A bold gamble!
Golden Masterpiece burst straight through the gap between the two horses on the inside.
"Leading the field is number four, Shasta Mountain."
"Right behind is our favorite, Golden Masterpiece. Dominant Position and Eishin Flash are now closing in from the outside too."
"Following those two horses is the third favorite, Triumph Ballet."
"The moment of truth is here! Who will become the Takarazuka Kinen champion?!"
The commentator spoke at a blistering pace.
On the track, everything could change in an instant. Any horse might suddenly charge up from behind.
Golden Masterpiece naturally had the best chance of winning now. Not only had the horse secured a good position on the inside, but that speed was rising rapidly.
By contrast, several other horses had been hampered and forced to take the outside.
The horse with the strongest Final Kick had taken the inside, while they had been driven out wide.
Golden Masterpiece had already established a winning advantage.
Koichi Sasaki was as daring as ever!
If he had been boxed in, he would never have found a way out all the way down the stretch.
Yasuo Iwata was naturally anxious now too.
He had never expected Golden Masterpiece, whom he had been following closely, to slip away during the turn. Now he had no choice but to chase from the outside.
Yuga Kawada, currently in first place, also turned his head to glance beside him.
His brief spell in the lead was about to end.
He had already witnessed Golden Masterpiece's powerful Final Kick in previous races.
And Dominant Position, Golden Masterpiece's greatest rival in this race, had naturally not given up either.
Despite being on the outside, the horse had not wasted much energy earlier.
Now it was time for a battle of Final Kicks!
Ooooh-!