Getting into form

Hokkai Ranch.

"Have you finished entering all the data?"

After returning to the ranch, Koichi first checked on Gold Ship, who had gone back to the stable to rest, then headed to his office.

The place had now become a shared workspace for him and Megumi Mitsumori.

"Of course. I'm a professional, you know. Now Ship just has to wait for the right time."

Sitting in front of the computer, Megumi Mitsumori looked proud of herself.

Besides Gold Ship's pedigree, there was plenty of other information they had to enter.

Because of Koichi's own schedule, they could only choose a Newcomer Race in July. After all, he might be competing in other races throughout March, April, and May.

Ship was almost two now.

"I'll be counting on you for the next little while."

Koichi pulled over a stool and sat down.

Once he was off work, he was practically a couch potato. Now he was just waiting for Miku Kuchiki to bring dinner.

He had barely had a moment to himself lately.

First there was Gold Ship, and now Golden Masterpiece.

"Is Golden Masterpiece not in very good form?"

Megumi Mitsumori turned to look at her boss, who had just returned from work.

Honestly, she was quite happy here. The atmosphere was good, and they all knew one another well, so they could speak freely whenever something came up or needed discussing.

Although trainers held a high position in the industry, that kind of authority belonged only to those who had made a name for themselves.

They still depended on owners for their livelihood.

"Maybe it's because the turnout period just ended. Asho really wasn't in great form today, but there weren't any major problems. The foundation is still there, after all."

Koichi poured himself a glass of water.

Still, he felt Asho would have no trouble running eighteen hundred meters. This race was only two hundred meters longer than the one in Kyoto.

Though those two hundred meters could decide a great deal.

"It takes time to get back into form. There's no need to rush. We still have plenty of time."

Megumi Mitsumori explained.

Racehorses weren't machines, after all. They were bound to have good days and bad days.

As long as examinations didn't reveal any issues that would prevent Golden Masterpiece from racing, everything would be fine.

"For now, we still need to hear what the trainer thinks. As long as Asho performs up to his usual standard, I don't think securing a place in this year's Satsuki Sho will be a problem."

Koichi remained optimistic, of course.

At three years old, Golden Masterpiece was remarkably strong. He hoped their partnership would take them much further.

"Young Master Koichi, dinner is ready."

Miku Kuchiki knocked, then opened the door and spoke.

She had just finished taking care of Gold Ship, then hurried to the kitchen to have the chef prepare the young master's dinner first.

He had worked all day and must have been tired.

"Let's all eat here in the office today. We can talk about what's coming up, too."

Koichi thought for a moment before speaking.

"No objections from me."

Megumi Mitsumori was feeling a little too lazy to move as well.

"All right, I'll bring everyone's dinner over."

Miku Kuchiki nodded, then hurried out.

They had become a little team now.

"What are you looking at?"

Seeing Megumi Mitsumori staring at the computer screen again, Koichi asked curiously.

"Ability test results for the other two-year-old newcomers, of course. Know yourself and your opponents, and you'll never lose a battle."

Megumi Mitsumori had gathered all the data on the two-year-old newcomers registered in Hokkaido.

Ship's future opponents were bound to be among them!

"All right, then."

Koichi hadn't expected Megumi Mitsumori to be quite so motivated.

The next day.

As usual, Koichi went to Golden Masterpiece's stable early in the morning.

This time, however, the former neighbor hadn't returned. Danon Blue was still training in Kyoto, preparing for the next race.

He had also heard that the regular jockey had been replaced this time.

"You're here early."

As they headed out, Koichi and Golden Masterpiece ran into Kenichi Ikezoe again.

"Good morning, sir."

Koichi greeted him from horseback.

He had heard that Kenichi Ikezoe would start spending time with his mounts about a month before a race. It turned out to be true.

"Mm, heading out for morning training?"

"Yes. The next race is coming up soon, so Golden Masterpiece needs to start getting into a training routine."

Koichi nodded.

Although both of them would be going to Hanshin Racecourse, his race was clearly coming up sooner.

"Asho, we meet again."

Kenichi Ikezoe was rather envious of Sasaki.

As Golden Masterpiece's former partner, he naturally knew the horse's temperament well.

He really had no idea what kind of charm Sasaki possessed to make Golden Masterpiece so obedient.

People said seeing was believing, while hearsay couldn't be trusted.

Yet even seeing it for himself now, he still found it hard to believe.

Hmph-

Golden Masterpiece snorted dismissively, then turned his head away.

He had little interest in acknowledging Ikezoe.

Compared with Koichi, the two-legged creature who could replenish his carrots, this deadweight was of no use at all.

"Well, I won't interrupt your training. I need to go check on Dream Journey, too."

Seeing that Golden Masterpiece wanted nothing to do with him, Kenichi Ikezoe gave an awkward smile.

He would go back to his old favorite instead.

Dream Journey had an even worse temper, but would at least acknowledge him when in a good mood.

Clip-clop, clip-clop-

Once Ikezoe left, Golden Masterpiece continued toward the training grounds.

Koichi glanced back at the retreating figure.

Ikezoe seems a little sad today.

He was also the first jockey willing to chat with Koichi. In all the time he had been here, Koichi hadn't talked with any of his colleagues.

As for Trainer Kudo, the two of them had still only met once.

Although the ranch was large, they should still have had plenty of chances to run into each other. Perhaps it really was as Yosuke had said, and Kudo was deliberately avoiding him.

He would wait to hear Ayano Aoe's opinion. She was the one who had the final say, after all.

"Asho, try to be a little nicer to other people from now on."

Koichi brought it up as they walked.

Still, he had to admit that Golden Masterpiece's temperament made him something of an outsider.

Gold Ship wasn't particularly good-tempered either, but he still had a best buddy of his own.

Neigh-

Golden Masterpiece was unmoved.

His main task today was to finish training quickly, then get a bath and rest.

He would have to do it all again that afternoon.

Neigh-

Neigh-!

When they saw Golden Masterpiece arrive, the racehorses already there all kept their distance.

This chestnut had long since made it onto their blacklist.

He looked so pitiful, yet he was always picking on them.

(End of chapter)