Clack-!
As the gates snapped open, number four, Hideo Sato, and number five, Gold Ship, burst out together.
They raced to claim the inside position at the front.
Now that Koichi Sasaki was riding Gold Ship, he no longer felt the fear he used to.
There really wasn't a Racehorse out there that could outmuscle Gold Ship now.
Yutaka Take and Koichi Sasaki turned and exchanged a glance.
Then both began urging their mounts forward, accelerating the Racehorses.
With their riding skills, securing a position up front was certainly no problem.
"Number four, Hideo Sato, and number five, Gold Ship, are first out of the gates! It looks like these two Racehorses will be setting the pace for this race."
"As expected of the first and second favorites, they've shown real strength in seizing the early advantage."
"Although Hideo Sato has secured the rail, Gold Ship doesn't seem willing to let him go. He's keeping him pinned on the inside."
This was exactly the outcome the commentators had hoped to see.
After all, this clash between the two strongest contenders was what the spectators wanted.
"With a different Racehorse, Jockey Sasaki has clearly changed his racing style too. He's giving his opponent no chance to break free."
"It seems we still underestimated Jockey Sasaki. Hideo Sato and Gold Ship are now approaching the first turn."
Out on the track.
A dark bay and a gray were battling for first place.
Seeing such fierce competition, the spectators broke into waves of cheers.
This was what they had come to see.
It seemed they really had underestimated this gray horse. They hadn't expected him to be so physically strong, keeping right on the heels of the favorite, Hideo Sato.
Huff-
Huff-
Gold Ship was maintaining roughly the same speed as Hideo Sato