"Sure enough, heading home was what made him happiest."
On her way back to the VIP room, Megumi Mitsumori couldn't help remarking on it.
"You worked him as hard as you possibly could. Of course he'd want to go home and get some proper rest after the race. Mostly, though, he's thinking about going back to eat carrots."
Koichi understood Gold Ship perfectly.
"To be honest, I really didn't expect us to win this race without any real trouble. That move was absolutely brilliant."
Megumi Mitsumori glanced up at the sky and sighed.
Still, if Gold Ship could perform this consistently in his upcoming races, she felt he could go much further.
"He was bound to have a day when he was in great form."
Naturally, Koichi wanted her to take it a little easier.
"But this really makes it hard to face the races coming up."
Megumi Mitsumori scratched her head.
If she hadn't seen what Gold Ship was capable of at his best, she probably wouldn't have been so troubled.
"Try not to worry so much. I'm heading back."
Koichi patted her shoulder, then took a different path.
He really was exhausted after that race.
Then he spotted Saki Ikegami waiting there with everything ready.
He still had one race left.
"Congratulations, Sasaki. Get some proper rest. I've already made the arrangements for today's ceremony."
Saki Ikegami handed him a fresh helmet and a towel.
As for who would hold the sign and who would present the commemorative gift, Koichi had already chosen them.
Having Kenichi Ikezoe and Yutaka Take come in person was something he could be quite proud of.
"Thanks for all your hard work today, too. Without such good rides this week, reaching 100 wins would've been really difficult. I'm going to celebrate properly tonight."