom after oversleeping because his phone battery died while he was playing Uma Musume. Arayama then summons Wada and Zepp to the hotel restaurant.
• At breakfast, the expedition team appears exhausted. Kanna asks Zepp to handle translation while she rests, and Kitano also goes back to sleep. Ogawa Masaru gives Wada and Zepp their track passes.
• Arayama asks Wada to inspect the track with him. Although visibly worn out, with disheveled hair and deep fatigue, Arayama insists that he is fine, revealing the strain behind the expedition’s ambitious plans.

Character developments

• Wada Ryuji: Demonstrates maturity, professionalism, and renewed ambition. Unlike his younger self, he recognizes the Saudi Derby as a major opportunity and embraces the challenge despite his limited overseas experience and relatively modest status in Japanese racing.
• Trainer Arayama: Appears intensely committed to the Kentucky Derby goal. His exhaustion shows the personal cost of managing the expedition, but he maintains a determined exterior and continues directing preparations.
• Zepp: Comes across as energetic, somewhat careless, and good-natured. His alarm mishap contrasts with his willingness to help, particularly by taking responsibility for translation work.
• Kitano and the Ogawa team: Their exhaustion emphasizes how demanding the expedition has become. Kitano remains supportive, while Kanna and Masaru contribute through translation and practical organization.

Significant themes

• Persistence and self-improvement: Wada’s belief that one must keep learning and practicing reflects the chapter’s focus on continual growth, even late in a career.
• Opportunity and ambition: The expedition gives Wada a rare chance to compete internationally and pursue goals larger than his usual position would allow.
• Discipline versus chaos: Wada values routine and preparation, while the expedition itself is disorganized and unpredictable. Success depends on maintaining professionalism amid uncertainty.
• Age and changing perspectives: Wada’s understanding of what constitutes an important race has evolved with age and experience.
• Shared effort and sacrifice: The exhausted team members show that the Kentucky Derby dream requires everyone—jockeys, trainers, owners, translators, and staff—to contribute.

Character interactions

• Wada observes and worries about his sleeping roommate before interacting with Zepp, whose hurried morning routine provides a lighter contrast to Wada’s seriousness.
• Wada and Zepp cooperate naturally, with Wada translating Arayama’s message and Zepp accepting responsibility for translation duties.
• Arayama assigns Wada and Zepp their next task, while Ogawa Masaru provides their track credentials.
• Arayama and Wada share a brief but revealing exchange: Wada questions whether the exhausted trainer is all right, while Arayama firmly insists that he is, underscoring both their concern for one another and their determination to continue.

Chapter Summary: “Track Inspection”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Before leaving the hotel, Wada changes into riding boots, and he, trainer Arayama, and farrier Zepp travel to King Abdulaziz Racetrack.
• After securing permission from the track staff, the trio inspects the course once the morning workouts finish.
• Wada examines the track across different lanes, while Arayama measures its length and Zepp studies the surface.
• They discover that the Saudi track is unlike ordinary Japanese dirt. Its fine, powdery surface is loose, dry, and closer to turf than sand.
• Wada observes that the surface produces a light spray of dust rather than heavy clumps, meaning horses following closely behind are unlikely to be greatly affected.
• Based on the inspection, the team decides to modify Mejiro Sakuya’s horseshoes. They plan to use lighter aluminum shoes with deeper grooves and stronger grip, abandoning the V-shaped design intended for muddy dirt tracks.
• Wada recommends treating the track like turf, and Arayama accepts both the shoeing adjustment and the possibility that their racing strategy must change accordingly.
• The chapter ends with the team remaining uncertain about whether Mejiro Sakuya will adapt successfully to the unfamiliar surface during the Saudi Derby.

Character Developments

• Wada demonstrates his practical expertise and adaptability by carefully studying the track and imagining possible race scenarios. His recommendation to maximize grip shows confidence in responding to unfamiliar conditions.
• Arayama reveals his anxiety about managing an overseas campaign. Although he has prepared extensively using limited information and lessons from experienced trainers, he knows international racing carries risks that domestic experience cannot fully address.
• Zepp proves himself a valuable technical member of the team. His detailed suggestions about horseshoe design complement Wada’s riding knowledge and Arayama’s training judgment.
• Arayama’s cautious nature becomes more pronounced as he recognizes that even a talented horse’s performance can be undermined by an unfamiliar track.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation versus tradition: Racing culture depends heavily on familiar tracks, schedules, strategies, and routines, but international competition forces participants to adjust.
• Uncertainty in competition: Despite careful preparation, the team cannot predict whether Mejiro Sakuya will thrive or struggle on the unusual Saudi surface.
• The limits of experience: Arayama’s domestic knowledge is useful but insufficient for overseas racing, requiring him to learn indirectly from records and other trainers.
• Teamwork and specialized expertise: Success depends on the combined observations of the trainer, jockey, and farrier rather than on one person’s judgment alone.
• Preparation and risk: The team prepares as thoroughly as possible, yet acknowledges that some variables cannot be controlled until the race begins.

Character Interactions

• Wada asks Arayama about the horses’ physical and mental condition, establishing their shared concern over travel fatigue.
• Zepp reports the track-access arrangements and later collaborates with Arayama and Wada on the appropriate horseshoe design.
• Wada and Arayama inspect the course in different ways—Wada through the feel beneath his boots and Arayama by measuring its dimensions—showing their complementary roles.
• Arayama seeks Wada’s opinion on the track and ultimately trusts his judgment about increasing grip.
• The three walk back together while discussing how the altered track conditions may require a new race strategy, united by both professional cooperation and concern about Mejiro Sakuya’s adaptability.

Chapter Summary: “The Expedition Strikes Back”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On February 8, the stable’s six members arrive early at International Stables near King Abdulaziz Racetrack to prepare Mejiro Sakuya for the Saudi Derby.
• Jockey Wada studies the Saudi Derby and the racetrack, recognizing that despite his experience, he is a newcomer to racing in Saudi Arabia. He relies on course inspections and advice from veteran riders Yutaka Take and Yokoyama Norihiro.
• The team learns that the track rewards race tempo awareness rather than a single racing style. Its long turns, long straights, gentle gradients, and reduced kickback make front-running, stalking, and late-running tactics viable.
• Because the Saudi Derby is only 1,600 meters, Wada must carefully judge when to begin his move, potentially starting as early as the turn.
• Kitano and Arayama examine Mejiro Sakuya and find her in excellent condition. She has maintained her appetite and temperament after transport, recovered much of the weight she lost, and shows healthy legs and improved hindquarter muscle.
• The stable prepares homemade ice packs to aid recovery and guard against injuries such as suspensory ligament inflammation in Saudi Arabia’s heat, reflecting the team’s limited budget and practical resourcefulness.
• At the racetrack, the team brings Sakuya to the parade ring to familiarize her with the surroundings before training. She reacts curiously rather than fearfully to fans and a misting water nozzle.
• Wada mounts her, and the team leads her toward the track. Because she appears calm and unlikely to suffer stage fright, the stable considers proceeding with a post-training meet-and-greet for fans and reporters.

Character Developments

• Wada shows humility and caution about his lack of experience racing in Saudi Arabia. Rather than relying solely on confidence, he actively studies the course and seeks advice from senior jockeys. His main challenge is learning to read the pace and time Sakuya’s attack correctly.
• Kitano remains attentive and methodical as both owner and veterinarian. His examination confirms that Sakuya’s physical condition is no longer a major concern, and his relief becomes visible once her recovery is verified.
• Arayama, initially tense and worried throughout the expedition, finally relaxes after confirming Sakuya’s physical and mental recovery.
• Ogawa Masaru demonstrates gentle, attentive horsemanship by guiding Sakuya through unfamiliar surroundings and calmly redirecting her curiosity.
• Mejiro Sakuya proves remarkably resilient. She adapts to the overseas journey without losing her appetite, composure, or training rhythm, behaving as though she had never left home.
• Ogawa Kanna contributes humor and perspective, joking about the stable looking like a sightseeing tour if Sakuya performs poorly in training.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation and preparation: Success in an unfamiliar environment depends on studying the track, learning from experienced people, and adapting strategy rather than relying on assumptions.
• The importance of tempo and judgment: The chapter emphasizes that Saudi racing rewards a jockey’s ability to monitor changing pace and choose the right moment to act.
• Resilience under pressure: Sakuya’s stable condition after long-distance transport contrasts with the risks normally associated with overseas competition.
• Practical care over outdated toughness: The use of ice packs and careful recovery measures reflects a modern, science-based approach that challenges the “guts above all” mentality.
• Working with strengths and weaknesses: The stable recognizes that horses need not fit the traditional image of an ideal racehorse; success comes from understanding each horse and bringing out its individual abilities.
• Underdog determination: Despite limited funds and low public expectations, the small stable continues preparing seriously for an international race.

Character Interactions

• Wada consults senior riders indirectly through their advice while discussing race strategy with the stable.
• Kitano and Arayama collaborate closely in examining Sakuya, with their shared relief showing their concern for her well-being.
• Ogawa Masaru gently handles Sakuya when she investigates the misting nozzle, while Wada steadies her from the saddle.
• Kitano and Ogawa Kanna exchange observations about Sakuya’s calm temperament and the advantages of horses that do not become easily nervous.
• The stable members discuss whether Sakuya’s condition is good enough for a public meet-and-greet, balancing confidence in her recovery with concern about how she will perform in training.

Chapter Summary: “Crying Arayama”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ogawa Kanna observes Mejiro Sakuya’s training and concludes that the horse is fit to race. Her gait is composed, relaxed, and likely adaptable to a mixed track.
• After changing her horseshoes, Sakuya’s stride and force exertion appear slightly different, but there are no obvious concerns about her legs or overall condition.
• Trainer Arayama decides to schedule one Timed Workout before the race. He does not expect an impressive time on the unfamiliar track; he mainly wants Sakuya to adjust her stride and reveal any potential problems.
• Finding a suitable workout partner is difficult because Sakuya has traveled overseas alone and lacks an established local training partner.
• After training, jockey Wada reports that Sakuya felt steady. The team cools her legs with ice packs, though Sakuya dislikes the cold and stares at the ice packs as if she wants to eat them.
• Arayama worries about the rising Saudi Arabian temperatures, but Kitano confirms that Sakuya’s legs and hoof temperature are normal.
• At a small public meet-and-greet, only two reporters and very few local fans attend. Arayama tells the media that Sakuya is timid, sensitive, and not yet fully prepared, explaining why the team has avoided interviews.
• Kitano becomes concerned that Sakuya may truly be in poor condition. Arayama clarifies that his pessimistic comments are deliberate: he dislikes making overly confident statements that could create pressure for the team.
• Arayama confirms privately that Sakuya is fit to race, though he remains concerned about the Timed Workout.
• He explains that running beside other horses can expose issues that ordinary training may not reveal. Kitano accepts this and begins using his phone to search for a possible workout partner.

Character Developments

• Mejiro Sakuya: Demonstrates stable physical condition and a calm, adaptable gait. Her sensitivity remains evident through her reaction to ice packs, but there is no indication that she is unprepared to race.
• Arayama: Continues his familiar pessimistic public persona, earning the implication behind his nickname, “Crying Arayama.” However, his pessimism is revealed to be a protective strategy meant to avoid placing pressure on Sakuya or the team. Privately, he is observant and cautiously confident.
• Kitano: Shows increasing responsibility and concern for Sakuya’s welfare. Though inexperienced in some aspects of racing preparation, he learns why Timed Workouts matter and begins taking initiative to find a suitable partner.
• Wada: Gives a brief but positive report, stating that Sakuya felt as steady as usual.
• Ogawa Kanna and Ogawa Masaru: Kanna provides professional confirmation of Sakuya’s fitness, while Masaru assists with handling her after training.
• Zepp and Kitano: Their lack of training expertise contrasts with Kanna’s professional assessment, though they trust the specialists’ judgment.

Significant Themes

• Confidence versus caution: Arayama’s pessimistic media statements contrast with his private assessment that Sakuya is race-ready. The chapter suggests that confidence must be managed carefully so it does not become psychological pressure.
• Preparation and adaptation: The Timed Workout is important not merely for recording a time, but for helping Sakuya adapt to an unfamiliar track and identify problems that solo training may conceal.
• Care for the athlete: The team closely monitors Sakuya’s legs, hoof temperature, hydration, and response to the heat, emphasizing the physical demands of overseas racing.
• Inexperience and learning: Kitano’s questions show that he is still learning the technical aspects of racing, but his willingness to understand and act demonstrates his growing involvement.
• Public image versus private reality: The media is presented with an exaggeratedly fragile image of Sakuya, while the team knows she is physically sound. This gap highlights the strategic nature of public statements.

Character Interactions

• Kanna’s professional evaluation reassures Arayama and the others after Sakuya’s training.
• Wada reports directly to the team, while Masaru handles Sakuya and Kitano treats her legs with ice packs.
• Sakuya’s playful fixation on the ice packs creates a lighter moment and reveals her sensitive, somewhat peculiar temperament.
• During the interview, Arayama deliberately portrays Sakuya as vulnerable, confusing Kitano and causing him to question her condition.
• Arayama later explains his reasoning to Kitano, strengthening their mutual understanding.
• Their final discussion about the Timed Workout leads Kitano to take initiative in searching for a workout partner.

Chapter Summary: “Like Climbing Mountains as a Brave Hero”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The expedition team gathers on the 11th, tired but optimistic after Mejiro Sakuya’s six-furlong dirt-track workout at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.
• Although her workout time is poor because Wada deliberately avoids pushing her, Sakuya shows little of the gait discomfort that had worried the team. The camp therefore considers the workout a success.
• Sakuya secures an invitation to the Saudi Derby, confirming her place in the major race.
• The team completes the necessary medical checks, paperwork, and stable-transfer preparations despite deliberate obstruction from race organizers.
• Sakuya is moved into the guest stables before noon. After eating, she cooperates with Arayama’s stretching exercises, allowing him to assess her condition at roughly ninety percent of full capacity.
• The team holds its first race-strategy meeting. The field is reduced from sixteen entries to twelve, including two other Japanese horses.
• Ogawa Kanna presents information on the leading competitors, including Balidor’s Happy Hour/Joyful Time, Mr. Caesar, and Togen Coffee. Several opponents possess elite records, strong closing ability, or major international experience.
• Despite the intimidating field, the team remains determined. Since only four tickets to Churchill Downs are available, their conclusion is simple: they must win one of them.

Character Developments

• Mejiro Sakuya: Shows physical improvement and better adaptation to both the track and jockey. Though still outwardly negative with reporters, her reduced gait problems give the team renewed confidence.
• Wada: Demonstrates disciplined judgment by not overworking Sakuya during the workout. His concise answer that she felt “good” on her back reflects his confidence and focused partnership with the horse.
• Arayama: Continues to lead calmly and methodically. His physical effort during Sakuya’s stretching contrasts with his composed assessment that she retains enough strength to compete against the best.
• Ogawa Kanna: Displays detailed technical knowledge, analyzing opponents’ positioning, stride rhythm, and racing patterns. She serves as the team’s principal source of tactical information.
• Kitano and Ogawa Masaru: Contribute to the logistical preparations, showing that the entire expedition is functioning as a coordinated unit.
• The expedition team as a whole: Moves from cautious optimism to firm resolve. The strong opposition does not discourage them; instead, it sharpens their determination.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance against overwhelming odds: The chapter frames the upcoming race as an uphill struggle against powerful, internationally proven horses.
• Preparation and teamwork: Success depends not only on Sakuya’s ability but also on medical checks, paperwork, stable management, physical conditioning, scouting, and strategy.
• Trust between horse and humans: Sakuya’s cooperation with Arayama and growing compatibility with Wada show the gradual formation of a reliable human-horse partnership.
• Measured confidence: The team does not rely on arrogance or blind optimism. Their confidence comes from direct observation and sustained preparation.
• Ambition and opportunity: With only four paths leading to Churchill Downs, the race represents a crucial chance. The team accepts that they must defeat at least one of the strongest competitors to advance.

Character Interactions

• Arayama and Wada communicate with few words but share a clear understanding of their racing plan and Sakuya’s condition.
• Arayama physically works with Sakuya during stretching, reinforcing their trainer-horse bond and his role in evaluating her readiness.
• Ogawa Kanna presents detailed competitor analysis while the others listen, question her about running styles, and take notes.
• The team’s discussions reveal a balanced dynamic: Kanna provides data, Arayama directs strategy, Wada contributes riding judgment, and the support staff handle logistics.
• Their final shared resolve transforms the threatening field from a source of fear into a challenge they are prepared to confront.

Chapter Summary: “Inner and Outer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mr. Caesar withdraws from the Saudi Derby because he is reportedly “not in condition to race,” removing one major rival but prompting speculation that his camp is avoiding Joyful Time.
• Kitano’s camp remains cautious despite the withdrawal. Joyful Time’s trainer, Aidan O’Brien, publicly praises his horse as having superstar potential, reinforcing the threat he poses.
• The six members of Mejiro Sakuya’s camp attend the Saudi Derby gate draw in person. The event brings together racing camps from around the world, with Kitano’s group seated as the only NAR representatives.
• Arcadia Cafe draws gate five, while Joyful Time draws the far outside gate eleven. Although the outside gate is unfavorable, O’Brien confidently claims Joyful Time can overcome the difficulty.
• Mejiro Sakuya’s representative, Wada, draws gate one—the worst possible position for the camp. The result causes laughter from the audience and despair among Kitano, Kanna, and the rest of the team.
• The chapter ends with Wada apologizing, while the camp worries that their difficult draw may undermine weeks of preparation.

Character Developments

• Kitano remains composed but reveals increasing anxiety as the draw progresses. He understands the strategic implications of the other horses’ gates and reacts strongly to Mejiro Sakuya’s unfortunate result.
• Ogawa Kanna shows her practical, caring side by fixing Masaru’s tie, but later expresses the camp’s shared frustration in a dramatic, almost ghostlike complaint.
• Ogawa Masaru appears nervous and awkward before the ceremony, emphasizing the emotional pressure surrounding the race.
• Naoki Hori, trainer for Arcadia Cafe, confidently draws gate five without hesitation.
• Aidan O’Brien presents a calm, assured public image after Joyful Time receives gate eleven, though his frustrated expression reveals that he is not truly pleased.
• Wada accepts responsibility for drawing gate one and apologizes to the team, feeling that the result may have damaged their hard work.
• Arayama remains comparatively relaxed because Mejiro Sakuya’s slow start means she is less dependent on gate position than most horses, though he had refused to draw the gate himself because of his recurring bad luck with outside gates.

Significant Themes

• Luck versus preparation: The carefully prepared camp is forced to confront the randomness of the draw, suggesting that success depends on factors beyond effort and skill.
• Pressure and uncertainty: The ceremony transforms the upcoming race into an immediate psychological challenge, with each gate carrying strategic consequences.
• Confidence versus concealed anxiety: O’Brien speaks confidently about Joyful Time’s ability, but his reaction betrays concern. Similarly, the Japanese camp tries to remain rational while privately fearing the worst.
• Inner and outer obstacles: The title is reflected in the gate positions—Joyful Time faces the outermost gate, while Mejiro Sakuya is trapped on the innermost one. Both positions create different tactical problems.
• Fate and superstition: Arayama’s pattern of drawing unfavorable gates and the camp’s belief that bad predictions come true give the draw an almost cursed quality.

Character Interactions

• Yahagi explains Mr. Caesar’s withdrawal to the public, while Kitano and his camp assess what the absence means for their chances.
• Kanna helps Masaru prepare by correcting his tie, showing familiarity and concern within the group.
• The camp collectively reacts to each draw, sharing nervous anticipation over Arcadia Cafe, Joyful Time, and finally Mejiro Sakuya.
• O’Brien interacts with the host after drawing gate eleven, maintaining outward confidence despite his visible disappointment.
• Wada returns to the group after drawing gate one and apologizes, prompting the camp’s shared despair rather than open blame.

Chapter Summary: “Race Day”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• February 14 arrives in Riyadh, coinciding with both Valentine’s Day and the Saudi Cup, whose total purse is thirty million dollars.
• The camp members wake late because no morning training or interviews are scheduled.
• At breakfast, Kitano meets Ogawa Kanna, who sweetens her green tea heavily and later gives him a tray of date-syrup chocolates as a Valentine’s gift. She jokingly reminds him to return the favor on White Day.
• Kitano reviews his responsibilities before the 4:20 PM race:
  • Meeting Saudi racing welfare officials.
  • Submitting Mejiro Sakuya’s feed formulas and feeding records.
  • Ensuring Sakuya stays hydrated for mandatory post-race urine testing.
  • Handling matters connected to the owner.
• His meeting with the local officials becomes unexpectedly difficult, despite his paperwork being complete, delaying him until around 11:00 AM.
• At the hospitality stables, Ogawa Masaru finishes braiding pink ribbons into Mejiro Sakuya’s mane, while Zepp checks the horse’s hoof and horseshoe condition.
• Japanese trainers and stable staff gradually fill the barn. The chapter notes that nineteen Japanese horses are entered in the Saudi Cup, eighteen from the JRA and one from the NAR.
• A local stable hand tells Zepp to change into formal clothing, prompting Zepp’s confusion and a humorous complaint from the German farrier about the local staff being overly particular.

2. Character Developments

• Kitano is calm and focused as the race approaches. Rather than becoming consumed by nervousness or excitement, he demonstrates professional discipline and a clear awareness of his many responsibilities.
• He maintains a realistic attitude toward victory: effort does not guarantee success, but he still intends to give everything he has. His deeper motivation is the connection and harmony created between horse and rider during competition, not merely winning.
• Ogawa Kanna appears playful and observant. She teases Kitano about his determination, perceptively recognizing his desire to win from his expression, and gives him chocolates despite pretending to be casual about it.
• Ogawa Masaru shows care and affection toward Mejiro Sakuya by decorating her mane with pink ribbons, revealing his gentle involvement with the horse’s preparation.
• Zepp remains practical and focused on technical details, carefully inspecting the horse’s hoof condition, though he is also somewhat informal and unprepared for local expectations about dress.
• Mejiro Sakuya is portrayed as calm and cooperative, standing quietly while Masaru braids her mane.

3. Significant Themes

• Professional responsibility versus personal emotion: Kitano must manage extensive logistical and regulatory work while carrying the emotional weight of the upcoming race.
• Victory and effort: The chapter emphasizes that success is never guaranteed, yet genuine commitment remains worthwhile. Kitano values the experience and partnership of racing as much as the result.
• Cultural differences: The interactions with Saudi officials and stable staff highlight differences in regulations, etiquette, clothing expectations, and workplace customs.
• Affection and camaraderie: Valentine’s Day provides a lighter emotional backdrop, showing the friendly, teasing relationships within the camp.
• Preparation and ritual: Hydration, documentation, hoof checks, grooming, and decorations all demonstrate the careful preparation surrounding a major race.

4. Character Interactions

• Kitano and Kanna share a relaxed breakfast conversation. She jokes about his determination and gives him chocolates, while he responds with mild embarrassment and dry humor.
• Kanna’s teasing contrasts with Kitano’s restrained, professional attitude, though he admits that winning would be a welcome reward.
• Kitano observes Masaru and Zepp preparing Mejiro Sakuya without interrupting, showing his respect for their work.
• The local stable hand’s request that Zepp dress formally creates a comic clash between international racing personnel and Saudi expectations.
• The chapter ends with the camp assembled and the horse prepared, while Kitano’s demanding race-day duties—and the anticipation of the Saudi Cup—continue.

Chapter Summary: “An Unexpected Encounter with an Ideal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wada Ryuji prepares to ride Mejiro Sakuya in the Saudi Derby, his first graded-race opportunity of the year after months without a major ride.
• Before leaving the Japanese riders’ area, senior jockey Yutaka Take jokingly warns him that excessive whipping in the Middle East will result in fines, easing the tension with his familiar humor.
• Wada changes into Mejiro’s distinctive white-and-green racing silks and reflects on the importance of the opportunity and the trust placed in him by owner Kitano.
• His fellow Japanese rider, Lian Dawen, represents Togen Coffee in yellow-and-black silks. The two exchange encouragement and prepare to compete against a strong international field.
• At the parade ring, Wada observes the Saudi racetrack’s organized system, including numbered bibs for training assistants. Zepp, humorously registered as one of the assistants, draws Wada’s attention.
• Wada reunites with Mejiro Sakuya, whose calm, dignified behavior contrasts with the pressure and excitement surrounding the race. Ogawa Masaru reports that she conserved her energy well.
• Despite being only about the sixth favorite, Sakuya receives overwhelming support from the Mejiro Association and Japanese fans in the stands.
• Sakuya enters the starting gate without hesitation, remaining composed despite the noise and the nervous horses around her.
• The chapter ends as all eleven runners are loaded and the Saudi Derby begins. Wada adjusts his balance and breathing, ready to give the race everything he has.

Character Developments

• Wada Ryuji: Shows renewed determination and professional confidence. His initial doubts about Kitano’s support have become gratitude, motivating him to repay that trust through his riding. Although experienced enough not to be overwhelmed by pre-race nerves, he still feels the significance of his first graded-race ride of the year.
• Mejiro Sakuya: Is characterized as exceptionally calm, disciplined, and mature for a horse in her classic year. Her stable temperament and ability to ignore the crowd reinforce Wada’s confidence in her.
• Lian Dawen: Appears as Wada’s fellow Japanese representative and friendly rival. Their fist bump emphasizes mutual respect despite competing against each other.
• Yutaka Take: Maintains his teasing, humorous personality while offering Wada a memorable warning before the race.
• Kitano: Though absent from the immediate race preparations, his faith in Wada is presented as a major source of the jockey’s resolve.
• Ogawa Masaru and the support team: Provide practical reassurance and demonstrate their confidence in Sakuya’s preparation.

Significant Themes

• Trust and responsibility: Wada’s desire to honor Kitano’s faith gives the race personal meaning beyond simple victory.
• Composure under pressure: Sakuya’s calmness contrasts with the noise, heat, media attention, and nervous competitors surrounding her.
• International competition: The Saudi Derby is presented as a serious global contest in which luck matters less because of the stable track conditions.
• Experience versus potential: Wada’s veteran composure is paired with Sakuya’s youthful but unusually mature demeanor.
• National and team pride: Wada and Lian represent Japan, while the traveling camp and Mejiro supporters create a strong sense of collective support.

Character Interactions

• Yutaka Take teases Wada before departure, reinforcing their senior-junior relationship.
• Wada and Lian exchange a supportive fist bump despite entering the race as competitors.
• Wada shares a light, slightly awkward moment with Zepp, who has been assigned the role of training assistant.
• Ogawa praises Sakuya’s preparation and entrusts her to Wada, emphasizing the cooperation between trainer and jockey.
• The Mejiro fans’ unified cheering connects Sakuya and her team to a larger community and raises the emotional stakes before the start.