Ship's Ability Test

Hokkai Ranch.

Clip-clop, clip-clop-

Gold Ship raced down the track with its weights on.

Unlike before, it wore only a hood this time, though Koichi would handle things differently in other circumstances.

For now, Ship was still willing to obey Koichi's instructions.

If they came from Megumi Mitsumori, though, it would have to think about it first.

Click-

Click-

Standing beside the track, Megumi Mitsumori quickly recorded its speed.

Over the past few days, she had picked up a few tricks, though she still needed Gold Ship's cooperation.

Its condition was getting better and better.

"Let's call it a day."

Koichi counted the laps they had run that afternoon, then beckoned to Miku Kuchiki.

Gold Ship's Ability Test was only a week away.

Passing on the first try would be ideal.

Neigh, neigh-

As soon as Gold Ship saw Koichi dismount, it rubbed its face against him.

Work was over.

"I know, I know. I only just got down, and you're already asking for food."

Koichi reached over and took a carrot from Megumi Mitsumori.

Ship's affectionate gestures weren't free.

Every time, he had to pay a carrot. Naturally, he had already set aside Asho's share.

"Ship, let's go back for your bath."

Miku Kuchiki hurried over, then led Gold Ship toward the stables.

Her workload had grown too. She now had to bathe Ship every day.

Neigh, neigh-

Gold Ship whinnied, then swished its big tail as it headed off for its bath.

"I never realized Ship liked carrots so much."

Megumi Mitsumori blinked as she watched Ship leave.

Maybe she could try that next time too.

It was only a carrot, hardly anything precious to her.

As long as it got Ship to cooperate, that was a small price to pay.

First place in a Newcomer Race paid seven million. Who knew how many carrots that could buy?

"I guess."

Naturally, Koichi couldn't tell her that his carrots were different from the ones sold at the market.

They certainly looked the same, but he had no idea what sort of effect they had on racehorses. After all, he couldn't communicate with Gold Ship and the others.

As long as they liked eating them, that was enough.

"By the way, are you going to visit Aoe Ranch soon?"

"Timing-wise, it should be about right. Asho's break should be ending soon too. It had definitely put on quite a bit of weight the last time I saw it."

Koichi thought for a moment before answering.

The upcoming Spring Stakes was very important to both of them.

After all.

It was a crucial race that would determine whether they could make a bid for their first Grade 1 title.

Those veteran jockeys would surely need far less time than he did. They had raced on that track countless times; it was practically like coming home for them.

He needed to study it carefully over the coming days.

"You'll definitely have enough time. Ship isn't the way it was when we first started, after all."

Megumi Mitsumori still didn't want Koichi to feel too much pressure.

Even if they failed this time, they still had Ship as their mainstay.

"Don't worry about me. Right now, your priority is figuring out how to handle Ship."

Koichi could clearly hear the concern in her voice.

He gave a faint smile as he spoke.

"Hmph-I'll definitely have it sorted out when I get back."

He had to admit, Ship really wasn't easy to manage.

Fortunately, there hadn't been any major problems. It just seemed to have found a way to slack off lately.

"I believe in you."

Koichi blinked.

Ring, ring, ring-

"Who's calling?"

"My uncle. He's probably about to head to work."

Koichi checked the caller ID.

His uncle was now the only person at Clear River Ranch who contacted him directly.

"Okay, I understand."

"No problem, Uncle. I've pretty much wrapped things up here too. I certainly have no objections to management's arrangements."

Koichi soon finished his call.

Their main point was that they wanted him to get ready sooner. A rookie was still a rookie, after all.

"Did they move things up?"

Megumi Mitsumori glanced at Koichi.

She hadn't heard the conversation very clearly, but she had caught a little of it.

"Yeah. They don't have much confidence in a rookie jockey, and this race is important, so that's what they've asked for."

Koichi spread his hands helplessly.

Fortunately, they had already registered Ship ahead of time.

If things had dragged on any longer, they would probably have needed to find another jockey to ride Ship in the Ability Test.

"Once you win a Grade 1, they definitely won't treat you like this anymore."

As a newcomer herself, Megumi Mitsumori understood the hardships of being new.

If Sasaki hadn't taken her in, she had no idea where she would be drifting around now.

"Miss, Mr. Sasaki has agreed."

"Mm, understood."

Sitting in her office, Ayano Aoe was reviewing her upcoming schedule.

She had recently heard from her staff that Mr. Sasaki had been busy with matters at his own ranch.

As for the timing, she did have considerations of her own.

This race was extremely important to Golden Masterpiece.

Naturally, she had already worked out a backup plan. It was always best to prepare for both possibilities.

"Has he finished dealing with things at his ranch?"

She really hadn't seen Koichi Sasaki at the ranch lately.

He hadn't even looked for a new horse to enter in a Newcomer Race.

"Huh?"

The assistant froze for a moment before catching on.

She hadn't expected her young mistress to ask about that.

Fortunately, she had done some homework beforehand.

"From what Ayumu Kusakawa said, he's nearly finished. That racehorse is about to take its Ability Test. It should be sometime soon."

Since it was Golden Masterpiece's sibling, she felt that passing an Ability Test shouldn't pose much of a problem.

After all, if it couldn't even clear this first hurdle, there was no point talking about its future.

"Mm. And how is Golden Masterpiece doing?"

Ayano Aoe had been very busy lately.

She had finally found some time today, so naturally, she needed to ask about all these matters.

She was somewhat interested in the racehorse owned by Koichi Sasaki's family.

In fact, as long as Golden Masterpiece produced results, that two-year-old's standing would rise along with it.

Many of the Gold family's offspring had only been born because Dream Journey had made a name for itself.

The relationship between Mr. Sasaki and Asho was becoming increasingly complicated.

That was a good thing for her too.

"Golden Masterpiece has had a very good appetite lately. Its weight has already risen to 460. After some training, I think it should settle at around 450."

The assistant lowered her head and answered quickly.

Sometimes, a racehorse being too fat wasn't a good thing either.

"Tell them to keep an eye on it. Its weight mustn't go up any further."

Ayano Aoe narrowed her eyes.

The race in Kyoto had drawn even more attention to Golden Masterpiece. She didn't want anything else going wrong.

(End of chapter)