Aoe Ranch.
Although Koichi Sasaki had never been here before, he had certainly heard of this famous ranch.
His family's ranch was privately owned, while this one had been built entirely with funding from a corporate group. It had produced quite a few famous racehorses.
The grounds alone were several times larger than his family's, and its facilities were world-class.
It was only half an hour's drive from his family's ranch.
"Koichi, over here!"
A handsome middle-aged man stubbed out his cigarette.
Then he strode over and pulled Koichi into a firm hug.
He was very fond of his sister's son.
"Ahem, good morning, Uncle."
Koichi Sasaki gave a couple of dry coughs.
He really doesn't know his own strength.
Since jockeys had to keep their weight within a certain range, he didn't have much meat on his bones.
"You came back to Hokkaido without even telling me? Come on, I'll take you inside."
Ayumu Kusakawa looked Koichi over carefully, then patted his shoulder.
Naturally, he already knew what had happened at Hokkai Ranch.
After swiping his card, Ayumu Kusakawa led Koichi inside.
"So many racehorses..."
As soon as Koichi Sasaki entered, he spotted several fillies running around in the adjacent paddock.
They looked to be a few months old.
A little farther over, he could see mares grazing. Foals only a few months old still couldn't leave their mothers.
"The ones here are ordinary racehorses. Farther inside, you'll find the offspring of famous horses. Of course, that doesn't guarantee they'll perform well."
Ayumu Kusakawa began showing his nephew around his workplace.
Although he didn't hold much authority here, he figured finding Koichi a horse he could race wouldn't be a problem.
Whether they could achieve good results would come down to luck.
Koichi was still too young. Finding a good horse here was certainly out of the question.
"Is that the training area over there?"
Koichi looked toward a huge building in the distance.
A big ranch really is something else.
His family's ranch had a training track too, but its facilities certainly couldn't compare.
"That's where the racehorses swim. The place beside it is where they train every day."
Ayumu Kusakawa explained with a smile.
He rather hoped his nephew would come work here with him.
"You haven't found a trainer for your family's horse yet, have you?"
Ayumu Kusakawa followed up with another question.
A good trainer was extremely important to a racehorse.
After all.
Only a good trainer could bring out a racehorse's full potential.
Whether it excelled over long distances or short ones.
Whether it preferred turf or dirt.
There was also its racing style to consider. Every horse was different, after all.
"It's just about time to start training. As for a trainer, I'm planning to let a friend of mine try."
Koichi thought for a moment before answering.
Trainers cost money, and they also received ten percent of the prize money from every win.
He had to save wherever he could.
If he sent little Gold Ship to Aoe Ranch, it would cost more than three hundred thousand yen a month.
That was more than an adult's monthly salary.
"Well, since you've already made up your mind, I won't say any more."
Ayumu Kusakawa had originally been thinking of having the young horse brought here.
As someone in the horse-rearing department, he could certainly get Koichi a substantial discount.
"Let's take a look at the track first. That's where the unraced two- and three-year-olds are."
As an insider, he naturally knew something about the horses' actual condition.
The training center.
"Watch out, miss!"
"Get out of the way! Move-the horse has spooked!"
The two had still been chatting when they reached the entrance and saw a chestnut colt running wild.
Neigh-!
A colt weighing hundreds of pounds wasn't something an ordinary person could stop by force.
"Watch out!"
Seeing that the racehorse was about to crash into the woman ahead, Koichi charged straight over.
If it hit her, a hospital stay would be the least of her worries.
Activate skill!
Soothing!
He hadn't expected something like this on his very first day. Fortunately, he had a skill to protect him.
Neigh-!
The chestnut colt skidded to a halt, then reared up, its raised forelegs casting Koichi in shadow.
This human actually dared to stand in my way!
He's got some nerve.
"Protect the young lady! What are you standing around for?!"
Two bodyguards in black immediately dragged the woman away from behind Koichi Sasaki.
The racehorse still looked furious.
It was best not to provoke it now. They were bodyguards; handling horses wasn't part of their job.
Snort-
Two jets of air burst from the chestnut colt's nostrils.
Under the influence of Koichi's skill, its anger gradually subsided.
"Easy, easy. Everything's all right now..."
Koichi took a tentative step forward, then slowly raised his right hand to reach for the reins.
It really does work!
Seeing that the horse was no longer as agitated as before, Koichi breathed a sigh of relief.
His slight frame certainly couldn't withstand a collision with it.
Snort-
The chestnut colt shook its head, clearly unwilling to let Koichi take the reins.
Man and horse remained locked in a standoff.
"Are you all right, miss?!"
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Ayumu Kusakawa hurried over to the woman and asked in a low voice.
If anything happened to her, they would all be finished.
"I'm fine."
Ayano Aoe let out a soft breath.
She had never imagined that simply coming to watch the racehorses train would land her in a situation like this.
Fortunately, that man had brought the horse under control.
"Do you know him?"
Ayano Aoe brushed back her hair as she asked.
"Yes. He's my nephew, Koichi Sasaki. He just graduated from jockey school and came to look for a job at our ranch."
Ayumu Kusakawa spoke with his head lowered.
He hadn't expected his nephew to save his life on the very first day he came here.
This was certainly an opportunity, too. A newly graduated jockey had already caught the attention of the ranch owner's daughter.
"So he's a jockey."
Ayano Aoe nodded.
Whatever the case, he had saved her from danger.
She thought for a moment, then said:
"Since he's a jockey, let him ride Golden Masterpiece in the next race."
"Miss, that's..."
Ayumu Kusakawa froze.
If he remembered correctly, Golden Masterpiece's next race was a G3 event in Kyoto.
He had only intended to let his nephew try a maiden race today, yet now he was jumping straight up two levels.
"Do you have an objection?"
Ayano Aoe narrowed her eyes slightly, and the two bodyguards behind her glared at him as well.
She had high hopes for Golden Masterpiece, even though it had finished near the back in its last G2 race...
What it needed now was a jockey who could keep it under control.
"No, none at all!"
Ayumu Kusakawa hastily shook his head.
How could a minor ranch supervisor like him dare to object?
"Have them prepare the track and let Mr. Sasaki give it a try."
Ayano Aoe was decisive and quick to act.
In any case, she had come to the ranch today to see Golden Masterpiece.
"Yes!"
The employee, still shaken by the scare, immediately turned and ran off.
(End of chapter)
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