First Place!

How was this possible?!

Matsutomo Kazuma was stunned by that overwhelming presence.

No matter how hard he used his whip, Danon Blue could no longer muster the strength to accelerate.

Come on, run faster!

He was going to lose first place!!

Heh-

As he overtook the leader, Danon Blue, Koichi turned his head and grinned.

He would be taking first place this time!

The only pity was that all the jockeys wore goggles, so he couldn't get a clear look at Matsutomo Kazuma's expression.

Besides, Asho was simply too fast.

During the final acceleration, Koichi felt as though he was going to freeze to death.

Snort-!

Snort-!

With one meter left to the finish, Golden Masterpiece noticeably slowed down.

His work was done. He could clock out now.

Feeling the change in the reins, he knew he had reached the finish line.

As for Danon Blue, who had once bullied him, that horse was no match for him at all.

"Is this the terrifying Final Kick ability of the Golden family?!"

"Golden Masterpiece crosses the line three lengths ahead! Red Davis follows, with Appreciating Wisdom charging up from behind to take third!"

With the commentator's announcement, the race came to an end.

Before the race, no one had expected this new pairing to take first place.

The big screen began showing a slow-motion replay, and Koichi Sasaki's raised fist stood out in particular.

His bright, joyful smile spread that happiness to countless spectators at the track.

After crossing the line, Koichi pulled off his goggles and tossed them away.

This was the first victory he and Asho had won together!

It would have been a lie to say he wasn't excited. After all, this was the result of all the hard work he and Asho had put in over so long.

Speed really was a man's romance.

During that final sprint, he had felt his adrenaline surge.

"Asho, you were incredible."

Koichi patted Golden Masterpiece's neck.

Ding.

Congratulations on taking first place in the race. You have received ten prize draws.

After jogging for a while longer, Koichi guided Golden Masterpiece toward the exit.

If he remembered correctly, the winner also had to give an interview.

But he hadn't prepared anything at all...

Neigh, neigh~

Golden Masterpiece happily tossed his head as well.

The cheers from the stands continued.

Quite a few racing fans had become fans of his after this single race.

Golden Masterpiece's Final Kick ability had been overwhelmingly powerful. A Final Kick like that could put any race beyond doubt.

"Golden Masterpiece-!!"

As they approached the stands, both Koichi and Asho heard the shouts from that direction.

"Come on. We should go find Yosuke."

Koichi gave the crowd a small nod, then had Golden Masterpiece trot over toward the other horses.

Asho didn't feel cold, but he certainly did.

"Thanks for looking out for me this time, senior."

Then Koichi spotted Matsutomo Kazuma, who had mocked him earlier, among the other horses.

He had said he'd crush him, and crush him he would!

Of course, Danon Blue was innocent.

He was actually quite fond of this little chestnut horse.

"Hmph-!"

Matsutomo Kazuma snorted and turned his head away.

The other guy had just gotten lucky this time!

"Well, I'll be off, then~~"

Seeing that the other man was ignoring him, Koichi didn't linger.

What he needed most right now was his warm down jacket!

The jockeys around them immediately began discussing the exchange.

It seemed those two weren't on very good terms.

Was there really some juicy gossip to dig up here?

"Koichi, Koichi, you were amazing!"

Hitachi Yosuke, who was waiting in the number-one spot, rushed straight toward the pair.

As their Stablehand, he was naturally the happiest to see them take first place.

Glare-!

Golden Masterpiece stared with wide eyes, his ears flattened out to the sides in Airplane Ears.

How dare this Stablehand be so loud!

He had nearly startled him just now.

"Uh... Koichi, we finally took first place!"

The Stablehand, who had been so excited a moment earlier, was frightened into backing off.

The tyrant was still the tyrant, all right.

The staff nearby were dumbfounded by the sight.

Still, they envied him. After all, his horse had just won this race.

Just like that, forty million in prize money was theirs.

"M-my down jacket!"

Koichi quickly jumped down and reached to snatch the black down jacket from Yosuke's hands.

He really was going to freeze to death!

During the race, adrenaline had kept him going. Now that everything had settled down, his body temperature was dropping even faster.

"Right, right, put it on!"

Only then did Hitachi Yosuke snap out of it, giving an embarrassed smile.

This was a Grade 3 victory!

Compared with the two-year-old races, this race had clearly been much tougher!

That final sprint had been so cool!

Hah-

After bouncing around on the spot for a while, Koichi gradually felt himself recovering.

Meanwhile, the racetrack staff were carrying out Golden Masterpiece's final inspection.

Once the inspection results were confirmed, Golden Masterpiece would officially be declared the winner of this race.

Now they just had to go through the formalities.

"Well done. That final sprint was excellent."

Ayano Aoe came over too, dressed in work clothes.

As the owner, she would naturally join the winner for photographs at the end.

She was very satisfied with Golden Masterpiece and Sasaki's performance.

"Asho deserves the credit for today."

Koichi breathed into his hands a couple of times before speaking.

There was no denying that, aside from their strategy, Golden Masterpiece's excellent performance had been the key today. If anything had gone wrong during the final sprint, he wouldn't have been the winner.

The young lady looked really sharp in her all-black outfit today.

He had gained quite a lot this time: two million in pay, plus ten prize draws.

"Come along. We'll be taking photographs shortly."

Ayano Aoe smiled faintly.

Naturally, she was the biggest winner this time. Golden Masterpiece had taken first place, and Danon Blue had finished fourth.

Next, they would have Golden Masterpiece keep aiming for Grade 1!

As for Trainer Kudo, he was probably already booking a flight back.

This defeat would undoubtedly diminish his prestige at the ranch, but it also provided the best possible confirmation of his eye for talent.

"Miss Aoe, Jockey Sasaki, please follow me."

Once the inspection was complete, the staff called the jockey, Stablehand, and owner over.

Golden Masterpiece also had a winner's sash draped over him.

Neigh, neigh-

Golden Masterpiece shook his head, then looked toward Koichi.

Wasn't it time to clock out yet?

"Come on, let's go take the photographs first. You have an interview afterward too, so give it some thought."

"Yes, young lady."

Koichi signaled for Hitachi Yosuke to lead Golden Masterpiece, then hurried after her himself.

So... what exactly should he say in the interview?

(End of chapter)