Hokkai Ranch.
"Young master, please be careful on the road. We'll be cheering for you!"
Miku Kuchiki spoke as she looked at Koichi Sasaki with his backpack on.
The young master was off to prepare for another race.
She wondered whether Ship would miss him every day too.
"Don't worry. First place in this race will definitely be mine too."
Koichi gently rubbed her little face.
He was quite confident about this race, but what mattered most was getting into the right condition after arriving.
Although the Racecourse Track distances would keep increasing, there would be no problem as long as he adapted.
"Then leave things here to me. Just focus on preparing for the race."
Megumi Mitsumori also knew how important this race was.
They needed to finish at least second or third.
As long as they showed that powerful finishing kick again, securing a good placing should be no problem.
But unforeseen mishaps were the greatest concern in horse racing.
Last time, they had been lucky enough to draw Starting Stall One.
The other Starting Stall positions would not make things nearly as easy as Starting Stall One.
"Oh, and make sure you read through the information I gathered for you."
"I've already read it several times. It's about time, so I'll get going. The car's here."
Koichi glanced at his phone, then quickly turned and ran outside.
The departure arrangements had naturally stayed much the same, except that the two cars from last time had become one.
Everything at the ranch had, of course, been left to Uncle Kuchiki.
He was now the manager of Hokkai Ranch.
Of course, Ship was his main concern, but he trusted Megumi Mitsumori and Miku Kuchiki to take good care of him.
"Koichi, have you finished handing things over at the ranch?"
When Koichi reached the entrance, Hitachi Yosuke opened the rear car door for him.
They had been given about as much preparation time as last time.
As for trainer Kudo, he had only come by once, checked Golden Masterpiece's condition, and left.
"There really isn't much going on at the ranch. It can run just fine without me."
Koichi sat down beside Hitachi Yosuke.
The ranch had been around for so many years that everyone knew how it operated. Aside from a few special matters that required his decision, there was little else he needed to handle.
"That's good, then."
Hitachi Yosuke also knew how important this race was.
The key was for Koichi to devote himself fully to preparing. As for Asho, as long as he was willing to give the race his all, there should be no major problems.
"Are we flying straight to the airport in Osaka this time?"
"Yes. We're landing at Osaka Itami Airport again, then heading to Hanshin Racecourse in Hyogo."
Compared with traveling from Nagoya Airport to Kyoto last time, the journey would certainly be much shorter.
That was good news for both Asho and them.
Golden Masterpiece had thrown more than a few tantrums over the flight last time.
As long as the flight wasn't delayed, they would be fine.
"Then we're off."
The driver looked back at the two of them, who were ready to go, and spoke.
He had driven them to Chitose Airport last time too. Hopefully, he could bring them both some luck again.
When he was young, he had dreamed of racing cars himself.
"Sorry for the trouble again."
Hitachi Yosuke spoke.
The two of them had chatted quite a bit on the road during their last trip.
"What about Asho?"
Koichi looked around but saw no sign of Golden Masterpiece's transport vehicle.
Although his family had bought Ship a new one too, it still fell far short of Golden Masterpiece's.
Poverty limited what he could do.
"We're definitely setting off first this time. Asho will head over in a little while."
Hitachi Yosuke took out a bag of snacks.
Sometimes, getting people through security was far more troublesome than getting animals through. Racehorses had already undergone layer upon layer of checks.
"Want some?"
They were buddies who had sneaked hamburgers together, after all.
"I'll pass this time. I'll just play on my phone for a while."
Koichi shook his head and took out his phone.
He and Hitachi Yosuke had completely different tastes.
If it had been another flavor, he might have considered it.
Ayano Aoe's office.
"Miss, Koichi Sasaki and the others have set off."
As soon as the two men departed, the assistant naturally received word.
The young lady really did think highly of Mr. Sasaki.
As the person closest to her, the assistant naturally knew that Ayano Aoe had great ambitions.
"What about Golden Masterpiece?"
Sitting in her office looking at her computer, Ayano Aoe picked up the coffee on her desk.
Since she had some business in Osaka recently, she would certainly be arriving there early this time and waiting for the race to begin.
Would the miracle continue?
"Golden Masterpiece has been loaded into the vehicle successfully. They're carrying out the final checks before departure."
The assistant had no need to worry about that.
After all, the people at their ranch were no novices.
"All right. Remember to let me know when they arrive."
Ayano Aoe took a sip of coffee.
Everything was proceeding according to her plan.
If Golden Masterpiece still failed to produce results at three years old, then that could only mean it was his fate.
"What about Dream Journey?"
Dream Journey had nine wins from twenty-nine starts, and his prize money had exceeded eight hundred million.
But lately, Dream Journey's condition had indeed been getting worse and worse.
As Golden Masterpiece's full brother, he was also nearing retirement age.
"According to trainer Kudo, Dream Journey is about ready to retire. Jockey Ikezoe feels much the same way."
The assistant answered.
Dream Journey had gone through three jockeys since he began racing, and things had only improved after jockey Ikezoe took over.
Kenichi Ikezoe had come by a while ago specifically to check on Dream Journey's condition.
After all, they had fought together, even if the process had not been particularly harmonious.
"Then let him retire after this year's Takarazuka Kinen."
Ayano Aoe thought for a moment before speaking.
Ending Dream Journey's journey with a Grade 1 race would be rather fitting. The Takarazuka Kinen was also a race he had won before.
As for the race this April, she no longer held any expectations.
After retiring, he would certainly remain at the ranch as a stallion, giving him some security for the rest of his life.
If things went smoothly with Golden Masterpiece, this would also become a passing of the torch between brothers.
The elder brother would retire, and the younger brother would set out once more.
"Yes, miss. I'll make the arrangements shortly."
The assistant naturally had no objections.
Her purpose was to relay the young lady's orders.
"You may go."
"Yes."
The assistant walked briskly out, then gently closed the door.
Ayano Aoe waved a hand, then rose and walked over to the window.
From here, she could just see Golden Masterpiece's transport vehicle.
(End of chapter)
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