"Next question, Jockey Sasaki. Was there anything in this race that left a strong impression on you?"
"If I had to pick something, it would definitely be Masayoshi Ubaname's breakaway. He charged straight out of the starting gate. I was a little nervous at first, but thankfully, he didn't get away from us."
Koichi blinked, then answered slowly.
Those words came straight from the heart. The sheer momentum of that opening charge had been overwhelming.
Fortunately, his opponent had run out of stamina with three hundred meters to go.
Otherwise, the outcome of this race would have been anyone's guess.
They had only managed to break the record thanks to the pace he had set, too. The field had been stretched far apart this time.
Riding a closer really did require the right mindset.
"Is there anything you'd like to say to everyone, Jockey Sasaki?"
The host asked.
The rookie's legend was still unfolding.
The question was how Koichi Sasaki would perform in the upcoming Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.
"Thank you all for cheering us on during the race. Our upcoming opponents will be strong, but we'll keep giving it our best."
Koichi thought for a moment before answering.
He was quite eager to take on the winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Quite a few more famous foreign jockeys would be coming this time, too.
"Thank you for joining us for this interview, Jockey Sasaki."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Koichi gave a slight bow, then jogged toward the photo area.
Japan Jordan should have finished its lap by now, so his timing was just right.
"Jockey Sasaki, over here!"
When Tetsuya Futawatari saw Koichi approaching, he immediately gave him a huge hug.
When the final result came through, he had felt as though his