"Let's welcome jockey Sasaki. This is your first interview, isn't it, Sasaki?"
"Yes, and I'm a little nervous, since it's my first time."
After handing his jacket to a staff member, Koichi quickly walked over to the female host.
"Let's congratulate Sasaki and Golden Masterpiece once again on their first Grade 3 victory."
The host handed Koichi another microphone.
When the race had first started, she really hadn't expected to find herself interviewing a young man like him.
Nineteen really was a remarkable age.
It couldn't help reminding her of T.M. Opera O and Wada.
"Thank you."
Koichi gave a polite smile.
Once he was up onstage, he felt he could just speak naturally.
"For our first question, Sasaki, how do you feel after claiming your first victory?"
The host naturally knew that the young man before her had caused quite a stir recently.
Every newspaper had speculated about him from all sorts of angles.
People online had been even more merciless.
No one had expected a rookie jockey to actually win a Grade 3 race.
Koichi let out a soft breath, then said slowly:
"I have a lot of feelings about it, of course. First, I'd like to thank everyone at the ranch and the people around me for their support. Then I'd like to thank my partner. Golden Masterpiece performed wonderfully today!"
After crossing over to this world, he had certainly been through plenty of twists and turns.
Fortunately, thanks to his and Golden Masterpiece's efforts, everything had now settled down.
He had also exchanged a few words with Ayano Aoe when he arrived earlier.
"That's certainly true. We could see how much pressure you were under during the race, Sasaki."
The host picked up the conversation.
That final sprint had really been a sight to behold.
Perhaps this rising star of horse racing was about to embark on a new journey.
"For our second question, Sasaki, why did you want to become a jockey?"
It had to be said that Koichi Sasaki's physique wasn't particularly suited to being a jockey.
At 170 centimeters, he was far too tall by jockey standards, which also made it difficult for him to manage his weight.
"Well, that was because of T.M. Opera O and jockey Wada. They were my childhood idols, and they were the reason I entered this profession."
Holding the microphone, Koichi's gaze was especially resolute.
On that point, he really wasn't lying.
Back in his original world, he had also been moved by their story.
The story of the Overlord of the Century's End and a rookie jockey.
Sadly, after T.M. Opera O retired, Wada had never won another Grade 1 race.
"So it really was T.M. Opera O and Wada. No wonder those rumors have been going around. I didn't expect you to actually be a fan of theirs, Sasaki."
The host paused in surprise, then smiled.
He had taken this path because of his idols, and now he was following in their footsteps.
The only question was whether he could achieve the same great feat!
"Yes. Our goal this year is to challenge Grade 1 races. Thank you all for your support!"
After spotting the small sign held by a staff member below the stage, Koichi said everything else he had to say in one go.
Finally, that's done.
As for what everyone else thought, that wasn't his concern.
"Thank you for joining us for this interview, Sasaki. I'm sure you'll gain plenty of fans after this."
There was no denying it.
When it came to looks, this young man had a lot going for him.
"Get in. Your hotel is already booked, and we're flying out first thing tomorrow morning."
Sitting in the back seat of a black sedan, Ayano Aoe turned toward him with a smile.
Koichi Sasaki's performance today had left her very satisfied, especially that official interview afterward.
"Miss, are we going out to eat?"
Having changed into a down jacket, Koichi asked curiously.
Yosuke apparently still had to look after Asho, so he hadn't come along.
Their race had been late to begin with, and with all the paperwork and interviews afterward, it was already dark by the time they finished.
"You took first place today. As the owner, I should naturally celebrate a little. Come on in. I made a special reservation at a long-established restaurant today."
Ayano Aoe nodded.
Once Koichi got in, she said:
"Take it slowly."
Kyoto was a great place in every respect, but traffic was particularly bad during the evening commute. Of course, she wasn't in any rush to eat.
"I'm already planning your next race. Now you and Golden Masterpiece can enter Grade 2 races directly."
A race's grade and whether a horse was eligible to enter were also tied to the horse's prize earnings.
Asho had just added forty million to those earnings, which certainly saved them a great deal of effort.
"The Spring Championship?"
Koichi was still taken aback when he read the new information.
Were they going to enter a Grade 2 race so soon?
"This will also help prepare you for the upcoming Tokyo Satsuki Sho. If you can get a good result in this race, you'll have secured your ticket to Grade 1."
Ayano Aoe was in a very good mood, so she was naturally happy to explain.
Golden Masterpiece had performed far better this time than ever before.
She had finally taken the first step toward her ambition.
"Of course, if you want to enter other races in the meantime, that's fine too. We have other racehorses at the ranch, but you'll only be able to compete within Hokkaido."
"Well... I haven't decided yet."
Koichi hadn't expected her to offer such favorable terms.
However he looked at it, he still lacked racing experience.
"There's certainly no need to rush that decision. The Spring Championship won't be held until late March, anyway."
Ayano Aoe gazed at the bustling streets outside.
The trainer had originally been supposed to join them for this celebratory dinner, but she had already received word that the trainer had boarded a plane.
"All right."
Koichi naturally had his own considerations.
If he couldn't enter the local races in Hokkaido, the prize money certainly wouldn't compare to races at the four major racecourses.
The upcoming Spring Championship was particularly important.
The Satsuki Sho, held in April, was one of Japan's most important Grade 1 races, and the first leg of the Japan Racing Association's Triple Crown.
The second leg was the Tokyo Yushun, held in May!
The third leg was the Kikuka Sho, held in October!
Winning that Triple Crown would elevate a racehorse's entire career to a whole new level.
"Miss."
"Hmm?"
Ayano Aoe responded while admiring the night view.
"I've decided. I want to focus on preparing for the Spring Championship in March, but I have one request."
After thinking it over for a while, Koichi finally made his decision.
Over this period, besides fighting to pay off his own debts, he had also come to hope that Asho could earn more honors.
"Let's hear it."
Ayano Aoe said with a faint smile.
Just as she had expected.
Sasaki hadn't disappointed her after all.
In her view, Koichi Sasaki should now be working to build his rapport with Golden Masterpiece as quickly as possible.
A first-place finish in a Grade 3 race didn't prove anything.
(End of chapter)
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