Tokyo Racecourse.
"First to emerge is Special Week's daughter, the favorite, Lovely Scenery."
By this point, Lovely Scenery had already won five Grade 1 races, including last year's Autumn Tenno Sho.
When Yasuo Iwata rode Lovely Scenery out.
The entire grandstand erupted.
Lovely Scenery was undoubtedly the strongest contender for the title, and everyone wanted to see her win the Consecutive Title.
"Following close behind are Jockey Yutaka Take and Narita Crystal."
The camera soon shifted to the dark bay racehorse.
Although both Narita Crystal and Lovely Scenery were offspring of Special Week, their records were worlds apart.
Narita Crystal's only victory had come in last year's Niigata Kinen.
"I wonder whether Jockey Yutaka Take and Narita Crystal will ever show that same powerful bond he had with Special Week."
"Surely that would be Lovely Scenery, wouldn't it? That father and daughter won the Autumn Tenno Sho Consecutive Title."
"I still believe in Jockey Yutaka Take."
"The third horse is our second favorite for this race, Shadow of the Night."
The winner of the Autumn Tenno Sho prep race had finished second to Lovely Scenery last year.
This horse was another leading contender, and this time a foreign jockey had taken over the ride.
The third favorite was Eishin Flash, ridden by Li Muhua.
As last year's Derby winner, Eishin Flash was not to be underestimated.
The jockey had also delivered some outstanding performances on Japanese tracks.
The fourth favorite was Rose Kingdom, also ridden by a foreign jockey.
Last year's Japan Cup champion.
The fifth favorite was Heart's Sincere.
The winner of this year's Takarazuka Kinen, having snatched victory from Lovely Scenery.
The seventh favorite was Japan Jordan, ridden by Koichi Sasaki.
With two consecutive Grade 2 stakes wins this year, the horse's pre-race figures were impressive.
But no